A survey conducted by the National Association of Business Economists found that a 42% of business economists expect the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates by between a quarter and a half percentage point within the next six months.

The Federal Reserve is expected to end its $1.25 trillion purchase program of mortgage-backed securities by the end of this month. The program was launched to provide a boost to the economy and aid its recovery.

Among those surveyed, 44% of economists were of the opinion that the lack of sufficient regulation was responsible for the financial crisis and reducing the Federal Reserve’s regulatory powers would make it less effective in overseeing monetary policy. 44% of economists also supported the current fiscal policy though a majority also said that the economy did not need another stimulus package and that a growing deficit would result in higher borrowing costs.