FOMC Statement — 2004-12-14

Release Date: December 14, 2004 

For immediate release

      
      The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to raise its target for 
        the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 2-1/4 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 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 3-1/4 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, Kansas 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.

      
        
        2004 Monetary policy 
      
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       Last update: December 14, 2004