FOMC_MINUTES
FOMC Minutes
Three weeks after each FOMC meeting, the minutes reveal the debate behind the decision — how split the committee really was.
| Published by | Federal Reserve (FOMC) |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Three weeks after each meeting |
| Release time | 2:00 PM ET |
What it measures
The minutes summarize the policy discussion: how participants weighed inflation versus employment risks, and conditions they set for future moves. Views are attributed to "some", "several" or "many" participants.
Why traders watch it
- They expose disagreements the statement smoothed over — the split is the story.
- Markets mine them for the bar to the next cut or hike.
How to read it
- Track the counting words — "a few" versus "many" is the committee’s vote-weighting code.
- Passages on the balance of risks and financial conditions move rate pricing most.
- Three weeks stale: read against data released since the meeting.
FAQ
Are the minutes a market event if the decision is old news?
Yes, regularly. The statement is negotiated to blandness; the minutes show the actual distribution of views, which resets the odds of the next move.
Who writes and approves them?
Fed staff draft the minutes and the committee approves them before release — they are an official record, not a transcript. Full transcripts come out with a five-year lag.
Recent releases
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The official source of each release is authoritative. Not investment advice.