The US Central Bank Keeps Interest Rates the Same

Apr 29, 2026, 21:09
AsiaFinance

Introduction

The Federal Reserve decided not to change interest rates. The rates are now between 3.5% and 3.75%.

Main Body

The US and Iran are fighting. This makes energy prices go up. Prices for things are now 3.3% higher. This is too high for the bank. Some leaders in the bank disagree. Four people wanted different rules. One person wanted lower rates. Others worried about high prices. Jerome Powell is the leader. He will stop being the Chair on May 15. Kevin Warsh may be the new leader. Mr. Powell will stay at the bank for a while. He wants to protect the bank from politicians. More people have jobs now. But loans for houses and cars are expensive. People pay more money every month for their cars.

Conclusion

The bank is waiting for a new leader. They want to stop high prices and keep the job market stable.

Learning

⚡ The "Up/Down" Logic

In this text, we see words that show direction. This is a key part of A2 English to describe changes.

1. Going UP 📈

  • Go up → Prices become more expensive.
  • Higher → More than before.
  • Expensive → Costs a lot of money.

2. Going DOWN 📉

  • Lower → Less than before.

3. Staying the SAME ↔️

  • Keep → To stay in the same state.
  • Same → No change.

💡 Quick Grammar Hack: "Want to"

Look at how the text uses Want + To + Action. This is the easiest way to talk about goals:

  • Want to protect →\rightarrow (Goal: Protection)
  • Want to stop →\rightarrow (Goal: Stopping something)
  • Want to keep →\rightarrow (Goal: Maintaining something)

Vocabulary Learning

interest (n.)
interest / money earned on a loan利息
Example:The interest on my savings account is 1.5%.
bank
financial institution where money is kept銀行
Example:I need to go to the bank to deposit my paycheck.
rates (n.)
rates / percentages or prices利率
Example:The bank's rates are higher than last year.
interest
money earned on a loan or deposit利息
Example:The bank pays interest on savings accounts.
decided (v.)
decided / chose a course決定
Example:She decided to take the job offer.
rate
measure of something, such as speed or price率
Example:The interest rate is 3.5%.
change (v.)
change / make different改變
Example:I need to change my schedule.
price
the amount of money for something價格
Example:The price of the car has increased.
energy (n.)
energy / power or vitality能源
Example:The factory uses renewable energy.
high
above normal level高
Example:The high price made many people upset.
prices (n.)
prices / costs of goods價格
Example:The prices at the market are rising.
low
below normal level低
Example:A low interest rate encourages borrowing.
high (adj.)
high / tall or large高
Example:The mountain is very high.
change
to make something different變化
Example:The bank decided not to change the rates.
bank (n.)
bank / financial institution銀行
Example:I need to go to the bank to withdraw cash.
stop
to end an action停止
Example:He will stop being the Chair on May 15.
leaders (n.)
leaders / heads of groups領袖
Example:The leaders met to discuss the plan.
want
to desire something想要
Example:They want to keep the job market stable.
rules (n.)
rules / guidelines規則
Example:The school rules are strict.
protect
to keep safe from harm保護
Example:He wants to protect the bank from politicians.
lower (adj.)
lower / less high較低
Example:The temperature is lower today.
fight
to battle or argue戰鬥
Example:The US and Iran are fighting.
jobs (n.)
jobs / work positions工作
Example:Many jobs are available in the city.
energy
power that makes things work能源
Example:Energy prices go up when there is a conflict.
loans (n.)
loans / borrowed money貸款
Example:She took loans to start her business.
house
a building for people to live in房子
Example:Loans for houses are expensive.
cars (n.)
cars / automobiles汽車
Example:They bought new cars last week.
car
a vehicle that people drive車
Example:People pay more money for their cars.
expensive (adj.)
expensive / costly昂貴
Example:The shoes are too expensive for me.
loan
money borrowed that must be paid back貸款
Example:The bank offers loans for buying a house.
month (n.)
month / 30‑day period月
Example:The project will finish in two months.
month
a period of about 30 days月份
Example:People pay more money every month for their cars.
waiting (v.)
waiting / staying in expectation等待
Example:He is waiting for the bus.
money
currency used for buying things錢
Example:He has a lot of money.
keep (v.)
keep / retain or hold保持
Example:Please keep the door closed.
new
recently made or started新
Example:Kevin Warsh may be the new leader.
stable (adj.)
stable / steady穩定
Example:The economy is stable after the reforms.
stay
to remain in a place停留
Example:Mr. Powell will stay at the bank for a while.
stop (v.)
stop / cease or end停止
Example:Please stop talking during the exam.
keep
to continue having or doing保持
Example:They want to keep the job market stable.
stable
not changing a lot, steady穩定
Example:The job market is stable.
market
a place where goods or services are bought and sold市場
Example:The job market is a big part of the economy.
job
work that pays money工作
Example:More people have jobs now.
leader
a person who leads or directs領袖
Example:Jerome Powell is the leader of the Federal Reserve.
people
human beings in general人
Example:More people have jobs now.
rules
guidelines or instructions規則
Example:Four people wanted different rules.
different
not the same不同
Example:Four people wanted different rules.
lower
below a higher level較低
Example:One person wanted lower rates.
worried
feeling concerned about something擔心
Example:Others worried about high prices.