# America in Focus: Affordability concerns rise as Fed hikes key rate and mortgage rates near 7%

https://mins.news/en/item/65824

- The Associated Press, 2026-09-19 23:00 UTC
- Economy
- Original: https://bit.ly/4yOfvyV

> The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday for the first time since 2023, seeking to contain stubbornly high inflation. The central bank also indicated that another increase could come later this year, while mortgage rates climbed to nearly 7%, intensifying affordability concerns.

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- [US Interest Rate Policy and Economic Data](https://mins.news/en/topic/us-labor-market-and-jobs-data) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/us-labor-market-and-jobs-data.md

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