Current:Home > InvestHow 2% became the target for inflation -WealthX
How 2% became the target for inflation
View
Date:2025-04-16 06:10:28
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! (87728)
Related
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Travis Kelce Dances With Niecy Nash on Set of Grotesquerie
- Rainn Wilson's personal experiences inspired his spirituality-focused podcast: I was on death's door
- Olivia Munn Shares She Underwent a Hysterectomy Amid Cancer Battle
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Illinois man accused of shooting neighbor in her chest now facing hate-crime charge
- Guinness World Records tracks about 65,000 superlatives. Here's why some are so bizarre.
- Suns hiring another title-winning coach in Mike Budenholzer to replace Frank Vogel, per reports
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- 3 killed and 3 hurt when car flies into power pole, knocking out electricity in Pasadena, California
Ranking
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- 1 teen killed, 1 seriously wounded in Delaware carnival shooting
- Babies R Us to open shops inside 200 Kohl's stores in the US: See full list of stores
- Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott is running for reelection to 5th term
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- For a second time, Sen. Bob Menendez faces a corruption trial. This time, it involves gold bars
- With the shock of Oct. 7 still raw, profound sadness and anger grip Israel on its Memorial Day
- Bruins, Panthers debate legality of Sam Bennett hit on Boston star Brad Marchand
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Lysander Clark: The Visionary Founder of WT Finance Institute
Chozen and Emryn are rising fast as most popular baby names of the year are revealed
Experts say gun alone doesn’t justify deadly force in fatal shooting of Florida airman
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
Psst. Mother's Day is Sunday and she wants a gift. Show her love without going into debt.
Chris Pine Reflects on Losing Out on The O.C. Role Due to His Bad Acne
Recently retired tennis player Camila Giorgi on the run from Italian tax authorities, per report