June 16-17 ‘15 FOMC Meeting

In a Nutshell: “Conditions for the first rate hike have not yet been met.”

Rate Decision: Fed funds rate maintained at a range between 0% and 0.25%

The FOMC concluded its two-day meeting this afternoon and the statement basically told us nothing we didn’t already know. The economy picked up from the winter downdraft but there is still a way to go before we get back to strong growth. Yes, 2015 growth was downgraded from the March forecasts, but few expected a negative first quarter at that time. It was just math. Otherwise, there was little change in the comments as the Committee kept the funds rate range the same and there was no change in its investment policy.

So, does that mean there was nothing to be gleaned from today’s news? Absolutely not. First, and maybe most importantly, most members expect there to be at least two rate hikes this year. According to the “dot chart” of forecasts, the “central tendency” is for the funds rate to be at 0.625% at year’s end. The only way to get there is if the rate hikes start in either September or October. Since there is no press conference in October (it’s that dumb press conference calendar issue again), the target month looks like September.

Chair Yellen’s press conference also provided some good information. First, she made it clear, time after time, that the conditions for a rate hike had not yet been met – but they could be soon. While the labor market has gotten a lot better, there is still some slack that needs to be taken up. A reduction in the number of people working part-time but wanting full time jobs needs to fall while wage gains and the participation rate need to rise. She seemed to think the participation concern is less of an issue now that it has stabilized.   Stronger growth, which most members expect, would resolve the labor slack issue.

Chair Yellen noted often that almost all members expect rates to rise this year. However, she tried to persuade everyone that there was no set pathway once the first rate hike occurred. She pointed out that most members expect something on the order of 100 basis points rise each year. Even with my challenged mathematical abilities, I can figure that to be a 25 basis point rate hike every other meeting. She is trying to dissuade people from assuming there had to be 25 basis point moves every meeting. I don’t believe it because at that pace, a neutral fed funds rate of 3.75% will not be reached until sometime in 2018. If it takes that long, I fear for the economy.

Okay, what is the takeaway here? Barring some negative international event, such as Greece hurting European growth, the Fed remains on track for a September rate hike. I suspect that most market participants don’t believe that. People still want to see it before they believe it. So, don’t be surprised if there is some real volatility if the Fed does what it says it will likely do.

(The next FOMC meeting is July 28-29, 2015.)