Against a backdrop of elevated inflation and a strong labor market, our policy has been adapting to the evolving economic environment.

旨在應對目前的高通膨和強勞動力市場，我們的政策已隨著不停改變的經濟環境做調整。

[Narrator] It's the latest step the Fed is taking toward removing stimulus to bring down inflation and marks the first time it has raised borrowing costs since December of 2018.

（旁白）這是聯準會的最新措施，消除經濟刺激以抗通膨，也是2018年12月以來首次調漲借款成本。

Expectations of a faster pace of rate rises prompted investors to change strategies they had used for nearly two years,

預期升息速度將會更快促使投資者改變他們這兩年左右使用的策略，

leading to the worst stock market selloff since the early days of the pandemic.

導致疫情初期發生拋售存貨致的股災。

WSJ personal finance reporter J.J. McCorvey breaks down how the rate hike could affect mortgages, loans, credit cards and your retirement planning.

《華爾街日報》的個人理財記者J.J. McCorvey 解釋了利率上升對房貸、車貸、助學貸款、信用卡款項、養老規劃等有何影響。

(pensive music)

（憂戚的音樂）

The market's rates have already been increasing in anticipation of the Fed rate hikes but now they're expected to go up even more through 2022.

市場價格已因預期聯準會急遽的加息而提升，但以現在來看，市場價格甚至有可能在2022年更高。

However, if you have a 30-year fixed rate mortgage,

然而，若你有三十年的固定利率貸款，

you have less reason to worry because your rate is locked and you likely won't be affected.

你不用太過擔心，因為你的利率固定了，所以不太可能被影響。

[Narrator] While fixed rate mortgages have a set interest rate for the life of the loan,

（旁白）固定利率貸款的利率一輩子都是確定的，

repayments on adjustable-rate mortgages become more expensive when interest rates go up.

但浮動利率房貸的還款金額會因為利率調漲而變貴。

The rate increase could also pose challenges for those shopping for a home.

利率調漲也會使買房變得困難。

For people who are new home buyers, the higher rates could make it harder to qualify for a mortgage.

對於首購族，更高的利率讓首購族更難取得貸款的資格。

[Narrator] Even small rate increases can be costly if applied to big purchases when stretched over the life of a multi-year loan.

（旁白）若用於龐大金額的購買且有長期貸款年限，即使是微幅的調漲，依然會顯得昂貴。（戲劇性的音樂）

Rising rates will impact both private and federal student loans.

升息將會影響私人和聯邦學生貸款。

New interest rates apply to only new loans but people who have existing private loans might have the option to refinance.

新利率只適用於新貸款，不過現有貸款的人可選擇重新貸款。

Refinancing student loans could be a good option for those who qualify for a better rate based on changes in credit or income.

對於因信用或收入改變而有更好的貸款條件的人來說，重貸學生貸款可能是個好選擇。

When it comes to auto loans, similar to fixed rate mortgages, most won't be affected if you already have one because they usually come with a fixed interest rate.

和固定利率的不動產貸款差不多，若你有汽車貸款，大多也不會被影響，因為汽貸通常也是固定利率。

But if you're shopping for a car, a new loan with higher interest means you'll be paying a little more money.

但若你要買車，更高利率的新貸款代表你需要多付一些錢。（戲劇性的音樂）

Interest rates on credit cards are typically not fixed.

信用卡利率是不固定的。

In fact, credit card interest rates change almost immediately after a Fed rate increase.

事實上，信用卡利率幾乎都會馬上隨著聯準會升息而改變。

If your interest rate rises, so could your minimum payment and that could make it harder to pay off debt.

若利率提高，最低應繳費用也提升，卡債就會更難繳清。

While higher interest rates means more money can be earned from savings, if you carry a credit card balance month to month,

雖然更高的利率代表著存錢可以有更多利息，但若每月累積信用卡餘額，

a higher interest charge could be applied to those balances.

更高的利率會影響到這些餘額。

Paying balances in full will help avoid additional costs.

全額支付總應繳金額能幫助避免額外的花費。(戲劇性的音樂)

If you have an interest bearing savings account, that could mean a little more money for you but how much that changes depends on your bank.

若有儲蓄帳戶，代表你會有一些利息，不過利息改變的多寡取決於你的銀行。

[Narrator] The national average interest rate for savings accounts is .06% but some banks have savings rates higher than the national average, which will earn savers more money.

（旁白）全國平均存款利率是 .06%，但有些銀行的利率會比平均高一些，因此存款人可以存更多錢。

Experts say fixed rate savings, such as annuities and short-term bond yields will also rise.

專家表示，固定利率儲蓄像是年金或短期債卷的收益都將提升。

This could benefit folks who live off interest.

這對依靠利息生活的人們有益

Markets have already experienced some volatility due to the expected rate hike, which has pushed some investors towards safer bets.

市場已因可預期的急遽加息歷經一些波動，升息促使一些投資人轉向較為安全的投資策略。

[Narrator] Those safer bets could include dividend stocks and gold exchange traded funds, some of which have outperformed this year.

（旁白）較安全的投資策略包括股票股利和以黃金交易的指數股票型基金，有些已經在今年有不錯的表現。

(pensive music)

（憂鬱的音樂）

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has left the door open to raising rates at consecutive policy meetings, which are held about every six weeks.

聯準會主席Jerome Powell表示不排除在連續的政策會議上升息的可能性，而會議每六週左右會舉辦一次。

The Fed hasn't raised rates at that frequency since 2006.

聯準會自2006年之後從來沒有以那種頻率升息。

While Powell says he expects inflation rates to decline through the course of the year, he admits the economic outlook remains highly uncertain.

雖然Powell說到，他預期通膨指數會在今年內下降，他承認經濟前景仍然保有高度不確定性。

With this in mind, we will remain attentive to risks,

考慮到這一點，我們仍要留意風險，

including the risk that high inflation is more persistent than expected and are prepared to respond as appropriate to achieve our goals.

包括高通膨殼能會比想像中還久的風險，以及要準備好做適當的決策，以達成我們的目標。

(pensive music)

（憂鬱的音樂）