WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve said it expects that the ongoing strength of the U.S. economy will warrant gradual increases in interest rates this year, delivering the same steady-as-it-goes message under new leader Jerome Powell as it had provided under Janet Yellen.

The Fed’s projection on rate hikes came with the release Friday of its semi-annual monetary report to Congress. Powell will testify on the report before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday, making his first public appearance since taking over as chairman earlier this month.

The report stated that the Fed expects steady economic gains will warrant “further gradual increases” in the Fed’s benchmark rate. But it said the rate was likely to remain low enough to stimulate the economy over the next two years.

Separately, Loretta Mester, president of the Fed’s Cleveland regional bank, suggested that the central bank should embark this year on a review of its operating strategies. The Fed seeks to manage interest rates to promote maximum employment and stable prices, which it defines as inflation rising at an annual rate of 2 percent.

The comments by Mester, whose name has been mentioned as a possible candidate to be the Fed’s next vice chairman, come as various private economists have also suggested that now might be a good time to review how the Fed seeks to achieve its policy goals.

Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said Friday’s monetary report was “in line with further gradual rate hikes” although he said various sections could be read to support either an expected three hikes or possibly four hikes this year.

He said that comments in the report that noted that the labor market was “near or a little beyond” full employment could be a signal that the Fed will boost rates four times this year. But other comments that wage growth remains “moderate” could be cited to support the view that the Fed was sticking with its December projection for three rate hikes, he noted.

Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank in New York, said he believes the overall tone in the report was a signal the central bank under Powell is prepared to accelerate rate hikes to four this year.

The Fed’s key policy rate is currently in a range of 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent. The Fed raised rates three times last year with the last hike occurring in December.