by Calculated Risk on 9/23/2018 08:11:00 AM

The consensus is that the Fed will increase the Fed Funds Rate 25bps at the meeting this week, and the tone will remain upbeat.

Assuming the expected happens, the focus will be on the wording of the statement, the projections, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference to try to determine how many rate hikes to expect in 2018 (probably four) and in 2019.

Here are the June FOMC projections.

Current projections for Q3 GDP are in mid-3% range. GDP increased at a 2.2% real annual rate in Q1, and 4.2% in Q2.   This puts GDP, so far in 2018, above the expected range, and GDP projections might be revised up.

GDP projections of Federal Reserve Governors and Reserve Bank presidents
Change in Real GDP1	2018	2019	2020
Jun 2018	2.7 to 3.0	2.2 to 2.6	1.8 to 2.0
Mar 2018	2.6 to 3.0	2.2 to 2.6	1.8 to 2.1

¹ Projections of change in real GDP and inflation are from the fourth quarter of the previous year to the fourth quarter of the year indicated.

The unemployment rate was at 3.9% in August. So the unemployment rate projection for 2018 will probably be mostly unchanged.

Unemployment projections of Federal Reserve Governors and Reserve Bank presidents
Unemployment Rate2	2018	2019	2020
Jun 2018	3.6 to 3.7	3.4 to 3.5	3.4 to 3.7
Mar 2018	3.6 to 3.8	3.4 to 3.7	3.5 to 3.8

² Projections for the unemployment rate are for the average civilian unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of the year indicated.

As of July, PCE inflation was up 2.3% from July 2017.  So PCE inflation might be revised up for 2018.

Inflation projections of Federal Reserve Governors and Reserve Bank presidents
PCE Inflation1	2018	2019	2020
Jun 2018	2.0 to 2.1	2.0 to 2.2	2.1 to 2.2
Mar 2018	1.8 to 2.0	2.0 to 2.2	2.1 to 2.2

PCE core inflation was up 2.0% in July year-over-year. Core PCE inflation might also be revised up  for 2018.

Core Inflation projections of Federal Reserve Governors and Reserve Bank presidents
Core Inflation1	2018	2019	2020
Jun 2018	1.9 to 2.0	2.0 to 2.2	2.1 to 2.2
Mar 2018	1.8 to 2.0	2.0 to 2.2	2.1 to 2.2

In general the data has been somewhat firmer than the FOMC's June projections, so it seems likely the FOMC will be on track for four rate hikes in 2018.