FOMC Minutes Show Uncertainty, and a Hint of Raising Rates

The committee, during their April 30-May 1 meeting, found that uncertainty came from the possibility that "high interest rates may have smaller effects than in the past" and that "longer-run equilibrium interest rates may be higher than previously thought." Worse yet, some members feared U.S. economic potential output may be lower than previously estimated.

Participants said interest rates would stay put unless inflation numbers were clearly at 2%, or the labor market clearly weakens. Members said they would be willing to raise rates if "risks to inflation materialize in a way that such an action became appropriate."

On the news, the major indexes fell upwards of 0.4%: