From gas to housing to groceries, consumers can’t escape inflation in their everyday lives. So why can’t policymakers agree on what the data is telling them – and if prices are falling fast enough?
With tariffs pushing up prices of goods and energy markets swinging on geopolitical news, the Federal Reserve’s policymaking committee concluded its July 2026 meeting with a contentious 9-3 vote to hold interest rates steady. But three dissents signaled unease by pushing for a rate hike – the most in nearly a decade.
