FOMC Meeting & Rate Decision · Fed Decision / Federal Funds Rate
Released8 times per year · 2:00 PM ET · second meeting day
Frequency8 times per year
SourceFederal Reserve
Definition
The Federal Open Market Committee sets the target range for the federal funds rate and publishes a policy statement. Four of the eight meetings add a Summary of Economic Projections (the “dot plot”), and every meeting is followed by the Chair’s press conference.
Why investors care
The funds rate is the anchor for every U.S. interest rate. The decision, the statement’s wording and the dots move every asset class.
What to watch
The market usually prices the rate move in advance — the surprise is in the statement language, the dot plot and the press conference tone.