First FOMC Meeting of 2024 Adjourned: United States Prime Rate Continues at 8.50%

United States Prime Rate

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve System has just adjourned its first monetary policy meeting of 2024 and, in accordance with our latest forecast, has voted to keep the benchmark target range for the federal funds rate at 5.25% - 5.50%. Therefore, the United States Prime Rate (a.k.a the Fed Prime Rate) continues at 8.50%.

NB: U.S. Prime Rate = (The Fed Funds Target Rate + 3)

Here's a clip from today's FOMC press release (note text in bold):

"...Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace. Job gains have moderated since early last year but remain strong, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation has eased over the past year but remains elevated.

The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. The Committee judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are moving into better balance. The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committee remains highly attentive to inflation risks.

In support of its goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 to 5-1/2 percent. In considering any adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. The Committee does not expect it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent. In addition, the Committee will continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities, as described in its previously announced plans. The Committee is strongly committed to returning inflation to its 2 percent objective.

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 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; Michael S. Barr; Raphael W. Bostic; Michelle W. Bowman; Lisa D. Cook; Mary C. Daly; Philip N. Jefferson; Adriana D. Kugler; Loretta J. Mester; and Christopher J. Waller..."

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 The United States Prime Rate was raised to the current 8.50% on July 26, 2023.

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Odds Now At 90% (Very Likely) The U.S. Prime Rate Will Continue At 8.50% After The January 31, 2024 FOMC Monetary Policy Meeting

Prime Rate Prediction

Prime Rate Forecast

As of right now, our odds are at 90% (very likely) the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will vote to keep the benchmark target range for the fed funds rate at  5.25% - 5.50% at the January 31^ST, 2024 monetary policy meeting, with the United States Prime Rate (a.k.a Fed Prime Rate) remaining at 8.50%.

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Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y), the Core PCE, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, fell from 3.4% during October 2023, to 3.2% during November, 2023.  It was 4.8% back in November of 2022.

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Right now, we have odds at 65% (on the fence) the Fed will cut short-term rates, including the U.S. Prime Rate, by 25 basis points (0.25 percentage point) at the March 20, 2024 FOMC meeting. 

Stay tuned...

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The United States Prime Rate was raised to the current 8.50% on July 26, 2023.

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NB: U.S. Prime Rate = (The Fed Funds Target Rate + 3)

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Current Odds

• Current odds the U.S. Prime Rate will continue at 8.50% after the January 31^ST, 2024 FOMC monetary policy meeting: 90% (very likely.)
  

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FOMC Meeting Schedule for 2024

Here's the 2024 meeting schedule for the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC.)

Why is this schedule important to you? Because it's at these monetary policy meetings that the FOMC votes on whether to raise, lower or make no changes to the target range for Fed Funds Target Rate, and when the Fed Funds Target Rate changes, the United States Prime Rate (also known as the Fed Prime Rate) will also change (how the United States Prime Rate works):

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• January 31, 2024
• March 20, 2024
• May 1, 2024
• June 12, 2024
• July 31, 2024
• September 18, 2024
• November 7, 2024
• December 18, 2024

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