December 14, 2004 FOMC Statement

Target rate 2.25% ▲ raised 0.25 pp Vote 12–0 Tone: Balanced +0.19

FOMC statement

FOMC statement and Board discount rate action

For immediate release

The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 2 2-1/4 percent.

The Committee believes that, even after this action, the stance of monetary policy remains accommodative and, coupled with robust underlying growth in productivity, is providing ongoing support to economic activity. Output appears to be growing at a moderate pace despite the earlier rise in energy prices, and labor market conditions ~~have improved.~~ continue to improve gradually. Inflation and longer-term inflation expectations remain well contained.

The Committee perceives the upside and downside risks to the attainment of both sustainable growth and price stability for the next few quarters to be roughly equal. With underlying inflation expected to be relatively low, the Committee believes that policy accommodation can be removed at a pace that is likely to be measured. Nonetheless, the Committee will respond to changes in economic prospects as needed to fulfill its obligation to maintain price stability.

Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Alan Greenspan, Chairman; Timothy F. Geithner, Vice Chairman; Ben S. Bernanke; Susan S. Bies; Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.; Edward M. Gramlich; Thomas M. Hoenig; Donald L. Kohn; Cathy E. Minehan; Mark W. Olson; Sandra Pianalto; and William Poole.

In a related action, the Board of Governors unanimously approved a 25 basis point increase in the discount rate to 3 3-1/4 percent. In taking this action, the Board approved the requests submitted by the Boards of Directors of the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, ~~and~~ Kansas ~~City.~~ City, Dallas, and San Francisco.

In addition, the Committee unanimously decided to expedite the release of its minutes. Beginning with this meeting, the minutes of regularly scheduled meetings will be released three weeks after the date of the policy decision. The first set of expedited minutes will be released at 2 p.m. EST on January 4, 2005.

Source

Our summary

What changed

Raised the federal funds rate target by 25 basis points to 2-1/4 percent.
Changed language on energy prices from 'the rise' to 'the earlier rise', and labor market from 'have improved' to 'continue to improve gradually'.
Increased the discount rate by 25 basis points to 3-1/4 percent, and expanded the list of approving Reserve Banks to include Dallas and San Francisco.
Announced that minutes of regularly scheduled meetings will be released three weeks after the policy decision, starting with January 4, 2005.

Implications

The tweak to 'earlier rise' suggests energy price pressures are seen as transitory, and the gradual improvement in labor markets supports a measured pace of rate hikes.

The expedited minutes release signals a move toward greater transparency, which markets may interpret as a commitment to clearer communication of policy intentions.

Summary generated automatically from the statements. Not investment advice.