“There is almost no economic indicator that has come in badly in the last three months.”<br />Asked whether Fed officials were engaged in a coordinated campaign to prepare markets for a rate increase<br />later this month, Mr. Fischer replied, “If there has been a conscious effort, I’m about to join it.”<br />Ms. Yellen said she expected the Fed to raise rates by the end of the year to a level<br />that would effectively end the central bank’s stimulus campaign — something she said was likely to require three increases, each of 0.25 percentage points.<br />Janet Yellen Says Fed Is Likely to Raise Interest Rates This Month -<br />By BINYAMIN APPELBAUMMARCH 3, 2017<br />Janet L. Yellen, the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, said<br />that the Fed plans to raise its benchmark interest rates this month if conditions are favorable.<br />“At our meeting later this month, the committee will evaluate whether employment<br />and inflation are continuing to evolve in line with our expectations, in which case a further adjustment of the federal funds rate would likely be appropriate,” Ms. Yellen said, referring to the Fed’s policy-making arm, the Federal Open Market Committee.<br />Janet L. Yellen, the Federal Reserve chairwoman, said Friday<br />that the Fed was likely to raise its benchmark interest rate this month, barring any unpleasant economic surprises.
