Fed holds rates, but a future hike is pretty inevitable

Fed governors met this week and voted to keep interest rates steady at just below 4%. The central bank says it’s taking a “wait and see” approach to elevated inflation. But what does that mean for banks and businesses that want to borrow money? In this episode, economic forces make for a fraught lending environment. Plus: We take a trip to Costco to understand how toilet paper is an economic indicator, and spend the day out west with a Wyoming cattle brand inspector. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future. Read the stories in today’s episode: As interest rates rise, lending gets more fraught for businesses and banks A day in the life of a Wyoming cattle brand inspector How student loans have shaped this family’s economy What toilet paper sales tell us about consumer spending Copper wire stripping is making people money on TikTok