FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE (FOMC) MEETING RESULTS:

DATE: September 20 – 21, 2022 

1. 1The Fed increased its Target Fed Funds rate by 0.75% despite the warning of some expertsthat the rate hike would be a full 1%. The new Fed Funds Target range is now 3% – 3.25%.
2. 2Just like the July FOMC meeting, all members voted in favor of the rate hike.
3. 3The FOMC, which began to shrink its securities portfolio on June 1, 2022, announced it willcontinue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities, agency debt and agency mortgage-backedsecurities, as described in the Plans of Reducing the size of the Federal Reserve’s Balance Sheetthat was announced at the May 2022 FOMC meeting.
4. 4The Committee emphasized that it is strongly committed to returning inflation to its 2%objective.

ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS: Economic activity continue to weaken, and inflation remainstoo high!

• Recent indicators point to modest growth in spending and production. Job gains have beenrobust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low.
• Inflation remains elevated, reflecting supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic,higher food and energy prices, and broader price pressures.
• Russia’s war against Ukraine is causing tremendous human and economic hardship. The warand related events are creating additional upward pressure on inflation and are weighing onglobal economic activity.
• The Committee is highly attentive to inflation risks.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Fed funds rate increased. Fed funds range raised by a 0.75% to anew range of 3% to 3.25%, and balance sheet reductions continue.

• The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2% over thelonger run.
• In support of these goals, the Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal fundsrate to 3% to 3.25% and anticipates that ongoing increases in the target range will beappropriate.
• In addition, the Committee will continue reducing its holding of Treasury securities, agency debtand agency mortgage-backed securities, as described in the plans for reducing the size of theFederal Reserve’s Balance Sheet that were issued in May.
• The Committee is strongly committed to returning inflation to its 2%.
• In assessing the appropriate stance of monetary policy, the Committee will continue to monitorthe implications of incoming information for the economic outlook.
• The Committee would be prepared to adjust the stance of monetary policy as appropriate ifrisks emerge that could impede the attainment of the Committee’s goals.
• The Committee’s assessments will take into account a wide range of information, includingreadings on public health, labor market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations,and financial and international developments.
• The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System voted unanimously to raise the interestrate paid on reserve balances to 3.15, effective September 22, 2022.

NEW ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS

VOTING RESULTS: One dissenting vote

Voting for the monetary policy action were Jerome H. Powell, Chair; John C. Williams, Vice Chair; Michael S. Barr; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; James Bullard; Susan M. Collins; Lisa D. Cook; Ester L. George; Philip N. Jefferson; Loretta J. Mester; and Christopher J. Waller.

NEXT MEETING: November 1 – 2, 2022

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Edmond J. Seifried, PhD

Dr. Seifried is Professor Emeritus of Economics and Business at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and Executive Consultant for the Sheshunoff CEO Affiliation Programs. 

Dr. Seifried serves as the dean of the Virginia and West Virginia Banking Schools and has served on the faculty of numerous banking schools including: Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and the Graduate School of Banking of the South.