Are we headed toward a recession? What employers should know about the recent interest rate hike

Published 5 Min Read

Federal Reserve building in Washington, D.C.
The Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve building in Washington, D.C., in October 2012.

While record inflation and interest rates point to a possible economic downturn, employers are still questioning if they will see a recession in 2023 — but the answer is not a simple yes or no. 

In an effort to combat inflation, the Federal Reserve has brought interest rates to a 15-year high, raising the target range between 4.25% and 4.5%. There likely will be no reductions until 2024. Meanwhile, it will be more expensive for businesses to borrow money through loans and lines of credit, while credit card debt, car payments and mortgages will become harder to pay off for everyday consumers. The Fed hopes this lowers overall demand and spending, reducing the supply of money in circulation, which in turn usually lowers inflation rates. 

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


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