Upcoming FOMC Meetings
The FOMC holds eight scheduled meetings per year. The policy decision is announced at 2:00 PM ET on the second day of each meeting.
| Meeting dates | Decision (2:00 PM ET) | SEP & dot plot | Status |
|---|
The Fed notes that each meeting date is tentative until confirmed at the preceding meeting. Statuses update automatically based on today's date.
What to Watch at Each Meeting
1. The policy statement — 2:00 PM ET, day two
A short document announcing the interest-rate decision and the Committee's view of the economy. Markets compare every word against the previous statement: a changed phrase about inflation or jobs can move stocks and bonds in seconds. Read the statement itself before reacting to headlines.
2. The dot plot and Summary of Economic Projections (quarterly)
Four times a year — at the March, June, September, and December meetings (marked "SEP" in the table above) — each FOMC participant anonymously plots where they think the federal funds rate should be at year-end for the next few years. The median dot is the market's focal point. It is not a promise: the Committee regularly deviates from old dots as data changes.
3. The Chair's press conference — 2:30 PM ET, day two
After every scheduled meeting, the Fed Chair takes questions from reporters. The Q&A often reveals nuance the statement doesn't — how worried the Chair is about inflation versus unemployment, and what data would change the policy path. This is where "forward guidance" lives.
Between meetings: Fed speeches
Officials give speeches year-round, and a single hawkish or dovish remark can reprices rate expectations. Note the blackout period: in the roughly 10 days before each meeting, Fed officials go quiet, so the last speeches before a blackout carry extra weight. Check the Fed's official calendar (linked below) for upcoming appearances.
Key Fed Voices
The seven members of the Board of Governors always vote on policy; five regional Fed presidents rotate as voters each year (the New York Fed president votes at every meeting).
- Kevin WarshChair of the Federal Reserve
- Philip JeffersonVice Chair
- Michelle BowmanVice Chair for Supervision
- Michael BarrGovernor
- Lisa CookGovernor
- Jerome PowellGovernor
- Christopher WallerGovernor
- John WilliamsPresident, New York Fed (permanent voter)
Personnel can change. Verify current officeholders on the Federal Reserve's official bios page.
Official Sources
- FOMC meeting calendars, statements & minutes The Federal Reserve's official schedule — the source for every date on this page.
- Federal Reserve calendar: speeches & events Upcoming speeches by Fed officials, FOMC meetings, Beige Book releases, and statistical releases.
- Board member biographies Current Chair, Vice Chairs, and governors.