Fed Leaves Interest Rate Unchanged
Washington — The Federal Reserve ended weeks of speculation Thursday by keeping U.S. interest rates at record lows in the face of threats from a weak global economy, persistently low inflation and unstable financial markets. But at a news conference after a Fed policy meeting, Chairwoman Janet Yellen said a rate increase was still likely this year. A majority of Fed officials on the committee that sets the federal funds rate — which...
U.S. Raises Farm-Income Forecast After Crop Sales Increase
Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture raised its forecast for U.S. farmers’ profits this year, with crop sales rising above an earlier estimate and help coming from other sources of income such machine rentals. Income will be $100.3 billion, the USDA said last week in a report, down 21 percent from 2014 and a second straight annual decline. Still, that’s 12 percent more than forecast in February. Crop receipts are increasing...
