Economy News Alert: Fed minutes show policymakers will start forecasting direction of key interest rate

	Tuesday, January 3, 2012 2:17:41 PM ECONOMY/BUSINESS NEWS ALERT Fed minutes show policymakers will start forecasting direction of key interest rate The Federal Reserve will start updating the public four times a year on how long it plans to keep short-term interest rates at record lows, according to minutes from its December policy meeting. The first forecast will be included in the central bank's economic projections after its Jan. 24-25 meeting, the minutes said. The change marks a significant shift in the Fed's communication strategy. It could help assure investors, companies and consumers that rates won't rise before a specific time. This might help lower long-term yields further — in effect providing a kind of stimulus. The Fed has previously said that it plans to keep its key short-term rate near zero until at least mid-2013, unless the economy improves. Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/policy/fed-minutes-show-policymakers-will-start-forecasting-direction-of-key-interest-rate/2012/01/03/gIQAEREbYP_story.html Or visit PostBusiness.com. SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE E-MAIL CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 ©2011 The Washington Post Privacy Policy