Fed Seen Holding Rates Steady For Now Despite Calls For Cuts

• Federal Reserve expected to keep interest rates unchanged this week despite calls for cuts from consumers, markets, and politicians • Fed taking cautious approach to potential rate cuts since economy remains healthy and inflation, while falling, remains above 2% target • Core inflation rose 0.4% in January and February, indicating prices still sticky-high • Fed projected in December that core inflation would reach 2.4% by end of 2024, close to current 2.8% level • Economists expect Fed to signal possible June rate cut in May then implement first cut in June after additional inflation and jobs data