The Fed decision for Wednesday, September 16, 2026 has been released.
2:00 PM ET
What it reported
At 2:00 PM ET the Federal Reserve announced it raised the target range for the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point to 3‑3/4 to 4 percent, approving the move on a 12‑0 vote. The Dow slides more than 600 points in the final hour as equities swing lower, reflecting the market’s reaction to the first rate hike in three years.
Written from the headlines on the day it landed and checked against them. Informational only — not investment advice.
Where this release stands
"The Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/4 percentage point to 3‑3/4 to 4 percent, in support of the Federal Reserve's dual mandate," the Federal Reserve announced after its September 16 meeting. The vote was unanimous, 12‑0. The decision was released at 2:00 PM ET and the New York Stock Exchange remained open, with its session scheduled to run until 4:00 PM ET.
AI-generated from this page's data only (openai/gpt-oss-120b, gates ok). Informational only — not investment advice.
What this release is
Eight times a year the Federal Open Market Committee sets the federal funds rate, the benchmark that flows through to mortgages, savings yields and equity valuations. The statement lands at 2:00 PM ET; the chair's press conference follows at 2:30 PM ET and is often watched as closely as the decision itself.