What Time Is the Fed Rate Decision Today? September 16 FOMC Schedule & Rate Outlook

The Federal Reserve rate decision today, September 16, 2026, is one of the biggest financial events of the week.

The Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC, is scheduled to announce its interest-rate decision at:

2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is then expected to speak during the post-meeting press conference beginning at:

2:30 p.m. ET

The two-day FOMC meeting began September 15 and ends today.

Investors are paying especially close attention because expectations have shifted sharply toward a possible 25-basis-point rate increase after stronger inflation readings and renewed pressure from energy prices.

The Federal Reserve’s target range currently stands at:

3.50%–3.75%.

A 25-basis-point hike would increase that range to:

3.75%–4.00%.

The Federal Reserve confirms today’s announcement and press-conference times on its official September 2026 calendar.

Fed Rate Decision Today: Quick Schedule

Here is the key schedule for Wednesday:

Event	Time
FOMC rate decision	2:00 p.m. ET
Updated economic projections	2:00 p.m. ET
Fed press conference	2:30 p.m. ET
FOMC meeting dates	September 15–16

For most readers, the most important time is 2:00 p.m. ET.

That is when the policy statement and rate decision are scheduled for release.

What Time Is the Fed Rate Decision in My Time Zone?

The announcement occurs simultaneously across the United States.

U.S. Time Zone	Fed Decision	Press Conference
Eastern	2:00 p.m.	2:30 p.m.
Central	1:00 p.m.	1:30 p.m.
Mountain	12:00 p.m.	12:30 p.m.
Pacific	11:00 a.m.	11:30 a.m.

Financial markets can move within seconds of the statement.

However, the first reaction is not always the final reaction because traders must also digest the Fed’s economic projections and Warsh’s comments.

Is the Fed Expected to Raise Rates Today?

A quarter-point increase is currently the widely expected outcome.

A Reuters poll published September 14 found that 85% of economists surveyed expected the Federal Reserve to raise rates by 25 basis points at the September meeting.

You can read the latest survey at Reuters.

A basis point equals 0.01 percentage point.

Therefore:

25 basis points = 0.25 percentage point.

If the Fed raises rates by that amount, the target range would move from:

3.50%–3.75%

to:

3.75%–4.00%.

The actual decision is not official until the FOMC releases its statement at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Why Is the Fed Considering a Rate Hike?

Inflation is the main reason.

The Federal Reserve aims for roughly 2% inflation over the longer run.

However, the latest Consumer Price Index report showed headline inflation running above that level.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices increased:

0.4% in August 2026

and

3.4% over the previous 12 months.

Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, increased:

0.3% in August

and

2.4% year over year.

Gasoline prices rose 3.9% during the month.

Persistent inflation makes it harder for the Federal Reserve to justify lowering rates and can strengthen the case for tighter policy.

What Happened at the Previous Fed Meeting?

At its July 29 meeting, the Federal Reserve left the federal funds target range unchanged at:

3.50%–3.75%.

The vote was 9–3.

Three FOMC members preferred to raise rates by 25 basis points at that meeting.

That disagreement was significant because it showed that support for tighter policy was already developing before the latest inflation data.

You can verify the July decision in the Federal Reserve’s official FOMC statement.

Why Today’s Fed Decision Matters for Stocks

Interest rates influence borrowing costs throughout the economy.

Higher rates can affect:

• corporate loans;
• mortgages;
• credit cards;
• auto loans;
• Treasury yields;
• bond prices;
• and stock-market valuations.

Growth and technology stocks can be particularly sensitive because higher yields reduce the present value investors assign to future earnings.

However, stocks do not automatically fall when the Fed raises rates.

Markets care about what investors already expected.

If a quarter-point hike is almost fully priced in before the meeting, the market may react more strongly to what the Fed says about future rate increases.

For a deeper explanation of this relationship, read our guide to how Fed rate hikes affect stocks, the S&P 500 and technology shares.

Four Things to Watch at 2:00 PM ET

Today’s Fed meeting is about much more than one number.

1. The Rate Decision

The first question is whether the Fed:

• raises rates by 25 basis points;
• leaves rates unchanged;
• or surprises markets with a different move.

A quarter-point hike is currently the consensus expectation.

A surprise could trigger significantly greater volatility.

2. The FOMC Statement

Investors will compare today’s language with the July statement.

They will look closely at how policymakers describe:

• inflation;
• employment;
• economic growth;
• financial conditions;
• and future monetary policy.

Small wording changes can change expectations for future rates.

3. The Dot Plot

The September meeting includes an updated Summary of Economic Projections.

That includes policymakers’ projections for areas such as:

• inflation;
• unemployment;
• GDP growth;
• and the federal funds rate.

The interest-rate projections are commonly called the Fed dot plot.

A shift toward higher future rates could be interpreted as hawkish.

A lower projected rate path could appear more dovish.

4. Kevin Warsh’s Press Conference

The press conference begins at:

2:30 p.m. ET.

Warsh’s answers can be just as important as the rate decision.

Investors will want to know whether today’s potential hike represents:

• a one-time adjustment;
• the start of several increases;
• or a decision that depends entirely on future inflation data.

