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"The interest rate may have to rise slightly to prevent the economy from overheating." That's what the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury said in an interview. It was interpreted to mean that the US economy, which had been contracted by the corona, has entered a recovery trend to some extent, so rather than releasing money in the market, it is now necessary to raise the standard interest rate and hold it to prevent further inflation. However, when the US stock market fell after this statement came out, the Treasury Secretary hurried to take action, saying that he had not recommended an interest rate hike.



Reporter Jeong Da-eun pointed out how this movement in the United States will affect our financial markets.



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Currently, our benchmark interest rate is at a record low of 0.5% per year and nearly one year.



We have been responding to the corona crisis with ultra-low interest rates, but several circumstances have changed.



First, the rate of consumer inflation last month.



It reached the highest level in 3 years and 8 months.



The government believes it is attributable to the underlying effect, but concerns over inflation are growing as consumer sentiment recovers rapidly along with rising raw material prices.



Household debt, which exceeded 1,700 trillion won last year, continues to rise, and in particular, the real estate, stock and virtual currency markets are overheating.



[Ha Jun-kyung/Hanyang University Economics Professor: It is necessary to adjust the degree of relaxation so that it does not become too severe. The imbalance in the asset market or the flow of money can become severe. You may also need to look carefully and adjust it.]



However, it is difficult to say that the rate hike is premature.



This is because there remains uncertainty in the economic flow due to Corona 19, and interest rate hikes can add cold water to the economic recovery.



[Gongdongrak/Daeshin Securities Researcher: From the standpoint of companies, the financial burden will increase. Since there is a side that the interest rate on loans rises, why don't we carefully plan big in stages and approach it.]



Usually, our standard interest rate has been maintained at a higher level than the United States in order to prevent the outflow of foreign investment. It has no choice but to be affected.



Inflation management, economic recovery, and the need to catch both rabbits are growing concerns among policymakers.



(Video coverage: Kim Seong-il, video editing: Lee So-young, CG: Um So-min)