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TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealWhile many modern homes have overhead lighting, it can often feel utilitarian. Adding lamps to your space can enhance both style and mood, which is why we think Amazon’s deal on a pair of Qimh Farmhouse Table Lamps is worth checking out. Not only are these stylish lamps 50% off, but they’re perfect for a wide range of home decor styles from rustic farmhouse to whimsical cottagecore.Perfect for savvy shoppers on a budget, this set comes with LED bulbs included that are made to last. However, the lamps do require assembly, which some shoppers have mixed reviews on.Qimh Farmhouse Table Lamp Set, $25 (was $50) at Amazon

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Why do shoppers love it?Each lamp measures 10 inches deep, 10 inches wide, and 22 inches high, and the shade is 11 inches high and 10 inches wide. This makes them ideal for side tables in the living room, master bedroom, or a guest bedroom. The sculpted lamp bases are made of resin and have beautiful detailing and a matching finial that sits on top. These lamps are corded and have rotary switches, so you’ll have to reach underneath the shade to turn them on and off.The linen shades that come with these lamps are a sophisticated shade of cream that goes with just about everything. The one downfall is that the shades do not come assembled, much like the reading lamp I reviewed recently. They’re easy to put together, but since they come flat-packed and are designed to be wrapped around a metal hoop that holds their shape, they have visible seams. I don’t like the way this looks on the lamp I own, but I turned the seam towards the wall, so I don’t have to see it. Some reviewers mention not liking this, with one saying, “The only negative for me was the shades. They look good, but would prefer shades already assembled.”Another plus is that these lamps come with LED bulbs, which can last up to ten years. To get the most time out of them, dust them frequently (dusty bulbs can inhibit proper heat dissipation) use dimmer plugs, which allow for lower energy consumption.While these lamps come in four colors, including blue, Antique White, and Wood Grain, the best price is on the black set. However, if you’re willing to pay a little bit more for a perfect match to your existing home decor, the extra spend may be worth it.Details to knowColors: Black, blue, Antique White, and Wood Grain.Material: Resin base and linen shades.Measurements: 10 inches deep, 10 inches wide, and 22 inches high. Related: Amazon’s smart touch lamp is discounted to just $20, and it’s ‘perfect for any room’The table lamp set has more than 60 five-star ratings, with most shoppers saying they are happy with it. One shopper wrote, “These are so pretty. The color is a rich blue without any chips or flaws. The lamps are made from a sturdy wood, and the pieces went together securely and easily. A warm light bulb was included for each lamp. They are just the perfect addition to my room!”Shop more deals Sealle Farmhouse Table Lamp Set, $37 (was $47) at AmazonTobusa Farmhouse Table Lamp Set, $40 (was $60) at AmazonPokat Rustic Table Lamp Set, $40 at AmazonIf you want a stylish lighting option that looks like it costs more than it does, the Qimh Farmhouse Table Lamp Set is an ideal choice at just $25 for two lamps.

The Iran war could push U.S. inflation and unemployment higher than the Federal Reserve expected this year, according to a new survey of former central bank officials conducted by the Duke University Department of Economics. The findings arrive just days before the Fed’s March policy meeting, when policymakers will release their “dot plot” forecasts for interest rates, inflation, and employment.The CME Group FedWatch tool estimates a more than 99% chance the Federal Open Market Committee will hold rates steady at its March 17-18 meeting. The next likely quarter-point cut is predicted for later in the year, perhaps as late as December. Among the key findings from the Federal Reserve Insights survey released March 16: Former Fed insiders projected an inflation rate higher than what the central bank is anticipating and a jobless rate higher than the Fed’s December projections. Most respondents said the Fed would likely need to hold policy steady this year. The former officials projected slower growth in economic output than previously estimated.What the Fed’s dual mandate requires for jobs, pricesThe Fed’s dual congressional mandate requires it to balance full employment and price stability.Lower interest rates support hiring but can fuel inflation.Higher rates cool prices but can weaken the job market.The two goals often conflict, operate on different timelines and are influenced by unpredictable global events such as pandemics and wars. 

