Raising interest rates generally aims to

• A. Curb spending and reduce inflation.
• B. Increase bank profits with no macro effect.
• C. Lower unemployment immediately.
• D. Increase consumer borrowing.

Answer: (A)

Raising interest rates is a monetary policy move used to cool demand in the economy. Higher rates raise the cost of loans, so households cut back on spending and firms delay or scale back investment. With demand growth slowed, price pressures ease, helping inflation to fall. That’s why this option best matches the goal: curbing spending and reducing inflation. It isn’t about boosting bank profits with no macro effect, and it doesn’t promise an immediate drop in unemployment or increased borrowing—higher rates typically dampen borrowing and can slow jobs growth in the short term.