Donald Trump says he's 'not happy' about Fed's interest rate increase

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was not happy about the Federal Reserve's decision earlier in the day to raise its benchmark interest rate, but added the increase was a result of a strong economy.
Trump addresses a news conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (Sept 26) he's "not happy" about the Federal Reserve's decision hours earlier to raise interest rates for a third time this year.

"Unfortunately, they just raised interest rates," Trump said at a press conference in New York, where he was attending the annual United Nations General Assembly.

"I am not happy about that."

"I'm worried about the fact that they seem to like raising interest rates," the president added.

The central bank earlier in the day announced its third rate increase of the year, a quarter-point boost that raised the benchmark federal funds rate to a target range of 2 per cent to 2.25 per cent.

Trump publicly criticised Fed interest-rate increases earlier this year, breaking with more than two decades of White House tradition of avoiding comments on monetary policy out of respect for the independence of the US central bank.

Trump told CNBC in July he was "not happy about" the Fed raising borrowing costs.

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, who was nominated by Trump, has a four-year term as chairman that ends in 2022.

According to the Federal Reserve Act, a Fed chairman can only be removed from office before his or her term ends "for cause," which isn't defined.

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