IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK. INTEREST RATES AND INFLATION WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER THIS AFTERNOON AS THE FEDERAL RESERVE WRAPS UP ITS MEETING, TODAY. >> THEY WILL MAKE THE DECISION IN WHETHER TO RAISE OR LOWER INTEREST RATES, AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL. >> BRIAN CHEUNG JOINS US NOW. I GUESS THE ODDS ARE PRETTY SLIM, WHAT CAN WE >> ? >> THERE IS BASICALLY NO CHANCE THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL DO ANYTHING WITH THE INTEREST RATES, TODAY. AGAIN, THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE COSTS SO HIGH TO TRY TO GET INFLATION DOWN AND INFLATION STILL REMAINS STICKY. THE INCENTIVE TO RAISE OR CUT INTEREST RATES AT THIS MOMENT LIKELY WON'T COME UNTIL SEPTEMBER. >> HOW IS THE FED EXPLAINING THIS BALANCE THEY ARE TRYING TO STRIKE BECAUSE RATES ARE STILL HIGH AND PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING TO BUY THOSE HOMES AND WHERE DO THESE INTEREST RATE HIKES COME FROM? >> I THINK THE QUESTION IS, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE BEFORE WE GET THE DESIRED OUTCOME WHICH IS A TARGET OF 2%. WHAT A BORING COST HAVE TO DO WITH THAT? THE FED RATCHETS UP HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD, TO BUY A HOUSE, TO TAKE OUT AN AUTO LOAN, OVERALL SPENDING IS DOWN AND THAT CAN TAKE SOME STEAM OUT OF INFLATION. RATE INCREASES CLOSE TO 9% IN 2022 AND NOW IT IS THREE TO 4%. WE ALL ARE ALSO NOT RAISING INTEREST RATES. >> WHEN COULD THE INTEREST RATES DROP? >> THE FEDERAL RESERVE DECISION IS EXPECTED TODAY. AT 2:30, POWELL MIGHT FFER SOME TEA LEAVES INTO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL HAVE SPECIFIC TIMING. THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS USUALLY RETICENT ON OFFERING AN EXACT TIMING BUT MARKETS ARE BETTING THAT IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT WE WILL SEE THAT FIRST INTEREST RATE CUT. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IS A