Could the Fed Raise Rates More Than Once?

Yes.

The latest Reuters poll found that many economists expect another rate increase after September if inflation remains elevated.

The Fed does not normally commit to an exact future path.

Instead, policymakers respond to incoming economic information.

The data that could influence future meetings include:

• CPI inflation;
• PCE inflation;
• unemployment;
• payroll growth;
• wages;
• consumer spending;
• oil prices;
• and financial conditions.

That means today’s decision could be the beginning of another tightening phase—or it could remain a one-off move.

What Happens If the Fed Holds Rates Instead?

A decision to keep rates unchanged would surprise a market currently leaning heavily toward a hike.

Stocks could initially respond positively because borrowing costs would not rise immediately.

But a hold would not automatically be bullish.

Investors would immediately ask why policymakers chose not to increase rates.

Possible interpretations could include:

• confidence that inflation will decline;
• concerns about future economic growth;
• a desire for more data;
• or worries about financial-market stress.

That uncertainty could still produce sharp price moves.

What Could Today’s Decision Mean for the S&P 500?

The S&P 500 contains companies from many sectors, so the impact will not be identical across the index.

Higher rates can pressure highly valued stocks because the discount rate applied to future earnings rises.

Financial companies may respond differently.

Energy companies may be influenced more by oil prices.

Consumer companies may react to changes in borrowing costs and household spending.

The strongest market reaction may therefore come from the Fed’s future policy guidance, not simply the September rate increase itself.

How Could the Fed Decision Affect Tech Stocks?

Technology stocks are often among the most interest-rate-sensitive parts of the market.

Many technology companies trade at high valuations based partly on expected future growth.

When interest rates rise, investors may demand a higher expected return.

That can reduce the valuation multiples they are willing to pay.

This does not mean all technology stocks must fall.

Strong earnings—particularly from companies benefiting from artificial-intelligence spending—can offset some of that valuation pressure.

The relationship between AI and investing is becoming increasingly important. Elite Era Trends also covers AI tools changing personal finance and investment research.

What Could the Fed Decision Mean for Bitcoin?

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies often react strongly to changes in U.S. interest-rate expectations.

Higher interest rates can:

• increase Treasury yields;
• support the dollar;
• make interest-bearing assets more competitive;
• and reduce appetite for speculative risk.

However, the relationship is not automatic.

Bitcoin is also influenced by:

• ETF flows;
• regulation;
• institutional demand;
• crypto legislation;
• market liquidity;
• and asset-specific developments.

For ongoing coverage, see our Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana market update.

Where Can You Watch the Fed Press Conference?

The best source is the Federal Reserve itself.

The Fed provides live video of FOMC press conferences through its official website.

You can access the official Federal Reserve live broadcast page.

The press conference is scheduled for:

2:30 p.m. ET

today.

Watching the official feed helps avoid delayed clips or misleading summaries spreading on social media.

When Is the Next Fed Meeting?

After September, the next scheduled FOMC meeting is:

October 27–28, 2026.

The minutes from the September meeting are scheduled to be released before then.

Fed meeting minutes provide more detailed information about the discussions policymakers had when making their decision.

However, markets usually place greater immediate importance on today’s statement, projections and press conference.

Fed Rate Decision Today FAQ

What time is the Fed rate decision today?

The September 16, 2026 Federal Reserve rate decision is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

What time is the Fed press conference today?

The FOMC press conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.

Is the Fed expected to raise rates?

A 25-basis-point hike is widely expected, according to the latest economist surveys, but the decision remains unconfirmed until 2:00 p.m. ET.

What is the current federal funds rate?

Before today’s decision, the target range is 3.50%–3.75%.

What would a 25-basis-point rate hike mean?

It would increase the federal funds target range to 3.75%–4.00%.

Why is the Fed considering raising rates?

Inflation remains above the Fed’s longer-run 2% objective. August CPI increased 3.4% year over year.

Who is the Federal Reserve chair?

Kevin Warsh is the current Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Will stocks fall if the Fed raises interest rates?

Not necessarily. Stock-market performance depends on whether the hike was expected and what policymakers say about the future rate path.

What is the Fed dot plot?

The dot plot shows individual policymakers’ estimates of the appropriate federal funds rate in future years.

Where can I watch the Fed press conference?

The Federal Reserve streams FOMC press conferences through its official website.

Bottom Line

The Fed rate decision today is scheduled for:

2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

The Federal Reserve press conference follows at:

2:30 p.m. ET.

The current federal funds target range is:

3.50%–3.75%.

If the Federal Reserve raises rates by the widely expected 25 basis points, the new target range would become:

3.75%–4.00%.

But today’s headline rate decision is only part of the story.

Markets will also focus on the updated economic projections, the dot plot and Kevin Warsh’s comments about whether additional increases could follow.

For investors, the most important question may therefore be:

Is today’s hike the end of the adjustment—or the beginning of a new rate-hike cycle?

For a deeper analysis of what higher rates could mean for technology stocks, banks, REITs, bonds and the S&P 500, read our complete Fed rate hike impact on stocks guide.