The Federal Reserve has defied calls from US President Donald Trump for a cut to the interest rate by leaving it unchanged.
The decision means it stays in the range of 4.3%, where it has remained after the bank reduced it three times last year.
“We’re keeping the rates high, and it’s hurting people from buying houses,” Mr Trump told reporters. “All because of the Fed.”
Mr Trump has repeatedly been asked whether he would fire Fed chair Jerome Powell if he failed to heed his demand to cut the rate.
The US president has spent months verbally attacking Mr Powell and there was clear tension between the pair last week as they toured the Federal Reserve, which is undergoing renovations.
When taking questions, Mr Trump said: “I’d love him to lower interest rates,” then laughed and slapped Powell’s arm.
Powell remained unmoved.
When asked about an alleged overspend on the renovations, and what Mr Trump would do as a real estate mogul if this happened to one of his projects, he said he’d fire his project manager – seemingly in reference to Mr Powell.
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