Jan 26 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials are leaning toward raising interest rates for the first time in the COVID-19 era at their next policy meeting in mid-March, Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday.
Officials are "of a mind" to raise rates at the March 15-16 meeting, Powell said at a news conference following the release of the Fed's latest policy statement, which signaled the Fed is preparing soon to raise interest rates from near zero https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/inflation-fighting-fed-likely-flag-march-interest-rate-hike-2022-01-26.
While officials have an "eye" on risks around the world, including the surge in coronavirus infections from the Omicron variant, Powell said policymakers expect any headwinds to be short-lived and for the economy to hold up well.
(Reporting by Dan Burns; Editing by Leslie Adler)
