If you have been attentive to recent financial news, you will note that the Federal Reserve has been a frequent topic of discussion. Additionally, last fall President Biden reappointed the Fed's Chairman Jerome (Jay) Powell for a second term.

Attached is a link to the most recent Press Conference conducted by Chairman Powell which can be found on the Federal Reserve's website. Here, he discusses the Fed's decision to raise interest rates for the first time in several years. As you will learn in this week's materials, the Fed raises interest rates to combat inflation - which we all know if currently a concern in our economy.

Please view the video (note that it is ~50 minutes long. You do not have to watch the entire Press Conference, but do view long enough to get the basic message) and respond to the following questions:

1. What is Chairman Powell saying about inflation?

2. What does Chairman Powell say about interest rates.

3. Are you concerned about what will happen to the Stock Market when interest rates inevitably increase? Why?

https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcpresconf20220316.htm