Four regional Federal Reserve banks voted in April to raise the interest rate the Fed charges on short-term emergency loans to banks, the central bank announced Tuesday, a sign that officials across the Federal Reserve system see the economy improving enough to tighten monetary policy.

Only two of the Fed’s 12 regional banks had requested discount rate increases in the month before.

Recommended Stories

Fed faces populist risk by paying banks

Yellen’s last act: Fed holds target rate steady

Fed officials open the door to major action at next meeting in September