As an AI language model, I can provide information up until September 2021. Here are ten important policy changes made by the Federal Reserve (commonly referred to as the Fed) in recent times:
1. Interest Rate Cuts: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fed implemented multiple interest rate cuts in 2020 and early 2021 to stimulate economic activity and support financial markets, bringing the federal funds rate close to zero.
2. Quantitative Easing: The Fed recommenced large-scale asset purchases (quantitative easing) to inject liquidity into the financial system and stabilize the markets. This program involved purchasing government and mortgage-backed securities to keep long-term interest rates lower.
3. Forward Guidance: The Fed revised its forward guidance on interest rates, indicating that rates would remain near-zero levels for an extended period to support the economic recovery and achieve full employment.
4. Average Inflation Targeting (AIT): The Fed announced a new long-term monetary policy framework called AIT. Under this framework, the central bank aims to achieve an average inflation rate of 2% over time, allowing inflation to run moderately above the target following periods of undershooting.
5. Inflation Expectation Updates: The Fed emphasized its commitment to achieving full employment and pledged to use its full range of tools, including altering monetary policy if necessary, to support the economic recovery and meet inflation expectations.
6. Extending Emergency Lending Facilities: In 2020, the Fed extended the duration of several emergency lending facilities aimed at supporting credit flows to households, businesses, and municipalities during the pandemic-induced economic downturn.
7. Rollback of Temporary Regulatory Relief: The Fed, along with other banking regulators, ended temporary exceptions to certain regulations introduced during the initial stages of the pandemic. These measures, including relaxation of certain capital and liquidity requirements for banks, aimed to ease credit availability and support lending during the crisis.
8. Enhanced Supervision of Large Financial Institutions: The Fed implemented a supervisory framework to assess the resiliency of large banks and financial institutions during stressed economic conditions, with a focus on assessing the impact of the pandemic.
9. Climate Change Considerations: The Federal Reserve incorporated climate change considerations into its regulatory and supervisory framework. It began seeking public comment on proposals for enhanced climate-related disclosures from financial institutions it supervises.
10. Digital Currency Research: The Fed initiated research on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), exploring the benefits, risks, and implications of introducing a digital version of the US dollar. The central bank has been actively studying this area to stay informed about potential future developments.
Please note that the list above covers notable policy changes but might not include every action taken by the Federal Reserve this year.
