--- title: FOMC Raises Rates description: The FOMC is raising rates in response to the strong economic outlook from recent months. image: https://www.mortech.com/hubfs/2015_redesign/blog_images/2018/shutterstock_330165086%20(1).jpg --- [![Get my demo](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/25649/1c6fbee1-0d0c-4238-8485-13c8e3f73157.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/25649/1c6fbee1-0d0c-4238-8485-13c8e3f73157) [![mortech](https://www.mortech.com/hubfs/2015_redesign/mortech_logos/mortech_logo_white.png) ![mortech](https://www.mortech.com/hubfs/2015_redesign/mortech_logos/rings_logo_white.png) ](https://www.mortech.com/) # Mortech Blog # 855.298.9327 # FOMC Raises Rates Posted by [Lori Rezac](https://www.mortech.com/mortechblog/author/lori-rezac) on Apr 9, 2018 2:28:37 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![lori_blog_post-4918](https://www.mortech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2015_redesign/blog_images/2018/lori_blog_post-4918.jpg?width=300&height=120&name=lori_blog_post-4918.jpg)The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) recently [announced](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20180321a.htm?utm_source=Lori+Newsletter&utm_campaign=e873798fb4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_acd2a1b5af-e873798fb4-131693) an increase to the target range of the federal funds rate to 1.5 to 1.75 percent. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell in his first meeting as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve approved the increase. This is in response to the strong economic outlook in recent months. The FOMC expects this to continue with gradual adjustments to monetary policy.   Currently, three rate hikes are expected in 2018 but some estimate four increases are possible. The chances of that extra increase are sitting at a 38 percent, according to an [article](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/21/fed-hikes-rates-by-a-quarter-point-at-chair-powells-first-meeting.html) in CNBC. This rate hike is the sixth since the financial crisis.   The Committee is monitoring inflation developments closely but expect it to stabilize at the 2-percent benchmark over the medium term. The additional increases that are expected this year will be dependent on incoming data.   ![FOMC raises rates](https://www.mortech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2015_redesign/blog_images/2018/shutterstock_330165086%20(1).jpg?width=1&height=1&name=shutterstock_330165086%20(1).jpg) ### News & Events Get the latest Mortech product announcements, company updates, and mortgage news delivered to your inbox. ### Subscribe to email updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Compliance (2)](https://www.mortech.com/mortechblog/topic/compliance) - [Mortgage Compliance (2)](https://www.mortech.com/mortechblog/topic/mortgage-compliance) - [Mortgage Technology Top 50 Service Provider (1)](https://www.mortech.com/mortechblog/topic/mortgage-technology-top-50-service-provider) - [mortgage hedging (1)](https://www.mortech.com/mortechblog/topic/mortgage-hedging) ### Demo [Products](https://www.mortech.com/solutions) [Mortgage Pricing Engine](https://www.mortech.com/mortgage-pricing-engine) [Predictive Analytics](https://www.mortech.com/customer-retention-with-mortech-protection) [Mortgage APIs](https://www.mortech.com/mortgage-apis) [Online Rate Quoting](https://www.mortech.com/online-automated-rate-quoting) [Secondary Marketing](https://www.mortech.com/secondary-marketing) [About Us](https://www.mortech.com/about-us) [Partners](https://www.mortech.com/partners) [Investors](https://www.mortech.com/investors) [Contact Us](https://www.mortech.com/about-us/contact-us) [Testimonials](https://www.mortech.com/testimonials) [News & Events](https://www.mortech.com/mortechnews) [Blog](https://www.mortech.com/mortechblog) [Conference Calendar](https://www.mortech.com/conference-calendar) Follow Us Contact Us [855.298.9327](tel:855.298.9327) [sales@mortech.com](mailto:sales@mortech.com) [support@mortech.com](mailto:support@mortech.com) [Terms of Use](https://www.zillowgroup.com/terms-of-use-privacy-policy/)    |     © 2026 Mortech, a Zillow Group business, All Rights Reserved