According to BlockBeats, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell stated on May 14th that policy interest rates are restrictive in many ways. He does not believe that the next step would be a rate hike, but rather, it is more likely that policy interest rates will be maintained at their current levels.

Powell's comments suggest a cautious approach to monetary policy, indicating that the Federal Reserve is not in a hurry to raise interest rates. This could be seen as a response to the economic uncertainties and the need to maintain stability in the financial markets.

The Federal Reserve's policy interest rate is a key tool for managing the economy. It influences the borrowing costs for households and businesses, affecting everything from mortgage rates to the return on savings. A decision to keep the rates unchanged would mean that the Federal Reserve believes the current economic conditions do not warrant a change in the policy rate.

This news comes at a time when the global economy is grappling with the effects of the pandemic and other challenges. The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain the current policy interest rate could be seen as a move to provide stability and predictability in these uncertain times.