In September 2020, the Federal Reserve (Fed) indicated that it expected interest rates to stay near zero until at least 2023. Then in March 2022, the Fed started raising interest rates and did so many times during 2022 and 2023. Interest rates climbed from near zero to approximately 5% by the end of September 2023.

1. What is the Fed saying now?
2. Why did the Fed make the decision to increase interest rates?
3. Who does this policy help?
4. Who does this policy hurt?
5. What do you think? Should the Fed continue to raise rates, keep them steady, or decrease them? Explain.