No chance of a change in rates, but the market will be looking for a change in the wording of the statement that could be interpreted as opening the door for a rate cut down the road. Here is the previous statement and where to look for changes:
For immediate release
The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 percent. [
Any change to that first sentence would be a major surprise!!! ]
Economic growth appears to have been moderate during the first half of this year, despite the ongoing adjustment in the housing sector.
They should note that housing has gotten worse, but they will more likely gloss over that by keeping this sentence unchanged
The economy seems likely to continue to expand at a moderate pace over coming quarters.
Readings on core inflation have improved modestly in recent months. However, a sustained moderation in inflation pressures has yet to be convincingly demonstrated. Moreover, the high level of resource utilization has the potential to sustain those pressures.
[
Hard to change this wording. There has been no real improvement in the inflation data. ]
In these circumstances, the Committee's predominant policy concern
[
Here is where it gets interesting. Is their main concern still inflation? Will they mention that credit spreads have widened significantly which has been a de facto interest rate hike for much of the economy and has the potential to put a drag on economic growth? This is where the market will be looking for a change in the wording! ]
remains the risk that inflation will fail to moderate as expected.
My suggestion for Mr wishywashy is to keep the predominant policy concern inflation, but insert a "secondary" concern that credit tightening in the market may harm economic growth. This will let the Fed remain vigilant on inflation but will also let the market hope for a rate cut and trade everything up (stocks and bonds).
Future policy adjustments will depend on the evolution of the outlook for both inflation and economic growth, as implied by incoming information.
Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Jaxon
