- Decision
- Lower
- Rate change
- 25 bps
- federal funds rate
- 3.75%
The Federal Open Market Committee cut the federal funds target range by 25 bp to 3.50–3.75 percent, pointing to moderate economic expansion alongside slowing job gains, a recent uptick in the unemployment rate and inflation that has risen since earlier in the year and remains “somewhat elevated,” while highlighting elevated uncertainty and higher downside risks to employment. After keeping the range at 4.25–4.50 percent through July, the Committee has now eased policy by a cumulative 75 bp via three consecutive 25 bp reductions since September. With reserve balances judged to have declined to ample levels, the Federal Reserve will start purchasing shorter-term Treasury securities as needed to sustain ample reserves. The FOMC reiterated its vigilance over labour-market data, inflation pressures, expectations and financial developments, and said it stands ready to adjust policy if risks threaten progress toward its dual mandate, reaffirming a strong commitment to returning inflation to the 2 percent objective.
Rate evolution
From June 2025 to September 2026, the Federal Reserve lowered the target range for the federal funds rate by a net 50 basis points, from 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 percent to 3-3/4 to 4 percent, after holding steady through mid-2025, cutting over September to December, pausing through July 2026 and raising the range in September. The initial holds reflected activity that was still expanding, a low unemployment rate and solid labor market conditions, alongside inflation that remained somewhat elevated, while uncertainty had diminished somewhat in June but was still elevated and risks were seen on both sides of the dual mandate. Cuts began as growth moderated, job gains slowed, unemployment edged up and the Committee judged downside risks to employment had risen, even though inflation had moved up and remained somewhat elevated, with the late-2025 easing accompanied by dissents both for larger cuts and for no change.
The Committee kept the federal funds rate unchanged in April, June and July 2026 as activity expanded at a solid pace, unemployment changed little and inflation remained elevated. April cited higher global energy prices, while June and July pointed to supply shocks that drove price increases in certain sectors, including energy, and highlighted strong productivity growth, capital investment and job gains that kept pace with the workforce, while linking elevated uncertainty in part to the conflict in the Middle East. After three members dissented in July in favor of a 1/4 percentage point increase, the Committee unanimously raised the target range by that amount on September 16, citing resilient domestic spending, strong productivity growth, robust capital investment and elevated inflation, and said the action would support a timelier return to its 2 percent goal.