FOMC Meeting Announcement < > http://www.s
Post# of 98045
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Released On 3/21/2018 2:00:00 PM
Prior Consensus Consensus Range
Federal Funds Rate - Target Level 1.25 to 1.50 % 1.625 % 1.50 % to 1.75 %
Consensus Outlook
An incremental 25 basis point rate hike is the universal expectation among Econoday's sample for the March FOMC, in what is expected to be the first of three if not four such rate hikes this year. And the focus will be whether to expect a fourth and this will turn on the quarterly FOMC forecasts, which will be updated at the meeting, and also the statement's assessment of inflation and whether it is downgraded, upgraded or held steady. Comments by Jerome Powell, who will be making his first appearance at the quarterly press conference, will also affect the inflation takeaway. The federal funds target is expected to rise to 1.625 percent inside a range of 1.50 and 1.75 percent.