FOMC調降聯邦基金利率三碼至2.25%！ - 基金

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Release Date: March 18, 2008

For immediate release

The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to lower its target for the
federal funds rate 75 basis points to 2-1/4 percent.

Recent information indicates that the outlook for economic activity has
weakened further. Growth in consumer spending has slowed and labor markets
have softened. Financial markets remain under considerable stress, and the
tightening of credit conditions and the deepening of the housing contraction
are likely to weigh on economic growth over the next few quarters.

Inflation has been elevated, and some indicators of inflation expectations
have risen. The Committee expects inflation to moderate in coming quarters,
reflecting a projected leveling-out of energy and other commodity prices and
an easing of pressures on resource utilization. Still, uncertainty about the
inflation outlook has increased. It will be necessary to continue to monitor
inflation developments carefully.

Today’s policy action, combined with those taken earlier, including measures
to foster market liquidity, should help to promote moderate growth over time
and to mitigate the risks to economic activity. However, downside risks to
growth remain. The Committee will act in a timely manner as needed to
promote sustainable economic growth and price stability.

Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman;
Timothy F. Geithner, Vice Chairman; Donald L. Kohn; Randall S. Kroszner;
Frederic S. Mishkin; Sandra Pianalto; Gary H. Stern; and Kevin M. Warsh.
Voting against were Richard W. Fisher and Charles I. Plosser, who preferred
less aggressive action at this meeting.

In a related action, the Board of Governors unanimously approved a
75-basis-point decrease in the discount rate to 2-1/2 percent. In taking
this action, the Board approved the requests submitted by the Boards of
Directors of the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, New York, and San Francisco.

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