美联储按兵不动 暗示12月可能加息

The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged last Wednesday in its last monetary policy decision before the US election, but signaled it could hike in December as the economy gathers momentum and inflation picks up.

美国联邦储备局上周三维持利率不变，但暗示因经济动能加强且通胀上升，可能在12月加息。这是美联储在美国总统大选前的最后一次货币政策决定。

The US central bank said the economy had gained steam and job gains remained solid.

美国央行表示，经济动能已经增强且就业增长保持稳健。

Policymakers also expressed more optimism that inflation was moving toward their 2% target.

政策制定者也对通胀正朝2%的目标迈进表达了更加乐观的看法。

"The committee judges that the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has continued to strengthen but decided, for the time being, to wait for some further evidence of continued progress toward its objectives," the Fed said.

美联储称："委员会认为上调联邦基金利率的理据持续增强，但决定暂不采取行动，等待经济继续向目标迈进的进一步迹象。"

That suggests the bar is low for a rate increase at the Fed's final policy meeting of the year in mid-December.

这表明，美联储在12月中旬举行的今年最后一次货币政策会议上加息的门槛相当低。

The Fed said it still expects the downward inflationary pressure from lower energy and import prices to prove temporary.

美联储表示，其预计由低能源及低进口价格等暂时性因素带来的通胀压力仍将走低。

Fed policymakers will be able to sift through the January and February employment reports before their next policy meeting in March.

美联储决策者将会根据1月及2月的就业报告，在明年3月开始的下次政策会议前进行细究。

All the Fed policymakers participated in the two-day meeting in person, a central bank spokesman said.

据一位美国央行发言人表示，所有的美联储决策者都将亲自参加这一为期两天的会议。