after aggressively raising interest rates for the last year and a half, the federal reserve believes it s in a place where it can leave rates, where they are to cool the economy and to slow inflation from its current 3.7% on a yearly basis to closer to 2%. but even though america s central bank opted not to hike right now, fed chairjerome powell suggested officials are prepared to do more if inflation flares again. the idea that you wouldn t would difficult to to raise again after stopping for a meeting or two is just not right. i mean, the committee will always do what what it thinks is appropriate at the time. right now, things look good, even though it s pricey for americans to get a mortgage or carry credit card debt. growth was stronger than expected over the summer. the world s largest economy is still adding jobs on a monthly basis. and the government s latestjobs report is due out this friday. fed staff also don t see a recession, so they don t want to rock the boat,