What time does Fed announce rate decision? The Federal Reserve is scheduled to release its latest interest-rate decision at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, followed by the Federal Reserve chair’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. The decision comes at the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee’s two-day meeting, held September 15–16.
For Americans watching the announcement, the key time is 2:00 p.m. ET. That is when the FOMC releases its policy statement and announces whether the federal funds target range will be raised, lowered, or maintained. The 2:30 p.m. press conference then provides additional details about the decision and the Fed’s economic outlook.
The September meeting is also one of the Federal Reserve meetings associated with updated economic projections. That makes the afternoon release especially important for people tracking interest rates, inflation and the Fed’s monetary-policy path.
What Time Is the Fed Rate Decision Today?
The Federal Reserve’s September 2026 rate decision is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 16. The FOMC meeting began Tuesday, September 15, and concludes Wednesday.
Here is the U.S. schedule:
| U.S. time zone | Fed decision time | Press conference |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time | 2:00 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. |
| Central Time | 1:00 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | 12:00 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | 11:00 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. |
The official Federal Reserve calendar lists the September 16 FOMC meeting at 2:00 p.m. and the press conference at 2:30 p.m.
That schedule follows the Fed’s standard practice of releasing the monetary-policy statement at 2:00 p.m. Eastern on the second day of its scheduled two-day meetings.
When Does the Fed Announce Interest Rates?
The Federal Reserve generally announces its interest-rate decision at 2:00 p.m. ET on the final day of a scheduled FOMC meeting.
The announcement contains the committee’s latest policy decision. It also provides the wording used by policymakers to describe economic conditions, inflation, employment and risks affecting monetary policy.
The September 2026 meeting follows that schedule. The Federal Reserve has officially listed September 15–16 as an FOMC meeting, with the announcement and press conference taking place Wednesday afternoon.
The timing is important because financial markets can react immediately after the statement becomes public. Investors do not have to wait until the press conference to learn the policy decision.
What Happens at 2:00 p.m. ET?
At 2:00 p.m. ET, the Federal Open Market Committee releases its monetary-policy statement.
The statement communicates the committee’s decision regarding the federal funds target range. It also explains how policymakers view current economic conditions and the factors affecting their decision.
The September meeting is particularly notable because it is accompanied by the Summary of Economic Projections, commonly called the SEP. The Fed publishes these projections at selected FOMC meetings during the year, including the September meeting.
The SEP provides policymakers’ projections for key economic measures. It also includes the well-known “dot plot,” which shows individual participants’ projections for the federal funds rate.
As a result, the 2:00 p.m. release can contain more than the rate decision itself.
What Happens at 2:30 p.m. ET?
Thirty minutes after the rate announcement, the Federal Reserve chair holds a press conference.
The September 2026 calendar lists the press conference for 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The press conference gives reporters an opportunity to ask questions about the committee’s decision and the economic outlook.
The chair can provide additional context about inflation, employment, economic growth and monetary policy. Those comments can help clarify how officials interpret the information contained in the written statement and economic projections.
For people following the Fed announcement, it is therefore useful to watch both parts of the afternoon:
- 2:00 p.m. ET: FOMC decision and policy statement
- 2:00 p.m. ET: Economic projections for the September meeting
- 2:30 p.m. ET: Federal Reserve chair’s press conference
Has the September 2026 Fed Decision Been Announced Yet?
As of the time of writing on September 16, the September FOMC decision is still scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET today.
The Federal Reserve calendar confirms that the meeting runs from September 15 through September 16. The second day is the day designated for the policy announcement and press conference.
The previous scheduled FOMC meeting took place July 28–29, 2026. The Federal Reserve released that meeting’s policy statement at 2:00 p.m. on July 29.
That July release provides the most recent completed example of the Fed’s standard announcement schedule.
What Was the Previous Fed Rate Decision?
The Federal Reserve’s previous completed FOMC meeting occurred July 28–29, 2026.
