Federal Reserve rate rise a 'close call', minutes show

The Federal Reserve voted to raise interest rates in December but some board members were sceptical about the decision

The US Federal Reserve's decision to raise interest rates in December was a "close call", according to minutes from the Fed's December meeting.

Fed members voted unanimously to raise its key interest rate by 25 basis points to between 0.25% and 0.5%. a move widely expected.

But some members were cautious, because of global concerns and low inflation.

Economic conditions will likely justify "only gradual increases'' in the future, the minutes showed.

"Participants emphasized the need to adjust the policy path as economic conditions evolved and to avoid appearing to commit to any specific pace of adjustments," according to the details published on Wednesday.

During her statement announcing the increase last month, Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen said she was confident inflation would reach the 2% target and that global factors would not derail the US economy.

Inflation was a key area of concern for several Fed members.

Inflation in the US has remained weaker than expected and the continued fall in oil prices and strengthening of the dollar could derail the Fed's inflation projections.

The members of Fed's board were reasonably confident the jobs market would continue to improve, but that it might not be enough to maintain the economy.

According to the December minuets: "A couple [of members] also worried that a further strengthening of the labour market might not prove sufficient to offset the downward pressures from global disinflationary forces."