Fed leaves rates unchanged, sees ‘somewhat elevated’ inflation and stabilizing job market

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday amid what U.S. central bank chief Jerome Powell described as a solid economy and diminished risks to both inflation and employment, an outlook that could signal a lengthy wait before any further reductions in borrowing costs.

"The economy has once again surprised us with its strength," Powell said at a press conference after Fed policymakers voted 10-2 to hold the central bank's benchmark interest rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range following a two-day meeting.

Noting broad internal support for the decision, Powell said the Fed remains "well-positioned" to assess when or whether another rate cut may be needed.

"There could be combinations, infinite numbers of combinations that would cause us to want to move," he said, with labor market weakening or inflation heading back down to the Fed's 2% goal as two of those possibilities.

Since the Fed's last policy meeting in December, when it delivered a third straight rate cut, "the upside risks to inflation and the downside risks to employment have diminished. But they still exist," Powell said. "We think our policy is in a good place."

"We expect the Federal Reserve to remain on an extended pause. Interest rates are close to neutral and labor market conditions are stabilizing," Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, wrote after the policy decision.