Stock markets in the US ended the week sharply down following tough comments by the head of the country’s central bank, the Federal Reserve.
The bank’s chairman, Jerome Powell, said the bank must continue to raise interest rates to stop inflation from becoming a permanent aspect of the US economy.
His words sent US stocks into a tailspin, with markets tumbling 3%. It comes as Americans are having to pay more for basic goods.
Inflation in the world’s largest economy is at a four-decade high.
During a highly anticipated speech at a conference in Wyoming, Mr Powell said the Federal Reserve would probably impose further interest rate hikes in the coming months and could keep them high “for some time”.
“Reducing inflation is likely to require a sustained period of below-trend growth,” he said at the meeting in Jackson Hole.
Investors are concerned that if economic growth falters, higher interest rates will increase the likelihood of a recession.
He conceded that getting inflation under control would come at a cost to American households and businesses but he argued it was a price worth paying.
In March, the Federal Reserve’s key interest rate was almost zero; it has since been raised to a range of 2.25 per cent to 2.5 per cent in an effort to tackle inflation.
