Federal Reserve Head Jerome Powell said that regulator officials will be patient when deciding to raise interest rates until they analyze the possible negative effects of monetary tightening, their impact on the growth of the US economy this year.

J. Powell noted that currently there are no signs of excessively high inflation or the presence of major risks in financial markets, however, in the coming months, the regulator intends to watch and wait, as there are concerns among market participants about the development of the US economy.

The head of the Fed stressed that inflation is low and under control, so the regulator has time to analyze and assess the situation.

Earlier, in December, Fed officials' forecasts were made public, which suggested a two-time rate hike in 2019. However, Powell noted that these forecasts are not a "plan" of the regulator.