The Fed released its July policy statement at 2:00 p.m. on July 29. The current federal funds target range entering the September meeting was 3.50% to 3.75%.
That range is important when interpreting the September announcement because the new statement will show whether policymakers have changed the target range or left it unchanged.
The September decision will therefore provide the next official update to the federal funds target range.
Why 2:00 p.m. ET Matters for U.S. Readers
The Fed’s 2:00 p.m. announcement time is especially important for U.S. investors and consumers because it gives markets a precise point at which new monetary-policy information becomes public.
Stocks, Treasury securities, currencies and other financial markets can respond quickly to the statement.
Borrowing costs can also be influenced by expectations surrounding Federal Reserve policy. However, the federal funds rate does not directly determine every consumer interest rate. Mortgage rates, credit-card rates, auto-loan rates and other borrowing costs can depend on several market factors.
For anyone simply trying to follow the announcement, the most important detail remains straightforward: the September 2026 Fed decision is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
What Time Is the Fed Announcement in Every U.S. Time Zone?
For readers across the United States, the announcement occurs at different local clock times.
Eastern Time readers should watch at 2:00 p.m.
Central Time readers should watch at 1:00 p.m.
Mountain Time readers should watch at 12:00 p.m.
Pacific Time readers should watch at 11:00 a.m.
The press conference begins 30 minutes later in each time zone.
That means someone in Los Angeles, for example, does not need to wait until 2:00 p.m. local time. The decision arrives at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
Similarly, viewers in Chicago can expect the announcement at 1:00 p.m. Central Time.
Does the Fed Announce the Decision Before the Press Conference?
Yes. The policy decision comes first.
The FOMC releases its statement at 2:00 p.m. ET. The press conference begins at 2:30 p.m. ET.
This distinction matters because the initial decision is available before the chair begins answering questions.
Readers who only want to know whether the federal funds target range changed can look for the 2:00 p.m. statement. Those who want additional explanations should continue following the 2:30 p.m. press conference.
Is the September Meeting Different From Every Other Fed Meeting?
The basic announcement schedule is similar to other regularly scheduled FOMC meetings, but September is one of the meetings that includes updated economic projections.
The Federal Reserve’s official meeting calendar identifies September 15–16, 2026, as a meeting associated with a Summary of Economic Projections.
The Fed also schedules projection-related meetings in March, June and December. The September meeting therefore provides another opportunity to see how policymakers’ economic expectations have changed.
For people searching for the announcement time, however, the central detail does not change: the policy statement is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET.
How to Follow the Fed Decision Today
People following the September announcement can use a simple timeline:
- Before 2:00 p.m. ET: Markets wait for the FOMC statement.
- 2:00 p.m. ET: The Federal Reserve releases the rate decision and policy statement.
- 2:00 p.m. ET: September economic projections are also released.
- 2:30 p.m. ET: The Fed chair begins the press conference.
- After 2:30 p.m. ET: Markets continue digesting the statement, projections and comments.
The first official answer about the rate decision comes at 2:00 p.m. ET. The press conference then provides additional context.
When Is the Next Fed Rate Decision After September?
The Federal Reserve’s 2026 FOMC calendar lists the next scheduled meeting for October 27–28, 2026. The following meeting is scheduled for December 8–9, 2026.
The October meeting is not one of the meetings associated with a Summary of Economic Projections. December is.
These dates are useful for readers who want to keep track of the Fed’s scheduled policy calendar after the September announcement.
The Key Time to Remember
For anyone searching what time does Fed announce rate decision, the answer for the September 2026 meeting is 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 16.
The Federal Reserve has scheduled the policy announcement for 2:00 p.m. ET, with the chair’s press conference beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. The September meeting runs September 15–16 and includes updated economic projections.
For readers in other parts of the country, that translates to 1:00 p.m. Central, noon Mountain and 11:00 a.m. Pacific.
Keep checking for the official Federal Reserve announcement as the September decision arrives today, and share your expectations or reaction in the comments.