US Federal Reserve to Announce Interest Rate Decision Today

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is set to announce its decision on interest rates today, December 9, 2025, during a press conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). This announcement follows a two-day meeting that began on December 8. The decision is particularly significant as it comes after the FOMC implemented a rate cut of 25 basis points during its October meeting, reducing the interest rate to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%.

Investors and analysts are closely monitoring this announcement, as it is expected to have implications for global financial markets. The recent rate cut was motivated by rising inflation and a government shutdown that has since concluded. Nonetheless, inflation and unemployment rates continue to pose challenges for the economy.

Timing of the Press Conference

The press conference will take place at different times across various U.S. time zones. In Central Time (CT), it will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by 12:30 p.m. in Mountain Time (MT), and 11:30 a.m. in Pacific Time (PT). For those in Alaska, the announcement will be at 10:30 a.m., and in Hawaii-Aleutian time, it will be at 9:30 a.m..

Current Economic Context

The FOMC’s decision comes as the U.S. economy faces rising inflation and an unemployment rate that reached 4.4% in September 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The headline inflation rate for the twelve months ending September 2025 was approximately 3.0%, with a month-over-month increase of 0.3% in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

During the October meeting, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that a rate cut in December was not guaranteed. Despite his cautious stance, market trends suggest that many participants are anticipating a further reduction in interest rates. The ongoing tariff wars also contribute to the economic uncertainty, affecting inflation rates and overall market stability.

As the press conference approaches, all eyes will be on the FOMC’s announcement, which could shape monetary policy for the coming months and provide insights into the Federal Reserve’s outlook on the economy.