The Federal Reserve concluded its much-anticipated Federal Open Market Committee meeting today, saying it would keep rates steady until 2023, albeit planning to raise them earlier in the year. It also significantly raised its inflation forecast and reiterated what was said at the previous meeting, that “the path of the economy will depend significantly on the course of the virus.”

                By                    Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy

See: The Fed Speaks on Interest Rates, Still Wants to Keep Them Low Find: What Does the Fed Do, Anyway?

“Progress on vaccinations has reduced the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. Amid this progress and strong policy support, indicators of economic activity and employment have strengthened. The sectors most adversely affected by the pandemic remain weak but have shown improvement. Inflation has risen, largely reflecting transitory factors. Overall financial conditions remain accommodative, in part reflecting policy measures to support the economy and the flow of credit to U.S. households and businesses,” reads the committee’s press release of today’s announcement.

According to meeting participants’ projections, inflation forecast is up 3.4% from 2.4% in March, based on data released today.

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Projections indicate that rates are expected to go up to 0.6% earlier than previously announced in 2023 and then jump to 2.5% “in the longer run.”

The committee also increased its GDP forecast, projecting it to grow 7% in 2021, compared with the 6.5% projected in March, as well as its 2023 forecast, projecting GDP of 2.4% from 2.2% in March.

Unemployment rate projections are 4.5% for December 2021, 3.9% for December 2022 and 3.5% for December 2023, according to the Fed.

See: JOLTS Report Shows 9.3 Million Jobs Added As Quits Hit Record High Find: Prices Surge 5% as Inflation Rises with No End in Sight – May’s Consumer Price Index, By the Numbers

In addition, treasury securities holdings will continue to increase by at least $80 billion per month and agency mortgage-backed securities by at least $40 billion per month “until substantial further progress has been made toward the committee’s maximum employment and price stability goals.”

Speaking at a press conference following the announcement today, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that the rate increases are “not the focus of the committee,” reiterating previous statements that hikes will be “outcome-based, not time-based hiked, when inflation is at 2% and on track.”

He added that the main message is that the Fed is comfortable that economic conditions will be met sooner than previously anticipated and that this is a “welcomed development.”

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