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Summary of Economic Projections
Compilation and Summary of Individual Economic Projections
December 11-12, 2012 Tables and Charts
SEP: Compilation and Summary of Individual Economic Projections (PDF)
Authorized for Public Release

Table 1. Economic projections of Federal Reserve Board members and Federal Reserve Bank presidents,
December 2012
Percent
Central tendency1

Variable

Range2

2012

2013

2014

2015

Longer run

2012

2013

2014

2015

Longer run

Change in real GDP

1.7 to 1.8

2.3 to 3.0

3.0 to 3.5

3.0 to 3.7

2.3 to 2.5

1.6 to 2.0

2.0 to 3.2

2.8 to 4.0

2.5 to 4.2

2.2 to 3.0

September projection

1.7 to 2.0

2.5 to 3.0

3.0 to 3.8

3.0 to 3.8

2.3 to 2.5

1.6 to 2.0

2.3 to 3.5

2.7 to 4.1

2.5 to 4.2

2.2 to 3.0

Unemployment rate

7.8 to 7.9

7.4 to 7.7

6.8 to 7.3

6.0 to 6.6

5.2 to 6.0

7.7 to 8.0

6.9 to 7.8

6.1 to 7.4

5.7 to 6.8

5.0 to 6.0

September projection

8.0 to 8.2

7.6 to 7.9

6.7 to 7.3

6.0 to 6.8

5.2 to 6.0

8.0 to 8.3

7.0 to 8.0

6.3 to 7.5

5.7 to 6.9

5.0 to 6.3

PCE inflation

1.6 to 1.7

1.3 to 2.0

1.5 to 2.0

1.7 to 2.0

2.0

1.6 to 1.8

1.3 to 2.0

1.4 to 2.2

1.5 to 2.2

2.0

September projection

1.7 to 1.8

1.6 to 2.0

1.6 to 2.0

1.8 to 2.0

2.0

1.5 to 1.9

1.5 to 2.1

1.6 to 2.2

1.8 to 2.3

2.0

Core PCE inflation3

1.6 to 1.7

1.6 to 1.9

1.6 to 2.0

1.8 to 2.0

1.6 to 1.8

1.5 to 2.0

1.5 to 2.0

1.7 to 2.2

September projection

1.7 to 1.9

1.7 to 2.0

1.8 to 2.0

1.9 to 2.0

1.6 to 2.0

1.6 to 2.0

1.6 to 2.2

1.8 to 2.3

Note: Projections of change in real gross domestic product (GDP) and projections for both measures of inflation are from the fourth quarter of the previous year to the fourth quarter of the year
indicated. PCE inflation and core PCE inflation are the percentage rates of change in, respectively, the price index for personal consumption expenditures (PCE) and the price index for PCE
excluding food and energy. Projections for the unemployment rate are for the average civilian unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of the year indicated. Each participant's projections are based
on his or her assessment of appropriate monetary policy. Longer-run projections represent each participant's assessment of the rate to which each variable would be expected to converge under
appropriate monetary policy and in the absence of further shocks to the economy. The September projections were made in conjunction with the meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on
September 12-13, 2012.
1. The central tendency excludes the three highest and three lowest projections for each variable in each year. Return to table
2. The range for a variable in a given year consists of all participants' projections, from lowest to highest, for that variable in that year. Return to table
3. Longer-run projections for core PCE inflation are not collected. Return to table

Table 1a
Economic Projections for the First Half of 2012**
(in percent)
Central Tendencies and Ranges
Central Tendency

Range

Change in Real GDP

1.6

1.6

PCE Inflation

1.6

1.6

Core PCE Inflation

2.0

2.0

Participants' Projections
Projection

Change in Real GDP

PCE Inflation

Core PCE Inflation

1

1.6

1.6

2

2

1.6

1.6

2

3

1.6

1.6

2

4

1.6

1.6

2

5

1.6

1.6

2

6

1.6

1.6

2

7

1.6

1.6

2

8

1.6

1.6

2

9

1.6

1.6

2

10

1.6

1.6

2

11

1.6

1.6

2

12

1.6

1.6

2

13

1.6

1.6

2

14

1.6

1.6

2

15

1.6

1.6

2

16

1.6

1.6

2

17

1.6

1.6

2

18

1.6

1.6

2

19

1.6

1.6

2

* Growth and inflation are reported at annualized rates. Return to text

Table 1b
Economic Projections for the Second Half of 2012*
(in percent)
Central Tendencies and Ranges
Central Tendency

