The Latest: 1 Fed official wants rates to go negative

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen answers questions during a news conference in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. The Federal Reserve is keeping U.S. interest rates at record lows in the face of threats from a weak global economy, persistently low inflation, and unstable financial markets. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen answers questions during a news conference in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. The Federal Reserve is keeping U.S. interest rates at record lows in the face of threats from a weak global economy, persistently low inflation, and unstable financial markets. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By Associated Press September 17, 2015 6 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The latest on the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates at historic near-zero lows (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

One Federal Reserve policymaker believes zero interest rates aren’t low enough and is calling for rates to go negative.

The official wasn’t identified in materials the central bank released Thursday. But the likeliest suspect is Narayana Kocherlakota, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

“He has been outspoken about his concern that inflation is too low and could move lower,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial. “Kocherlakota will be leaving his post at the end of the year … it is easier to be provocative when you are walking out the door.”