Fed Cuts Rates, Notes Labor Market Easing and Solid Economic Growth

FEDERAL RESERVE - WASHINGTON. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday as policymakers took note of a job market that has "generally eased" while inflation continues to move towards the U.S. central bank's 2% target.

"Economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace," the central bank's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee said at the end of a two-day policy meeting in which officials lowered the benchmark overnight interest rate to the 4.50%-4.75% range, as widely expected. The decision was unanimous.