Economists survey: Expect the Fed to hike again in 2019, but mortgage rates won’t take off
Two-thirds of economists surveyed say the U.S. central bank will increase borrowing costs again in 2019.
6 min read
Mar 06, 2019
EXPERTISE
- Economy
- Federal Reserve
- U.S. economic policy
- Personal finance
- Taxes
- Unemployment insurance (UI)
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science in News-Editorial Journalism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Master of Science in Journalism, Northwestern University
The Federal Reserve is one of the most complex institutions in the world; yet, its decisions impact consumers’ wallets more than any other policymaker in Washington, D.C. My goal is to remove some of the mystery surrounding the U.S. central bank, so you can be an even smarter consumer.
— Sarah Foster
About the author
Bankrate.com writer Sarah Foster covers the Federal Reserve, the U.S. economy and economic policy. Originally from a small town in rural Illinois, Foster developed a passion for economics while watching her community recover from the Great Recession. She witnessed just how much Main Street is impacted by Wall Street and saw firsthand that the Federal Reserve’s most well-intentioned policies can still leave those most desperate for help behind.
Experience
Sarah previously worked for Bloomberg News, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Daily Herald and has been quoted in several national and regional media outlets, including Yahoo! News, NBC, the Toronto Star, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and more.
Media mentions
The Federal Reserve is one of the most complex institutions in the world; yet, its decisions impact consumers’ wallets more than any other policymaker in Washington, D.C. My goal is to remove some of the mystery surrounding the U.S. central bank, so you can be an even smarter consumer.
— Sarah Foster
Sarah's latest articles
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U.S. economy grew 2.6% in the fourth quarter, better than expected
The U.S. economy expanded at a slower pace in the fourth quarter of 2018, but came in well ahead of estimates.
4 min read Feb 28, 2019 -
Fed Chair Powell grilled on stagnant wage growth in tight job market
Powell faced criticism from Democratic congressmen for his positive evaluation of the job market despite a period of slow pay gains.
2 min read Feb 27, 2019 -
Powell justifies a ‘patient’ central bank on rate hikes during Senate testimony
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivered a positive assessment of the U.S. economy that nonetheless faces some risks.
4 min read Feb 26, 2019 -
Three-fourths of business economists are predicting a recession by 2021
Experts are betting that a recession will occur by the end of 2021, a new survey suggests.
3 min read Feb 25, 2019 -
Fed minutes: Officials unsure on rate hikes, want plan to stop reducing balance sheet
Will the Federal Reserve raise borrowing costs two times in 2019, as it initially anticipated? That’s a question even the officials on the inside can’t answer.
4 min read Feb 20, 2019 -
What the new House bill to expand Social Security could mean for you
Benefits would be enhanced under the proposal and the rich would pay more.
4 min read Feb 05, 2019 -
‘Time to get off the couch’: Strong January jobs report shows hiring accelerating
Employers are adding jobs and that spells opportunity for discouraged workers.
4 min read Feb 01, 2019