Federal Reserve Bank of New York via FRED®

Fed paused rate cuts in JanuaryThe FOMC voted 10-2 to hold interest rates steady at 3.50% to 3.75% in January after three consecutive quarter-point cuts in its last three meetings of 2025.Those cuts were based on data showing increasing weakening in the labor market and cooling inflation, although still sticky and tariff-laced.More Federal Reserve:Fed Chair Powell sends frustrating message on future interest-rate cutsIt was the FOMC’s first pause since July 2025.The Fed uses government and private data sources to drive monetary policy decisions, a rear-view mirror approach often criticized as being too restrictive. Those critics, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee to be the next Fed chair, advocate use of more advanced models, including AI, to set interest rates.Fed to release latest “dot plot” this weekThe Fed’s “Summary of Economic Projections” provides its estimates of inflation, unemployment, and economic output, in addition to estimates of interest rates that officials see as the most appropriate monetary policy over a three-year horizon. The interest rate estimates, also known as the Fed’s “dot plot,” are closely watched on Wall Street for insight into the central bank’s thinking and plans.Background on the Federal Reserve Insights surveyIn all, 28 former officials and staff members participated in the survey between March 6 and March 13. The survey panel included former Fed board governors, former regional bank presidents, and former staff at the Board and Reserve Banks. Related: Looming Fed meeting shifts bets for 2026 interest-rate cutsThe projections outlined are based on the medians of their estimates.Some individuals didn’t answer every question.Survey projects new inflation, jobless ratesFormer central bank officials projected 3% inflation this year, higher than the Fed’s official 2% target, and higher than the 2.4% inflation rate that the central bank projected for 2026 back in December.Former officials also projected a jobless rate of 4.6%, higher than the 4.4% rate that the central bank projected in December and higher than the 4.2% rate that the Fed sees as normal in the long run. The former officials projected slower growth in economic output than previously estimated. For now, they agreed the United States is not in recession or heading toward recession, but they said that could change if conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to global oil supplies persist.Could Fed interest-rate hikes be in the future? Given the economic backdrop, most respondents said the Fed would likely need to hold policy steady this year. Thirteen respondents said appropriate policy in 2026 would likely be no change in rates.Six said it would be appropriate to raise rates.Seven said it would be appropriate to reduce rates.Former Fed officials focus on Iran war, oil shockMany former officials in the Duke survey described the conflict in the Persian Gulf as a global supply shock — a constraint on the production and movement of energy and other products from the Middle East to other parts of the world. Reduced supply pushes up prices and reduces output. One former official estimated that every $10 per barrel increase in the price of oil adds 0.2 percentage points to the U.S. inflation rate. The longer this disruption lasts, this person said, the greater the risks to inflation and output. A short-term disruption might wash through the economy without major effects on inflation or output. A sustained shock would be more damaging. A sustained oil price above $100 per barrel would raise recession risk, while sustained oil prices over $120 per barrel would make recession the most likely outcome, this person said. What the market outlook expects from the FedWith the Fed meeting this week amid heightened geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices,  markets are closely watching what the “dot plot” will reveal.Ben Sullivan, CIO of AE Wealth Management, said higher energy prices could complicate the inflation outlook, even as markets continue to anticipate rate cuts later in the cycle. Sullivan expects the possibility of one to two cuts over the remainder of 2026 if inflation moderates and growth slows, but said a major wild card remains the potential leadership transition at the Fed and the uncertainty surrounding Warsh’s confirmation.Gene Goldman, CIO of Cetera Investment Management, said he is focused on how the Iran War and resulting spike in oil prices could keep market volatility elevated. While markets historically recover from geopolitical shocks, Goldman said higher energy costs can pressure consumer spending and potentially influence Fed policy. He said he is also watching the stronger U.S. dollar and elevated market valuations, which may make equities more sensitive to uncertainty.Related: Oil shock threatens Fed rate-cut bets