Leading central banks play for time on interest rate rises

the ecb, fed, and bank of england all held rates steady this month — buying time as energy market convulsions muddy their inflation outlooks. trump's posts on truth social have been a recurring driver of those energy swings, adding unpredictability to an already messy picture. central bankers are stuck: they want to declare victory on inflation, but volatile oil and gas prices keep the door open for another spike. the boe was split 7-2 on its hold decision, with the minority voting for a cut. the fed's dot plot still points to one more hike this year, though markets doubt it'll happen.