WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate alone Wednesday and signaled that it expects to keep low rates unchanged through next year.

The Fed’s decision follows three rate cuts earlier this year. It reflects its view that the U.S. economy has so far withstood the U.S.-China trade war and a global slump and remains generally healthy. Its benchmark rate –which influences many consumer and business loans — will remain in a low range of 1.5% to 1.75%

In a sign of its confidence about the economy, the Fed’s latest policy statement dropped a phrase it had previously used that referred to “uncertainties” surrounding the economic outlook. That suggests that the Fed may be less worried about the impact of the U.S.-China trade war or overseas developments.

After the Fed issued its statement, stock market indexes rose modestly and bond yields dipped, apparently in expectation of continued low rates.

For now at least, the Fed appears inclined to leave rates alone through 2020, an election year. Many analysts note, though, that the economy faces risks from the trade conflicts, a global slowdown and a potentially disruptive Brexit and that the Fed may feel compelled to cut rates at least once next year.

Persistently low inflation with very low unemployment has emboldened many Fed officials to conclude that rates can remain lower for much longer than they thought without spurring higher prices. Low rates help consumers and businesses afford to borrow and spend. Still, savers have struggled to find returns outside the stock market that can keep them ahead of inflation.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Chairman Jerome Powell even suggested that even with the pace of hiring solid and unemployment low, he thinks the Fed can further strengthen the job market through a low-rate — or “accommodative” — policy.

“Even though we are at 3 ½% unemployment, there is actually more slack out there in a sense,” Powell said. “And the risks of using accommodative monetary policy, our tool, to explore that, are relatively low.”

In updated forecasts the Fed issued Wednesday, no officials penciled in a rate cut in 2020. Instead, four of 17 Fed officials said they expected a rate increase next year. The remaining 13 projected no change to rates.

At his news conference, Powell made clear that he thinks higher rates are unlikely anytime soon.

“In order to move rates up,” he said, “I would want to see inflation that is persistent, that is significant, before raising rates to address inflation concerns. That is my view.”

Powell has said that this year’s rate cuts have helped lower mortgage rates and spurred growth in home purchases. Auto sales have also remained healthy as more Americans have borrowed to buy cars.

After having raised its benchmark short-term rate four times in 2018, the Fed reversed course this year and cut rates three times to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%. Powell has portrayed those cuts as mainly “insurance” against a slowdown resulting from weak global growth and President Donald Trump’s prolonged trade war with China.

Monthly job growth reached its highest point this year in November, and the unemployment rate matched a 50-year low of 3.5%. Measures of consumer confidence also remain at historically high levels.