Fed to Decide on Interest Rates, Offer New view of economy

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Reserve today will conclude its two-day meeting on monetary policy, with analysts expecting no change in interest rates.

The central bank will have to raise rates eventually to keep inflation in check, but when that may happen is one of the hottest topics among investors and economists.

Though the Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to keep rates at their record low of near zero for the time being, the statement accompanying the decision will be heavily scrutinized to determine how strong the policy group believes the economy is recovering and when a rate change might come.

And to avoid unleashing inflation later, policymakers are likely to consider ways to rein in programs designed to keep mortgage rates down and get banks to lend more freely.

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