Morning Brew Daily WNBA Quintuples Players’ Salaries & Energy Prices Spike as Fed Holds Rates Steady
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Mar 19, 2026 AI Snips
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Fed Holds Rates Steady Amid Iran War Uncertainty
- The Fed held rates steady amid uncertainty from the Iran war, balancing higher energy-driven inflation against weaker growth.
- Powell called the economic effects "uncertain," signaling the Fed will monitor oil-driven inflation but likely look past temporary shocks.
Energy Infrastructure Attacks Send Prices Soaring
- Attacks on Iranian and Qatari energy facilities sharply lifted oil and gas prices, risking global supply crunches.
- Brent neared $120/barrel and European gas jumped 32%, pushing some to warn that big oil spikes historically precede recessions.
Labor Market Losing Momentum
- U.S. job growth has essentially flatlined with February losing 92,000 jobs and a shrinking labor force.
- Officials removed language claiming labor-market stabilization after data revisions showed near-zero private-sector job gains over the past year.