The Federal Reserve quietly shapes the Powerball's $1.7B jackpot

Few people think about the Federal Reserve when choosing their lucky Powerball numbers.  Yet, Saturday’s drawing, the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history, is fueled in part by the Fed’s high interest rates. When officials at the Fed and President Donald Trump debate rates, they are most likely not concerned about lottery jackpots. But the unusual stretch of higher rates shows how the same decision can cut both ways—costing some Americans money while boosting the savings of others.  POWERBALL TICKETS SOLD ...