Fed points to softer U.S. labour market, weak economic growth

By Michael Flaherty and Howard Schneider

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve pointed to weakness in the U.S. labour market and economy on Wednesday in a policy statement that came just hours after data showing tepid economic growth, suggesting the central bank may have to wait until the third quarter to begin raising interest rates.

The Fed's statement leaves it dependent on fresh economic data, in a meeting-by-meeting approach, as it seeks to decide on the timing of its first rate hike since June 2006.

The central bank, however, acknowledged weakness in some sectors of the economy, making it more likely that it will not be ready to raise until at least September.

"The committee anticipates that it will be appropriate to raise the target range for the federal funds rate when it has

seen further improvement in the labour market and is reasonably confident that inflation will move back to its 2 percent objective over the medium term," the Fed said in its statement,

following a two-day meeting of its policy-setting committee.

The Fed's guidance differed little from its last meeting.

But unlike its March policy statement, this time the central bank did not effectively rule out hiking rates at its next meeting.

While that makes a June move possible, the economic data is not cooperating.

U.S. short-term interest-rate futures contracts dropped slightly after the Fed statement, with traders betting December will likely mark the start of the rate-hike cycle, based on CME FedWatch, which tracks rate hike expectations using its Fed funds futures contracts.

"We all know the Fed would love to start normalizing rates, but the simple fact is, the data does not warrant that action right now," said Wayne Kaufman, chief market analyst at Phoenix Financial Services in New York.

The economy grew at an anaemic 0.2 percent annual rate in the first quarter, the Commerce Department reported early on Wednesday, well below economists' expectations for 1.0 percent growth and the fourth quarter's 2.2 percent expansion.

The Fed acknowledged that economic growth "had slowed during the winter months, in part reflecting transitory factors." In March, the Fed described growth as having moderated somewhat.

Economists see September as the more likely time for a rate hike, while investors see an even later time horizon, with futures contracts pointing more towards December.

The central bank will have at least two months of economic data to consider before its next policy-setting meeting in June,

when it also issues new economic projections and conducts a press conference with Fed Chair Janet Yellen.

There were no dissents at the meeting.

(Reporting by Michael Flaherty; Editing Paul Simao; michael.flaherty@thomsonreuters.com; 202-898-8411; Reuters; Messaging: michael.flaherty.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)