Federal Reserve issues FOMC

Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. Job gains haveremained strong, and the unemployment rate has remained low, inflation has eased over the past yearbut remains elevated, in recent months, there has been a lack of furher progress toward the Commitee's2 percent inflalion objective.

The Commitlee seeks lo achieve maximum employment and inlialion at the rate of 2 percent over thelonger run. The Committee judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals havemoved toward betler balance over the past year. The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committeeremains highly attentive to inflation nsks.

In support of its goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5.1/4 to 5-1/2 percent in considering any adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, theCommittee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. TheCommittee does not expect it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greaterconfidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent, in addition, the Committee will continuereducing its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securitiesBeginning in June, the Committee will slow the pace of decline of its securities holdings by reducing themonthly redemption cap on Treasury securities from $60 billion to $25 billion, The Commitlee will maintainthe monthly redemplion cap on agency debt and agency morigage-backed securities at $35 bilion andwill reinvest any principal payments in excess of this cap into Treasury securities. The Commitlee isstrongly commilted to returning inllation to ils 2 percent objective

In assessing the appropriate stance of monetary policy, the Commitlee will continue to monitor theimplications of incoming information for the economic outlook. The Committee would be prepared toadjust the stance of monetary policy as approprlate if risks emerge that could impede the attainment ofthe Commitee's goals. The Committee's assessments will take into account a wide range of information,including readings on labor market conditions, infiation pressures and infiation expectations, and financialand international develooments.

Voting for the monetary policy action were Jerome H, Powel, Chair, John C, Wiliams, Vice Chair;Thomas l. Barkin,; Michael S, Barr, Raphael W, Bostic, Michelle W, Bowman, Lisa D. Cook, Mary C. DalyPhilip N, Jefferson, Adriana D, Kugler, Loretta J. Mester and Christopher J. Waller