[뉴욕=뉴스핌] 민지현 특파원 = 미국 연방준비제도(연준)가 31일(현지시간) 이틀 간의 연방공개시장위원회(FOMC) 정례회의를 마치고 예상대로 기준금리인 연방기금금리 목표 범위를 2.00~2.25%로 인하했다고 밝혔다.

이는 2008년 12월 금융위기 당시 제로금리 정책 시행 이후 약 10년 만에 첫 인하다. 아울러 지난 2015년 12월 통화정책 정상화에 나선 이후 3년 7개월 만에 정책 기조를 변경한 셈이다. 

연준은 이날 정책 성명에서 "미국 경제 성장세가 견조하고 노동시장이 강하지만 세계 경제 성장에 미칠 영향과 잠잠한 물가 상승 압력을 고려해 금리를 인하하기로 결정했다"고 밝혔다. 

다음은 이날 공개된 정책 성명서 전문이다. 

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in June indicates that the labor market remains strong and that economic activity has been rising at a moderate rate. Job gains have been solid, on average, in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Although growth of household spending has picked up from earlier in the year, growth of business fixed investment has been soft. On a 12-month basis, overall inflation and inflation for items other than food and energy are running below 2 percent. Market-based measures of inflation compensation remain low; survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed.

Consistent with its statutory mandate, the Committee seeks to foster maximum employment and price stability. In light of the implications of global developments for the economic outlook as well as muted inflation pressures, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 2 to 2-1/4 percent. This action supports the Committee's view that sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation near the Committee's symmetric 2 percent objective are the most likely outcomes, but uncertainties about this outlook remain. As the Committee contemplates the future path of the target range for the federal funds rate, it will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook and will act as appropriate to sustain the expansion, with a strong labor market and inflation near its symmetric 2 percent objective.

In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its maximum employment objective and its symmetric 2 percent inflation objective. This assessment will take into account a wide range of information, including measures of labor market conditions, indicators of inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and readings on financial and international developments.

The Committee will conclude the reduction of its aggregate securities holdings in the System Open Market Account in August, two months earlier than previously indicated.

Voting for the monetary policy action were Jerome H. Powell, Chair; John C. Williams, Vice Chair; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; James Bullard; Richard H. Clarida; Charles L. Evans; and Randal K. Quarles. Voting against the action were Esther L. George and Eric S. Rosengren, who preferred at this meeting to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 percent.

Implementation Note issued July 31, 2019

jihyeonmin@newspim.com