Range

Change in Real GDP

1.8 to 2.0

1.6 to 2.4

PCE Inflation

1.6 to 1.8

1.6 to 2.0

Core PCE Inflation

1.2 to 1.4

1.2 to 1.6

Participants' Projections
Projection

Change in Real GDP

PCE Inflation

Core PCE Inflation

1

1.6

1.6

1.2

2

2.0

1.8

1.2

3

1.8

1.6

1.6

4

1.8

1.6

1.2

5

1.8

1.8

1.2

6

2.0

1.8

1.4

7

1.8

1.6

1.2

8

2.0

1.8

1.4

9

2.0

1.8

1.4

10

1.8

1.6

1.2

11

1.8

1.6

1.2

12

1.8

1.6

1.2

13

1.8

1.6

1.2

14

1.8

1.6

1.2

15

1.8

1.6

1.2

16

1.8

1.6

1.2

17

1.6

1.8

1.2

18

2.4

2.0

1.6

19

2.0

1.6

1.2

* Projections for the second half of 2012 implied by participants' December projections for the first half of 2012 and for 2012 as a whole. Growth and inflation are reported at annualized
rates. Return to text

Table 2
December economic projections, 2012-15 and over the longer run
(in percent)
Projection

Year

Change in Real GDP

Unemployment Rate

PCE Inflation

Core PCE Inflation

Federal Funds Rate

1

2012

1.6

7.8

1.6

1.6

0.13

2

2012

1.8

7.8

1.7

1.6

0.13

3

2012

1.7

7.9

1.6

1.8

0.13

4

2012

1.7

8.0

1.6

1.6

0.13

5

2012

1.7

7.8

1.7

1.6

0.13

6

2012

1.8

7.8

1.7

1.7

0.13

7

2012

1.7

7.8

1.6

1.6

0.13

8

2012

1.8

7.8

1.7

1.7

0.13

9

2012

1.8

7.9

1.7

1.7

0.13

10

2012

1.7

7.9

1.6

1.6

0.13

11

2012

1.7

7.7

1.6

1.6

0.13

12

2012

1.7

7.8

1.6

1.6

0.13

13

2012

1.7

7.8

1.6

1.6

0.13

14

2012

1.7

7.8

1.6

1.6

0.13

15

2012

1.7

7.8

1.6

1.6

0.13

16

2012

1.7

7.8

1.6

1.6

0.13

17

2012

1.6

7.8

1.7

1.6

0.13

18

2012

2.0

7.8

1.8

1.8

0.13

19

2012

1.8

7.9

1.6

1.6

0.13

1

2013

2.4

7.5

1.8

1.7

0.13

2

2013

2.5

7.4

1.6

1.6

0.13

3

2013

2.2

7.8

1.5

1.5

0.13

4

2013

2.5

7.8

1.3

1.6

0.13

5

2013

3.0

7.5

1.6

1.8

0.13

6

2013

3.2

7.0

2.0

2.0

0.13

7

2013

2.9

7.3

1.3

1.6

0.13

8

2013

2.5

7.4

2.0

1.9

0.50

9

2013

2.3

7.6

1.9

1.9

0.13

10

2013

2.8

7.6

1.5

1.7

0.13

11

2013

2.7

7.5

1.3

1.6

0.13

12

2013

3.0

7.4

1.9

1.9

0.13

13

2013

2.4

7.5

2.0

1.7

0.13

14

2013

2.7

7.7

1.4

1.7

0.13

15

2013

2.1

7.7

1.4

1.7

0.13

16

2013

2.6

7.5

1.4

1.6

0.13

17

2013

2.0

7.6

1.8

1.8

0.13

18

2013

3.0

6.9

2.0

2.0

1.00

19

2013

2.8

7.5

1.3

1.6

0.13

1

2014

3.6

6.4

2.2

2.0

0.13

2

2014

3.2

6.8

2.0

2.0

0.13

3

2014

3.3

7.3

1.5

1.5

0.13

4

2014

3.2

7.4

1.4

1.6

0.13

5

2014

4.0

6.8

2.0

2.0

0.13

6

2014

3.2

6.1

2.0

2.0

1.75

7

2014

3.5

6.8

1.6

1.7

0.13

8

2014

2.8

6.8

2.0

2.0

1.50

9

2014

2.9

7.0

2.0

2.0

0.13

10

2014

3.2

7.1

1.7

1.8

0.13

11

2014

3.8

7.1

1.4

1.6

0.13

12

2014

3.2

7.0

2.0

2.0

0.50

13

2014

3.1

7.1

1.8

1.6

0.13

14

2014

3.4

7.2

1.6

1.8

0.13

15

2014

3.1

7.4

1.7

1.9

0.13

16

2014

3.3

7.0

1.6

1.7

0.13

17

2014

2.8

7.3

2.0

2.0

1.50

18

2014

3.0

6.2

2.0

2.0

2.75

19

2014

3.5

7.0

1.5

1.7

0.13

1

2015

3.5

