US Fed Meet Today, Powell’s Press Conference & Dot Plot In Focus

The US Federal Reserve is holding its two-day policy meeting on June 17-18. Everyone is watching closely to see what comes out of it. The most talked-about moment will be Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET today. Many even noticed his choice of a purple tie, often seen during important announcements.

The US job market looks strong on the surface, there are signs that not everything is perfect. Fewer people are participating in the workforce, and core inflation is stuck at 2.8 percent. On top of that, trade tensions and tariffs are keeping price pressures alive.

Because of these mixed signals, most experts believe the Fed will wait for clearer data before making any moves. They’re sticking with a “data-driven” approach, meaning they’ll watch the numbers before deciding on rate cuts.

Today’s meeting will also include the release of the Fed’s Summary of Economic Projections. This includes the “dot plot,” a chart that shows where Fed officials think rates will go in the future. It’s a big clue for markets trying to guess the Fed’s next move.