FOMC Watch: Upcoming Meeting and Market Expectations
The next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting is scheduled for July 29-30, 2025. This will be a closely watched event as market participants look for signals regarding the future path of interest rates.
What is #FOMCWatch
"FOMCWatch" refers to the act of monitoring and analyzing information related to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. The FOMC, a committee within the Federal Reserve System, is responsible for setting monetary policy in the United States, primarily through decisions on the federal funds rate. Traders and analysts use tools like the CME FedWatch Tool to track probabilities of changes to the Fed rate, as implied by 30-Day Fed Funds futures prices.
Current Market Expectations:
As of mid-July 2025, the market is highly focused on whether the Federal Reserve will begin to cut interest rates. While some analysts anticipate that the committee may indicate that now is the appropriate time for a rate cut, others believe a delay is more likely.
Recent FOMC minutes from the June 17-18 meeting revealed diverging views among policymakers:
* Most participants believe some reduction in the federal funds rate target range this year would likely be appropriate, citing factors such as the potentially temporary or modest impact of tariffs on inflation, and well-anchored medium- and longer-term inflation expectations.
* Some policymakers favor no rate reductions before year-end, pointing to sticky inflation that remains above the 2% target.
* A couple of policymakers expressed support for rate reductions as early as the upcoming July meeting, provided economic data aligns with their expectations.
The current federal funds rate is reportedly at 4.25%-4.50% as of the June 17-18, 2025, meeting.
Key things to watch for at the July FOMC meeting:
* Interest Rate Decision: The primary focus will be on whether the FOMC decides to maintain, raise, or cut the federal funds rate.
* Press Statement: The accompanying press statement will provide insights into the committee's economic outlook and future policy intentions.
* Press Conference: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell's press conference following the meeting will offer further details and clarifications.
* Economic Projections (SEP): Meetings marked with an asterisk (*) are associated with a Summary of Economic Projections, which provides individual FOMC participants' assessments of appropriate monetary policy and projections for economic growth, inflation, and unemployment. The September and December meetings in 2025 will include an #Sep .
Upcoming FOMC Meetings in 2025:
* July 29-30
* September 16-17* (Includes Summary of Economic Projections)
* October 28-29
* December 9-10* (Includes Summary of Economic Projections)