What time is this week's Fed meeting?

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The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is meeting this week. During these meetings, the committee assesses the health of the economy and potentially adjusts the federal funds rate . Read on to learn more about the timeline for this meeting, what it involves, and expected outcomes.

The latest FOMC meeting takes place on September 15-16, 2026. This is its sixth scheduled meeting of the year.

Once the meeting concludes, the FOMC will release its policy decisions on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Then the Fed chairman will hold a news conference at 2:30 p.m.

The live news conferences, held by the Federal Reserve chairman, are livestreamed and recorded. Additionally, the minutes of regularly scheduled meetings are released three weeks after the date of the policy decision.

Knowing when the Fed meets to discuss monetary policy and tuning into those meetings can help you gain a better understanding of how the economy is doing and help you make more informed decisions about your personal finances.

What will happen at the next Fed meeting?

Following its last meeting in July, when it held rates steady, the Fed stated

"The Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3-1/2 to 3-3/4 percent, in support of the Federal Reserve's dual mandate. The Committee is continuing its policy of maintaining ample reserves in the banking system. Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East. Productivity growth and capital investment are strong. Job gains have kept pace with the workforce, and the unemployment rate has changed little. Inflation remains elevated relative to the Committee's 2 percent goal, in part reflecting supply shocks that have driven price increases in certain sectors, including energy. The Committee will deliver price stability."

"The Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3-1/2 to 3-3/4 percent, in support of the Federal Reserve's dual mandate. The Committee is continuing its policy of maintaining ample reserves in the banking system.

Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East. Productivity growth and capital investment are strong. Job gains have kept pace with the workforce, and the unemployment rate has changed little.

Inflation remains elevated relative to the Committee's 2 percent goal, in part reflecting supply shocks that have driven price increases in certain sectors, including energy. The Committee will deliver price stability."

However. after holding the federal funds rate steady all year, the Fed is expected to raise its target rate this month. In fact, the CME Group's FedWatch tool predicts about a 93% chance of a rate increase of 25 basis points due to ongoing inflationary pressure.

That said, it's impossible to predict with certainty when the Fed will make changes to the federal funds rate and by how much. But it's a good idea to be prepared.

Ahead of future Fed meetings — and possible rate increases — consider taking the following steps to shore up your finances:

Prioritize paying down variable-rate debt. Credit cards and other variable-rate debt will likely see increased APRs following a Fed rate hike. That's why your top prioritiy should be paying down high-interest balances now. For example, consider consolidating high-interest credit card debt with a 0% balance-transfer offer or lower-rate consolidation loan .

Lock in a low fixed rate now. The good news is that if rates increase, the cost of fixed-rate loans won't go up. However, if you took out a mortgage, car loan, or private student loan when rates were elevated or your credit score wasn't in great shape, now may be your last chance to refinance to a lower rate.

Keep your savings liquid. Another benefit to a Fed rate hike is that deposit account yields tend to go up. That presents the opportunity to shop around and secure a higher interest rate on your savings. However, it's important to avoid locking money you might need for an unexpected expense into an account or investment that's difficult or costly to access. Your best bet is to take advantage of today's best high-yield savings accounts , which pay upwards of 4% APY, and don't impose penalties for withdrawing funds.

When is the Fed's next meeting? See the full schedule for 2026.

The Fed meets eight times per year to evaluate the health of the economy and make decisions regarding monetary policy. Here's a schedule of the Fed's meetings for 2026.

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