5.7

2.0

2.0

1.00

2

2015

3.4

6.2

2.1

2.1

0.13

3

2015

3.5

6.8

2.2

2.0

0.50

4

2015

3.6

6.5

1.5

1.7

0.75

5

2015

4.2

6.0

2.2

2.2

0.75

6

2015

2.8

6.0

2.0

2.0

3.75

7

2015

3.8

6.1

1.9

1.8

1.00

8

2015

2.9

6.4

2.0

2.0

2.50

9

2015

3.0

6.3

2.0

2.0

1.25

10

2015

3.5

6.5

1.9

1.8

0.50

11

2015

3.7

6.0

1.6

1.8

1.25

12

2015

3.2

6.6

2.0

2.0

2.00

13

2015

3.1

6.7

1.8

1.7

0.50

14

2015

3.7

6.2

1.7

1.9

0.50

15

2015

3.6

6.5

1.9

2.1

0.50

16

2015

3.5

6.3

1.7

1.8

1.00

17

2015

3.5

6.8

2.0

2.0

3.50

18

2015

2.5

6.0

2.0

2.0

4.50

19

2015

3.4

6.2

1.6

1.8

0.75

1

LR

2.3

5.0

2.0

3.50

2

LR

2.3

6.0

2.0

3.75

3

LR

2.2

5.5

2.0

4.00

4

LR

3.0

5.4

2.0

3.80

5

LR

2.5

5.2

2.0

4.00

6

LR

2.3

6.0

2.0

4.25

7

LR

2.3

5.3

2.0

3.80

8

LR

2.3

5.5

2.0

4.30

9

LR

2.5

5.2

2.0

4.50

10

LR

2.3

5.5

2.0

4.30

11

LR

2.3

6.0

2.0

4.50

12

LR

2.5

5.5

2.0

4.00

13

LR

2.5

6.0

2.0

4.00

14

LR

2.5

5.3

2.0

3.00

15

LR

2.5

5.2

2.0

4.00

16

LR

2.2

5.4

2.0

4.20

17

LR

2.3

6.0

2.0

4.25

18

LR

2.5

6.0

2.0

4.50

19

LR

2.5

5.8

2.0

4.25

Table 2 Appendix:
Assessments of participants who, under appropriate monetary policy, judge that the federal funds rate will not be
raised until after 2015
Projection

Year of first increase

Change in real GDP

Unemployment Rate

PCE Inflation

Core PCE Inflation

Federal Funds Rate

2016

3.4

5.5

2.2

2.2

0.5

2

Figure 1.A. Central tendencies and ranges of economic projections, 2012-15 and over the longer run
Real GDP Growth
Percent
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2.2

(3.3)

(0.1)

2.4

2.0

-

-

-

-

-

Upper End of Range

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

3.2

4.0

4.2

3.0

Upper End of Central Tendency

-

-

-

-

-

1.8

3.0

3.5

3.7

2.5

Lower End of Central Tendency

-

-

-

-

-

1.7

2.3

3.0

3.0

2.3

Lower End of Range

-

-

-

-

-

1.6

2.0

2.8

2.5

2.2

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Longer Run

4.8

6.9

9.9

9.6

8.7

-

-

-

-

-

Upper End of Range

-

-

-

-

-

8.0

7.8

7.4

6.8

6.0

Upper End of Central Tendency

-

-

-

-

-

7.9

7.7

7.3

6.6

6.0

Lower End of Central Tendency

-

-

-

-

-

7.8

7.4

6.8

6.0

5.2

Lower End of Range

-

-

-

-

-

7.7

6.9

6.1

5.7

5.0

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Longer Run

3.5

1.7

1.4

1.5

2.5

-

-

-

-

-

Upper End of Range

-

-

-

-

-

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.2

2.0

Upper End of Central Tendency

-

-

-

-

-

1.7

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

Lower End of Central Tendency

-

-

-

-

-

1.6

1.3

1.5

1.7

2.0

Lower End of Range

-

-

-

-

-

1.6

1.3

1.4

1.5

2.0

2015

Actual

Longer Run

Unemployment rate
Percent
Actual

PCE inflation
Percent
Actual

Core PCE inflation
Percent
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2.4

