The US central bank decided to keep interest rates unchanged despite Trump’s pressure

of the United States As expected, the central bank decided on Wednesday to keep its key interest rate unchanged.

The central bank justified its decision by the fact that economic growth in the United States has been stable.

The key interest rate range remains at 3.5–3.75 percent, where it was calculated in December. Last year, the central bank lowered its key interest rate three times.

of the United States president Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the central bank and its governor Jerome Powellia. In Trump’s opinion, the central bank should lower interest rates much more strongly than at present.

Powell does not make interest rate decisions alone, but they are made by the central bank’s 12-person open market committee, of which Powell is also a member. Committee members strive for unanimous decisions as much as possible.

Wednesday’s interest rate decision was not born unanimously. Two committee members, Stephen Miran and Christopher Wallerwould have lowered the policy rate by 0.25 percentage points.

Waller, who was in favor of an interest rate cut on Wednesday, has been considered one of Trump’s favorites for the new central bank governor, for example, financial newspapers say Forbes and Wall Street Journal.

Powell’s term as central bank governor ends in May. Trump is expected to announce his choice for the new CEO in the near future.

According to the US media, the management of the asset management company Blackrock is also strong in the selection of the CEO Rick Riederhead of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett and a former member of the Board of Governors of the Fed Kevin Warsh.