Click to get this free report NASDAQ-100 SHRS (QQQ): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. This policy makes sense for a number of reasons, including the low unemployment rate, tightening labor market, hastening CPI growth of 2.9%, and recent tax cuts. Today, during the second day of testimony at Capitol Hill, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank plans to raise interest rates gradually "for now."