2.0

1.6

1.2

1.7

-

-

-

-

Upper End of Range

-

-

-

-

-

1.8

2.0

2.0

2.2

Upper End of Central Tendency

-

-

-

-

-

1.7

1.9

2.0

2.0

Lower End of Central Tendency

-

-

-

-

-

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.8

Lower End of Range

-

-

-

-

-

1.6

1.5

1.5

1.7

Actual

Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1. The data for the actual values of the variables are annual.

Figure 1.B. Central tendencies and ranges of economic projections, 2012-15 and over the longer run

[Three fan charts display a different visual presentation of the same data from the first three charts of Figure 1, Change in real GDP, Unemployment
rate, and PCE inflation.]

Figure 2. Overview of FOMC participants' assessments of appropriate monetary policy, December 2012
Appropriate Timing of Policy Firming
2013

2014

2015

2016

2

3

13

1

Number of participants

Note: In the upper panel, the height of each bar denotes the number of FOMC participants who judge that, under appropriate monetary policy, the first increase in the target federal funds rate from
its current range of 0 to 1/4 percent will occur in the specified calendar year. In September 2012, the numbers of FOMC participants who judged that the first increase in the target federal funds rate
would occur in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 were, respectively, 1, 3, 2, 12, and 1.

Appropriate Pace of Policy Firming
Number of Participants With Projected Targets
Target federal funds rate at year-end
(Percent)
0 - 0.37

2012

2013

2014

2015

19

17

14

1

1

1

5

0.38 - 0.62
0.63 - 0.87

Longer Run

3

0.88 - 1.12

1

3

1.13 - 1.37

2

1.38 - 1.62

2

1.63 - 1.87

1

1.88 - 2.12

1

2.13 - 2.37
2.38 -2.62

1

2.63 - 2.87

1

2.88 - 3.12

1

3.13 - 3.37
3.38 - 3.62

1

1

3.63 - 3.87

1

3

3.88 - 4.12

5

4.13 - 4.37

6

4.38 - 4.62

1

3

Note: In the lower panel, each shaded circle indicates the value (rounded to the nearest 1/4 percentage point) of an individual participant's judgment of the appropriate level of the target federal
funds rate at the end of the specified calendar year or over the longer run.

Figure 4.A. Uncertainty and Risks - GDP Growth
2(a): Please indicate your judgment of the uncertainty attached to your projections relative to levels of uncertainty over the past 20 years.
Lower
(C)

Broadly similar
(B)

Higher
(A)

September projections

0

1

18

June projections

0

2

17

2(b): Please indicate your judgment of the risk weighting around your projections.
Weighted to downside
(C)

Broadly balanced
(B)

Weighted to upside
(A)

September projections

13

6

0

June projections

14

5

0

Individual Responses
Respondent

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

2(a)

A

A

A

A

A

B

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

2(b)

C

C

B

C

C

B

C

B

C

C

B

B

C

C

C

Figure 4.B. Uncertainty and Risks - Unemployment rate
2(a): Please indicate your judgment of the uncertainty attached to your projections relative to levels of uncertainty over the past 20 years.

15

Lower
(C)

Broadly similar
(B)

Higher
(A)

September projections

0

2

17

June projections

0

2

17

2(b): Please indicate your judgment of the risk weighting around your projections.
Weighted to downside
(C)

Broadly balanced
(B)

Weighted to upside
(A)

September projections

0

6

13

June projections

0

6

13

Individual Responses
Respondent

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

2(a)

A

A

A

A

A

B

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

2(b)

A

A

B

A

A

B

A

B

A

A

B

B

A

A

A

Figure 4.C. Uncertainty and Risks - PCE inflation
2(a): Please indicate your judgment of the uncertainty attached to your projections relative to levels of uncertainty over the past 20 years.
Lower
(C)

Broadly similar
(B)

