Biden’s approval declines to near lowest point

The dip in popularity comes as the administration deals with two bank failures and stubbornly high inflation, while trying to project a sense of stability….reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden’s approval rating has experienced a slight dip, according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll indicates that the president’s approval rating is now at 38%, which is close to the lowest point of his presidency.

The dip in popularity comes as the administration deals with two bank failures and stubbornly high inflation, while trying to project a sense of stability.

Over the past few months, there have been fluctuations in support for Biden, with ratings hovering above 40%. However, his approval rating was at 45% in February and 41% in January.

In July 2021, his ratings hit their lowest point, with only 36% of respondents approving of his presidency, as rising costs began to impact US households.

The poll indicates that the public has mixed feelings about Biden, who is expected to announce his reelection bid this summer.

People’s opinions of the president generally do not swing between absolute loyalty and aggressive loathing, which has been a characteristic of the divided politics in recent times.

Fed is undaunted by banking problems

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rate by 25 basis points, which is modest compared to previous hikes aimed at curbing inflation but came amidst uncertainty about the banking system that has taken a hit in the last few weeks triggering fears of a larger problem.

This hike takes the target rate in the 4.75 per cent to 5 per cent range, which is the highest since the start of the recession in September 2007.

The Fed did address concerns about the banking system in a statement. “The US banking system is sound and resilient,” it said. “Recent developments are likely to result in tighter credit conditions for households and businesses and to weigh on economic activity, hiring, and inflation. The extent of these effects is uncertain.”

There was speculation that the Fed might not raise the interest rate at the end of its two-day meeting this week in view of the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank and trouble at another bank because of rising interest rates, among other reasons. And that it will put on hold its battle against inflation to take stock.

Equally, experts had said, that if the Fed did not hike rates, it would send out an even more dire message: that there was a indeed a problem with the banking system, enough for the central bank to pause anti-inflation interest rate hikes.

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