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FOMC Statement comparison; Warsh Presser and Q&A

By Rhona O'Connell · October 30, 2026

  • Changes to the FOMC meeting schedule starting next fall reserve specific meetings for long-term strategy (p. 1).
    • The FOMC will maintain eight meetings per year, introducing non-voting strategy meetings in 2027 (one meeting) and 2028 (two strategy meetings, six policy meetings) (p. 1).
  • The FOMC voted 10–2 to keep the federal funds rate on hold while emphasizing data dependence (pp. 1–2).
    • Board Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack dissented, voting for a rate hike (p. 2).
    • The statement upgraded the description of economic activity pace from "solid" to "strong" while keeping the dual-mandate framing and ample reserves policy unchanged (p. 1).
    • The assessment noted that additional data accumulation will guide policy stance to return inflation to the 2% target (p. 1).
  • Kevin Warsh highlighted stronger economic growth and persistent inflation during his opening remarks (p. 2).
    • First-half GDP growth was revised up from 1.8% to 2.4%, with Q3 growth driven by consumer spending above 3% and near double-digit business investment growth (p. 2).
    • Capital expenditures reached a historically high share of GDP, led by high-tech investments (p. 2).
    • Inflation has run above target for close to six years, and while financial conditions tightened for some, Warsh declined to call overall conditions "tight" (p. 2).
  • Key points addressed in the press conference Q&A included inflation targets, task forces, and market dynamics (pp. 2–3).
    • Warsh reaffirmed a hard 2% inflation target based on PCE, explicitly denying any soft or implicit target (pp. 1, 3).
    • Working groups are largely expected to report on time by year-end, with the Productivity and Jobs task force holding a field hearing on November 16th (p. 3).
    • Warsh noted that monetary policy is starting to work, and while near-term household inflation expectations rose with high gas prices, long-term confidence in price stability remains (p. 3).

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