Higher
(A)

September projections

2

10

7

June projections

1

10

8

2(b): Please indicate your judgment of the risk weighting around your projections.
Weighted to downside
(C)

Broadly balanced
(B)

Weighted to upside
(A)

September projections

3

14

2

June projections

4

12

3

Individual Responses
Respondent

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

2(a)

A

A

B

A

B

B

A

A

B

B

B

B

B

A

15
B

2(b)

B

C

B

B

B

B

B

A

B

B

B

B

B

C

C

Figure 4.D. Uncertainty and Risks - Core PCE inflation
2(a): Please indicate your judgment of the uncertainty attached to your projections relative to levels of uncertainty over the past 20 years.
Lower
(C)

Broadly similar
(B)

Higher
(A)

September projections

2

10

7

June projections

2

9

8

2(b): Please indicate your judgment of the risk weighting around your projections.
Weighted to downside
(C)

Broadly balanced
(B)

Weighted to upside
(A)

September projections

3

14

7

June projections

4

9

8

Individual Responses
Respondent

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

2(a)

A

A

B

A

B

B

A

A

B

B

B

B

B

A

B

2(b)

B

C

B

B

B

B

B

A

B

B

B

B

B

C

C

Figure 3.A. Distribution of participants' projections for the change in real GDP, 2012-15 and over the longer run

15

Number of Participants
Percent range

2012

2013

2014

2015

Longer Run

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

1.6 - 1.7

13

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.8 - 1.9

5

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2.0 - 2.1

1

4

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2.2 - 2.3

0

0

2

2

0

0

0

0

10

7

2.4 - 2.5

0

0

5

6

0

0

1

1

8

10

2.6 - 2.7

0

0

3

2

0

1

0

0

0

1

2.8 - 2.9

0

0

3

1

3

0

2

2

0

0

3.0 - 3.1

0

0

3

6

3

6

2

2

1

1

3.2 - 3.3

0

0

1

1

7

5

1

2

0

0

3.4 - 3.5

0

0

0

1

3

0

7

6

0

0

3.6 - 3.7

0

0

0

0

1

3

4

2

0

0

3.8 - 3.9

0

0

0

0

1

2

1

2

0

0

4.0 - 4.1

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

1

0

0

4.2 - 4.3

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Figure 3.B. Distribution of participants' projections for the unemployment rate, 2012-15 and over the longer run
Number of Participants
Percent range

2012

2013

2014

2015

Longer Run

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

5.0 - 5.1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

5.2 - 5.3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

5

5.4 - 5.5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

6

5.6 - 5.7

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

5.8 - 5.9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

6.0 - 6.1

0

0

0

0

1

0

5

5

6

5

6.2 - 6.3

0

0

0

0

1

1

5

3

0

1

6.4 - 6.5

0

0

0

0

1

2

4

2

0

0

6.6 - 6.7

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

2

0

0

6.8 - 6.9

0

0

1

0

4

0

2

6

0

0

7.0 - 7.1

0

0

1

1

7

4

0

0

0

0

7.2 - 7.3

0

0

1

1

3

8

0

0

0

0

7.4 - 7.5

0

0

9

1

2

3

0

0

0

0

7.6 - 7.7

1

0

5

7

0

0

0

0

0

0

7.8 - 7.9

17

0

2

8

0

0

0

0

0

0

8.0 - 8.1

1

7

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

8.2 - 8.3

0

12

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Figure 3.C. Distribution of participants' projections for PCE inflation, 2012-15 and over the longer run
Number of Participants
Percent range

2012

2013

2014

2015

Longer Run

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

1.3 - 1.4

0

0

7

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

1.5 - 1.6

12

2

4

5

5

4

3

0

0

0

1.7 - 1.8

7

15

2

5

3

4

3

4

0

0

1.9 - 2.0

0

2

6

8

8

8

10

12

19

19

2.1 - 2.2

0

0

0

1

1

3

3

2

0

0

2.3 - 2.4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Figure 3.D. Distribution of participants' projections for core PCE inflation, 2012-14
Number of Participants
Percent range

2012
December
projections

2013

2014

2015

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections
0

1.5 - 1.6

14

2

7

2

4

1

0

1.7 - 1.8

5

12

7

8

5

5

7

2

1.9 - 2.0

0

5

5

9

10

11

9

14

2.1 - 2.2

0

0

0

0

0

2

3

2

2.3 - 2.4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Figure 3.E. Distribution of participants' projections for the target federal funds rate, 2012-15 and over the longer
run
Number of Participants
Percent range

