Live Updated 2026-03-18T09:54:47.451Z
It's the second Fed day of 2026, and America's economic woes are making headlines.
The Federal Open Market Committee will announce its March interest rate decision at 2 p.m. ET. The meeting comes on the heels of a dismal February jobs report and an escalating conflict between the US and Iran that's thrown oil markets into chaos.
Business Insider will follow the news all day, including insights from economists, market analysts, and central bank leaders. Check back here for updates.
A tumultuous news month
Central bank leaders last met in late January. Since then, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a loss of nearly 100,000 jobs, the Supreme Court voted down many of President Donald Trump's tariffs, and the US began a war with Iran that cut off a large part of the world's energy supply.
If the FOMC wasn't already feeling cautious about monetary policy, they are now.
