The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged at their December meeting, The QE Taper doubled in pace of Treasuries $20B per month as expected, and MBS $10B per month as expected. Dot plot shows three hikes in 2022 vs two hikes expected
Federal Reserve FOMC Statement
Federal Reserve Announcement, Wednesday 15 December 2021 14:00:00 ET
FOMC Benchmark Interest Rate Target Range UNCH .00-0.25%
Interest Rate On Excess Reserves IOER hiked to 15 bps
Conference To Follow At 2.30 ET PM With Chairman Powell
Highlights
- Rates left unchanged at 0-0.25%
- Cut in pace of Treasuries $20B/month vs $20B/month expected
- Cut in pace of MBS $10B/month vs $10B/month expected
- Taper began in mid-November Another of $15B/month of tapering was pre-announced for mid-Dec
- Change to the taper is ” In light of inflation developments and the further improvement in the labor market”
- Says similar pace of taper expected in the coming months
- Prepared to adjust the pace of purchases if warranted by changes in the economic situation
- Expects it will be appropriate to keep rates at current level until labor market conditions meet levels consistent with maximum employment
- Dot plot shows three hikes in 2022 vs two hikes expected
- Dot plot sees three more hikes in 2023
- Supply and demand imbalances due to pandemic and reopening continued to contribute to elevated inflation
December 15 21 FOMC STATEMENT CHANGES via @Newsquawk
FOMC Dot Plot and Central Tendencies from December 2021
Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement December 15, 2021
The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum employment and price stability goals.
With progress on vaccinations and strong policy support, indicators of economic activity and employment have continued to strengthen. The sectors most adversely affected by the pandemic have improved in recent months but continue to be affected by COVID-19. Job gains have been solid in recent months, and the unemployment rate has declined substantially. Supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic and the reopening of the economy have continued to contribute to elevated levels of inflation. 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.
The path of the economy continues to depend on the course of the virus. Progress on vaccinations and an easing of supply constraints are expected to support continued gains in economic activity and employment as well as a reduction in inflation. Risks to the economic outlook remain, including from new variants of the virus.
The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. In support of these goals, the Committee decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent. With inflation having exceeded 2 percent for some time, the Committee expects it will be appropriate to maintain this target range until labor market conditions have reached levels consistent with the Committee’s assessments of maximum employment. In light of inflation developments and the further improvement in the labor market, the Committee decided to reduce the monthly pace of its net asset purchases by $20 billion for Treasury securities and $10 billion for agency mortgage-backed securities. Beginning in January, the Committee will increase its holdings of Treasury securities by at least $40 billion per month and of agency mortgage‑backed securities by at least $20 billion per month. The Committee judges that similar reductions in the pace of net asset purchases will likely be appropriate each month, but it is prepared to adjust the pace of purchases if warranted by changes in the economic outlook. The Federal Reserve’s ongoing purchases and holdings of securities will continue to foster smooth market functioning and accommodative financial conditions, thereby supporting the flow of credit to households and businesses.
In assessing the appropriate stance of monetary policy, the Committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook. The Committee would be prepared to adjust the stance of monetary policy as appropriate if risks emerge that could impede the attainment of the Committee’s goals. The Committee’s assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on public health, labor market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments.
Voting for the monetary policy action were Jerome H. Powell, Chair; John C. Williams, Vice Chair; Thomas I. Barkin; Raphael W. Bostic; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; Richard H. Clarida; Mary C. Daly; Charles L. Evans; Randal K. Quarles; and Christopher J. Waller.
Implementation Note issued December 15, 2021
Source: Federal Reserve
From the TradersCommunity Research Des