“The economic outlook has strengthened in recent months,” the Fed said in its statement Wednesday. The Fed's policy committee still met despite the snow that shut down most of Washington and the decision to raise rates was unanimous.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/03/21/federal-reserve-hikes-u-s-interest-rate-to-highest-level-in-a-decade-amid-stronger-economy/?utm_term=.c8b9d013da57
"“Recessions typically start when central banks, eager to keep economies in check, raise interest rates too far and too fast. On cue, America’s Federal Reserve will probably raise rates three times in 2018 after three increases in 2017. The Fed will also begin unwinding the enormous pile of assets it acquired during the slump. Although the Fed has promised to move carefully, higher American interest rates are the canary in the coal mine of the global economy. They foretell an end to credit cycles as indebted companies and consumers default in greater numbers, and they presage big capital outflows from emerging markets. Higher interest rates can also produce big corrections in stock markets; one index of global equity prices doubled between 2010 and 2017. To many it may feel as if 2018 is just the beginning of the real recovery. In fact, it may be approaching the end.”"
https://mortgageorb.com/will-interest-rates-take-us-2018