MILAN – The US Federal Reserve has finally, after almost a decade of steadfast adherence to very low interest rates, hiked its federal funds rate – the rate from which all other interest rates in the economy take their cue – by 25 basis points. That brings the new rate up to a still-minimal 0.5%, and Fed Chair Janet Yellen has wisely promised that any future increases will be gradual.
米兰—美联储在坚守了近十年极低利率后终于提高了其联邦基金利率25个基点。联邦基金利率是所有其他利率的参考利率。这次升息将新利率提高到0.5%，仍然很低，美联储主席耶伦聪明地承诺，未来升息都将是渐进的。从美国经济状态看——实际增长率为2%，劳动力市场吃紧，通胀也没有靠近美联储2%的目标——我认为升息是迈向正常化的合理谨慎的第一步（正常化是指借款人和贷款人之间达成更好的平衡）。