- July 15, 2015: Summary
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3
- Abbreviations
- Printable Version (1.32 MB PDF)
Accessible versions of figures in Part 3
Table data presented with the Monetary Policy Report submitted to the Congress on July 15, 2015, pursuant to section 2B of the Federal Reserve Act
Figure 1. Central tendencies and ranges of economic projections, 2015-17 and over the longer run
Central tendencies and ranges of economic projections for years 2015 through 2017 and over the longer run. Actual values for years 2010 through 2014.
Change in real GDP
Percent
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | 2.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 2.4 | - | - | - | - |
| Upper End of Range | - | - | - | - | - | 2.3 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Upper End of Central Tendency | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| Lower End of Central Tendency | - | - | - | - | - | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Lower End of Range | - | - | - | - | - | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
Unemployment rate
Percent
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | 9.5 | 8.7 | 7.8 | 7.0 | 5.7 | - | - | - | - |
| Upper End of Range | - | - | - | - | - | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.8 |
| Upper End of Central Tendency | - | - | - | - | - | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Lower End of Central Tendency | - | - | - | - | - | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 |
| Lower End of Range | - | - | - | - | - | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.0 |
PCE inflation
Percent
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | 1.3 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.1 | - | - | - | - |
| Upper End of Range | - | - | - | - | - | 1.0 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| Upper End of Central Tendency | - | - | - | - | - | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Lower End of Central Tendency | - | - | - | - | - | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| Lower End of Range | - | - | - | - | - | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
Core PCE inflation
Percent
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | 1.0 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | - | - | - | - |
| Upper End of Range | - | - | - | - | - | 1.6 | 2.4 | 2.2 | n.a. |
| Upper End of Central Tendency | - | - | - | - | - | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.0 | n.a. |
| Lower End of Central Tendency | - | - | - | - | - | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | n.a. |
| Lower End of Range | - | - | - | - | - | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | n.a. |
Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note 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
| 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | 15 | 2 |
Note: In the upper panel, the height of each bar denotes the number of FOMC participants who judge that, under appropriate monetary policy, the first increase in the target range for the federal funds rate from its current range of 0 to ¼ percent will occur in the specified calendar year. In March 2015, the numbers of FOMC participants who judged that the first increase in the target federal funds rate would occur in 2015 and 2016 were, respectively, 15 and 2.
Appropriate pace of policy firming: Midpoint of target range or target level for the federal funds rate
Number of participants with projected midpoint of target range or target level
| Midpoint of target range or target level (Percent) |
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.125 | 2 | |||
| 0.250 | ||||
| 0.375 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 0.500 | ||||
| 0.625 | 5 | |||
| 0.750 | ||||
| 0.875 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 1.000 | ||||
| 1.125 | 1 | |||
| 1.250 | ||||
| 1.375 | 4 | |||
| 1.500 | ||||
| 1.625 | 3 | |||
| 1.750 | ||||
| 1.875 | 1 | |||
| 2.000 | 1 | |||
| 2.125 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2.250 | 1 | |||
| 2.375 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 2.500 | ||||
| 2.625 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 2.750 | ||||
| 2.875 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 3.000 | ||||
| 3.125 | 1 | |||
| 3.250 | 3 | |||
| 3.375 | 1 | |||
| 3.500 | 5 | |||
| 3.625 | 2 | |||
| 3.750 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 3.875 | 2 | |||
| 4.000 | 2 | |||
| 4.125 | ||||
| 4.250 | 1 |
Note: In the lower panel, each shaded circle indicates the value (rounded to the nearest 1/8 percentage point) of an individual participant's judgment of the midpoint of the appropriate target range for the federal funds rate or the appropriate target level for the 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, 2015-17 and over the longer run
Histograms, four panels.
Number of participants
| Percent range | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
|
| 1.6 - 1.7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.8 - 1.9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2.0 - 2.1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| 2.2 - 2.3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| 2.4 - 2.5 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 2.6 - 2.7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.8 - 2.9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3.0 - 3.1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.
Figure 3.B. Distribution of participants' projections for the unemployment rate, 2015-17 and over the longer run
Histograms, four panels.
Number of participants
| Percent range | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
|
| 4.4 - 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4.6 - 4.7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4.8 - 4.9 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 5.0 - 5.1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| 5.2 - 5.3 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| 5.4 - 5.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5.6 - 5.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5.8 - 5.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.
Figure 3.C. Distribution of participants' projections for PCE inflation, 2015-17 and over the longer run
Histograms, four panels.
Number of participants
| Percent range | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
|
| 0.5 - 0.6 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.7 - 0.8 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.9 - 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.1 - 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.3 - 1.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.5 - 1.6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.7 - 1.8 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.9 - 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 17 |
| 2.1 - 2.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.3 - 2.4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.
Figure 3.D. Distribution of participants' projections for core PCE inflation, 2015-17
Histograms, three panels.
Number of participants
| Percent range | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
|
| 1.1 - 1.2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.3 - 1.4 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.5 - 1.6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.7 - 1.8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| 1.9 - 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 11 |
| 2.1 - 2.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2.3 - 2.4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.
Figure 3.E. Distribution of participants' judgments of the midpoint of the appropriate target range for the federal funds rate or the appropriate target level for the federal funds rate, 2015-17 and over the longer run
Histograms, four panels.
Number of participants
| Percent range | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Longer run | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
June projections |
March projections |
|
| 0.00 - 0.37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.38 - 0.62 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.63 - 0.87 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.88 - 1.12 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.13 - 1.37 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.38 - 1.62 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.63 - 1.87 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.88 - 2.12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.13 - 2.37 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.38 - 2.62 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.63 - 2.87 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.88 - 3.12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 3.13 - 3.37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 3.38 - 3.62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| 3.63 - 3.87 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| 3.88 - 4.12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 4.13 - 4.37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Note: The midpoints of the target ranges for the federal funds rate and the target levels for the federal funds rate are measured at the end of the specified calendar year or over the longer run.
Figure 4. Uncertainty and risks in economic projections
Histograms, eight panels.
Uncertainty about GDP growth
Number of participants
| Lower | Broadly similar | Higher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June projections | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| March projections | 0 | 15 | 2 |
Uncertainty about the unemployment rate
Number of participants
| Lower | Broadly similar | Higher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June projections | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| March projections | 0 | 15 | 2 |
Uncertainty about PCE inflation
Number of participants
| Lower | Broadly similar | Higher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June projections | 1 | 12 | 4 |
| March projections | 0 | 13 | 4 |
Uncertainty about core PCE inflation
Number of participants
| Lower | Broadly similar | Higher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June projections | 2 | 12 | 3 |
| March projections | 0 | 14 | 3 |
Risks to GDP growth
Number of participants
| Weighted to downside | Broadly balanced | Weighted to upside | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June projections | 4 | 13 | 0 |
| March projections | 4 | 13 | 0 |
Risks to the unemployment rate
Number of participants
| Weighted to downside | Broadly balanced | Weighted to upside | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June projections | 1 | 14 | 2 |
| March projections | 1 | 15 | 1 |
Risks to PCE inflation
Number of participants
| Weighted to downside | Broadly balanced | Weighted to upside | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June projections | 5 | 11 | 1 |
| March projections | 8 | 8 | 1 |
Risks to core PCE inflation
Number of participants
| Weighted to downside | Broadly balanced | Weighted to upside | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June projections | 5 | 11 | 1 |
| March projections | 8 | 8 | 1 |
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.