2012

2013

2014

2015

Longer Run

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

December
projections

September
projections

0 - 0.37

19

18

17

15

14

13

1

1

0

0

0.38 - 0.62

0

1

1

2

1

0

5

2

0

0

0.63 - 0.87

0

0

0

1

0

0

3

3

0

0

0.88 - 1.12

0

0

1

0

0

0

3

4

0

0

1.13 - 1.37

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

1.38 - 1.62

0

0

0

0

2

2

0

3

0

0

1.63 - 1.87

0

0

0

1

1

2

0

0

0

0

1.88 - 2.12

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

2.13 - 2.37

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2.38 - 2.62

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

2

0

0

2.63 - 2.87

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

2.88 - 3.12

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

1

3.13 - 3.37

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3.38 - 3.62

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

1

3.63 - 3.87

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

3

2

3.88 - 4.12

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

5

6

4.13 - 4.37

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

5

4.38 - 4.63

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

3

4

Note: Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Figure 4. Uncertainty and risks in economic projections
Uncertainty about GDP growth
Number of participants
Lower

Broadly similar

Higher

December projections

0

1

18

September projections

0

2

17

Risks to GDP growth
Number of participants
Weighted to downside

Broadly balanced

Weighted to upside

December projections

13

6

0

September projections

14

5

0

Uncertainty about the unemployment rate
Number of participants
Lower

Broadly similar

Higher

December projections

0

2

17

September projections

0

2

17

Risks to the unemployment rate
Number of participants
Weighted to downside

Broadly balanced

Weighted to upside

December projections

0

6

13

September projections

0

6

13

Uncertainty about PCE inflation
Number of participants

Lower

Broadly similar

Higher

December projections

2

10

7

September projections

1

10

8

Risks to PCE inflation
Number of participants
Weighted to downside

Broadly balanced

Weighted to upside

December projections

3

14

2

September projections

4

12

3

Uncertainty about core PCE inflation
Number of participants
Lower

Broadly similar

Higher

December projections

2

10

7

September projections

2

9

8

Risks to core PCE inflation
Number of participants
Weighted to downside

Broadly balanced

Weighted to upside

December projections

3

14

2

September projections

4

12

3

Note: For definitions of uncertainty and risks in economic projections, see the box "Forecast Uncertainty." Definitions of variables are in the general note to table 1.

Figure 5. Scatterplots of projections in the initial year of policy firming
(in percent)
Year of Firming

Change in Real GDP

Unemployment Rate

2013

2.5

7.4

2013

3.0

6.9

2014

2.8

7.3

2014

3.2

6.1

2014

3.2

7.0

2015

3.0

6.3

2015

3.1

6.7

2015

3.4

6.2

2015

3.5

5.7

2015

3.5

6.3

2015

3.5

6.5

2015

3.5

6.8

2015

3.6

6.5

2015

3.6

6.5

2015

3.7

6.0

2015

3.7

6.2

2015

3.8

6.1

2015

4.2

6.0

2016

3.4

5.5

Year of Firming

Change in Real GDP

PCE Inflation

2013

2.5

2.0

2013

3.0

2.0

2014

2.8

2.0

2014

3.2

2.0

2014

3.2

2.0

2015

3.0

2.0

2015

3.1

1.8

2015

3.4

1.6

2015

3.5

1.7

2015

3.5

1.9

2015

3.5

2.0

2015

3.5

2.2

2015

3.6

1.5

2015

3.6

1.9

2015

3.7

1.6

2015

3.7

1.7

2015

3.8

1.9

2015

4.2

2.2

2016

3.4

2.2

Year of Firming

Unemployment Rate

PCE Inflation

2013

6.9

2.0

2013

7.4

2.0

2014

6.1

2.0

2014

7.0

2.0

2014

7.3

2.0

2015

5.7

2.0

2015

6.0

1.6

2015

6.0

2.2

2015

6.1

1.9

2015

6.2

1.6

2015

6.2

1.7

2015

6.3

1.7

2015

6.3

2.0

2015

6.5

1.5

2015

6.5

1.9

2015

6.5

1.9

2015

6.7

1.8

2015

6.8

2.2

2016

5.5

2.2

Last Update: January 5, 2018