Current:Home > StocksHow 2% became the target for inflation -GrowthProspect
How 2% became the target for inflation
View
Date:2025-04-16 20:20:01
If the Fed had a mantra to go along with its mandate, it might well be "two percent." That number, the Fed's longtime inflation target, has been adopted by many other central banks around the world. Jerome Powell said it 17 times in a press conference last week. It's become almost synonymous with smooth, healthy economic growth.
But how did two percent become the Fed's target? For an organization staffed with mathematicians and economists, the answer is surprisingly unsophisticated. Join us to hear about the history behind the number, and why some economists are calling for a change.
Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCasts and NPR One.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
veryGood! (228)
Related
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- RHOBH's Kyle Richards Reveals Plans to Leave Hollywood
- Powerful storms bring heavy snow, rain, tornadoes, flooding to much of U.S., leave several dead
- Volunteer Connecticut firefighter hailed as hero for quick action after spotting house fire
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- TSA found a record number of guns at airport security checkpoints in 2023. Almost all of them were loaded.
- Tina Fey's 'Mean Girls' musical brings the tunes, but lacks spunk of Lindsay Lohan movie
- Kentucky is the all-time No. 1 team through 75 storied years of AP Top 25 college basketball polls
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Report: Netflix working on NBA docuseries in style of 'Quarterback' featuring LeBron James
Ranking
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Alaska Airlines cancels flights on certain Boeing planes through Saturday for mandatory inspections
- Who’s running for president? See a rundown of the 2024 candidates
- Screen Actors Guild Awards 2024: 'Barbie,' 'Oppenheimer' score 4 nominations each
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- These Are the Top Must-Have Products That Amazon Influencers Can’t Live Without
- Boeing CEO says company is acknowledging our mistake after Alaska Airlines door blowout
- Engine maker Cummins to repair 600,000 Ram trucks in $2 billion emissions cheating scandal
Recommendation
Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
Bears fire OC Luke Getsy, four more assistant coaches in offensive overhaul
Germany approves the export of air-defense missiles to Saudi Arabia, underlining a softer approach
Gunmen in Ecuador fire shots on live TV as country hit by series of violent attacks
The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
Court again delays racketeering trial against activist accused in violent ‘Stop Cop City’ protest
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tells business group he wants to spend $1.8 billion more on infrastructure
U.S. says yes to new bitcoin funds, paving the way for more Americans to buy crypto