Central bank officials reiterated a “higher for longer” stance, noting that inflation has cooled but remains uneven across services and housing. They emphasized that future decisions will depend on data rather than a preset path.

Markets initially moved on the tone of the statements, with yields rising before settling. Strategists said investors are looking for confirmation in upcoming inflation and employment reports.

For households and businesses, the message remains: borrowing costs may stay elevated. Some lenders reported continued demand for short-term credit, while longer-term borrowing is more cautious.