What Can Markets Expect From Looming Fed’s 2025 Review?

In 2025, the Federal Reserve will undertake a comprehensive review of its monetary policy strategy and tools, a critical self-assessment conducted every five years. This review comes at a pivotal moment, following a period of historically high inflation and aggressive interest rate hikes.


The previous framework update, conducted in 2020, introduced a flexible average inflation targeting approach. This framework allowed for periods of higher inflation to offset previous periods of below-target price growth. However, this approach has faced criticism for potentially contributing to the recent surge in inflation.


A key question for the 2025 review will be whether the Fed should revert to a more traditional approach to inflation targeting, aiming for a strict 2% annual price growth. Policymakers will also assess the effectiveness and implementation strategies for their existing tools, including interest rate adjustments, asset purchases, and forward guidance. The Fed’s communication strategies will also be under scrutiny.

To gather insights, the Fed will host a research conference in Washington, D.C., in May, inviting external experts to share their perspectives. Additionally, “Fed Listens” events will be held across the country to engage with the public and gather feedback.

“We are open to new ideas and critical feedback,” stated Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, emphasizing the importance of adapting the Fed’s approach to best serve the American people.

The 2020 framework review also emphasized mitigating “shortfalls” to maximum employment, suggesting a greater focus on addressing unemployment gaps. However, the recent inflationary surge has raised questions about the effectiveness of this approach.

The conclusions drawn from the 2025 review will have significant implications for the Fed’s future actions and its ability to navigate the evolving economic landscape.