Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Accessible Version

Table data for charts presented with Summary of Economic Projections given within the FOMC Minutes on April 24-25, 2012.

Figure 1. Central tendencies and ranges of economic projections, 2012-14 and over the longer run

Central tendencies and ranges of economic projections for years 2012 through 2014 and over the longer run. Actual values for years 2007 through 2011.

Real GDP Growth
Percent

Unemployment rate
Percent

PCE inflation
Percent

Core PCE inflation
Percent

Note: Definitions of variables are in the notes to table 1. The data for the actual values of the variables are annual. 

Figure 2. Overview of FOMC participants' assessments of appropriate monetary policy

Appropriate Timing of Policy Firming

Note: In the upper panel, the height of each bar denotes the number of FOMC participants who judge that, under appropriate monetary policy and in the absence of further shocks to the economy, the first increase in the target federal funds rate from its current range of 0 to 1/4 percent will occur in the specified calendar year. In January 2012, the numbers of FOMC participants who judged that the first increase in the target federal funds rate would occur in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 were, respectively, 3, 3, 5, 4, and 2. In the lower panel, each shaded circle indicates the value (rounded to the nearest 1/4 percent) of an individual participant’s judgment of the appropriate level of the target federal funds rate at the end of the specified calendar year or over the longer run.

Appropriate Pace of Policy Firming
Number of Participants With Projected Targets

Note: In the lower panel, each shaded circle indicates the value (rounded to the nearest 1/4 percent) of an individual participant's judgment of the appropriate level of the target federal funds rate at the end of the specified calendar year or over the longer run. In January 2012, the numbers of FOMC participants who judged that the first increase in the target federal funds rate would occur in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 were, respectively, 3, 3, 5, 4, and 2. In the lower panel, each shaded circle indicates the value (rounded to the nearest 1/4 percent) of an individual participant’s judgment of the appropriate level of the target federal funds rate at the end of the specified calendar year or over the longer run.

Figure 3.A. Distribution of participants' projections for the change in real GDP, 2012-14 and over the longer run

Histograms, four panels. Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Number of Participants

NOTE: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1. 

Figure 3.B. Distribution of participants' projections for the unemployment rate, 2012-14 and over the longer run

Histograms, four panels. Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Number of Participants

NOTE: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1. 

Figure 3.C. Distribution of participants' projections for PCE inflation, 2012-14 and over the longer run

Histograms, four panels. Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Number of Participants

NOTE: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Figure 3.D. Distribution of participants' projections for core PCE inflation, 2012-14

Histograms, three panels. Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Number of Participants

NOTE: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Figure 3.E. Distribution of participants' projections for the target federal funds rate, 2012-14 and over the longer run

Histograms, four panels. Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Number of Participants

NOTE: The target funds rate is measured as the level of the target rate at the end of the calendar year or in the longer run. 

Figure 4. Uncertainty and risks in economic projections

Histograms, eight panels. For definitions of uncertainty and risks in economic projections, see the box "Forecast Uncertainty." Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Uncertainty about GDP growth
Number of participants

Uncertainty about Unemployment rate
Number of participants

Uncertainty about PCE inflation
Number of participants

Uncertainty about Core PCE inflation
Number of participants

Risks to GDP Growth
Number of participants

Risks to Unemployment rate
Number of participants

Risks to PCE inflation
Number of participants

Risks to Core PCE inflation
Number of participants

NOTE: For definitions of uncertainty and risks in economic projections, see the box "Forecast Uncertainty." Definitions of variables are in the general
note to table 1.