Fed keeps interest rates near zero

美联储将维持基准利率

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the record-low level of near zero, as the country grapples with slowing economic recovery amid surging COVID-19 cases.

随着新冠肺炎病例激增，美国仍在努力应对经济复苏放缓。

After concluding its first policy meeting of 2021, the Fed decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0-0.25%.

1月27日，在结束2021年第一次政策会议后，美联储宣布将基准利率保持在0%至0.25%区间不变。

"The path of the economy continues to depend significantly on the course of the virus," Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said at a virtual press conference Wednesday afternoon.

美联储主席杰罗姆·鲍威尔在当日下午的视频发布会上说：“未来经济的发展仍在很大程度上取决于疫情进展。”

The Fed chief noted that following a sharp rebound in economic activity last summer, the pace of recovery has "moderated" in recent months, with weakness concentrated in sectors most adversely affected by the resurgence of the virus and greater social distancing.

鲍威尔指出，在去年夏季经济活动大幅反弹后，近几个月以来，经济复苏的步伐“放缓”，经济疲软集中在受疫情反弹和社交距离扩大影响最严重的行业。

Despite the challenges, Powell said several developments point to improved outlook for later this year.

鲍威尔说，尽管存在这些挑战，但有多个进展表明，今年晚些时候经济前景将有所改善。

"Sufficiently widespread vaccinations would enable us to put the pandemic behind us and return to more normal economic activities," he said. "In the meantime, continued observance of social distancing and wearing masks will help us reach the goal as soon as possible."

他说：“大规模疫苗接种将使我们摆脱新冠疫情，恢复更为正常的经济活动。与此同时，继续保持社交距离和戴口罩将有助于我们尽快实现这一目标。”