WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials were convinced last month that the U.S. economy and job growth had slowed as coronavirus cases surged across the country. They noted that the economy’s outlook is heavily dependent on the course of the virus. They noted future economic growth will be heavily dependent on the course of the virus. The minutes of the Fed’s discussions showed that officials believed that the ongoing public health crisis was still “posing considerable risks” to the U.S. economic outlook. The minutes, released Wednesday showed widespread Fed support for the central bank’s policy of emphasizing ultra-low interest rates aimed at giving the economy a boost and helping millions of Americans regain lost jobs.
