Quick answer: The Federal Reserve is scheduled to publish the minutes of the September 15–16, 2026 FOMC meeting at 2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 7. The minutes will explain the discussion behind the September decision to raise the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00%. They are not a new rate decision and cannot reveal developments that occurred after that meeting.
FOMC minutes: date, time and source
| Item | Official detail |
|---|---|
| Document | Minutes of the September 15–16 FOMC meeting |
| Release date | Wednesday, October 7, 2026 |
| Scheduled time | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| Publisher | Federal Reserve Board |
| What it records | A summary of the meeting discussion and decisions, released after the meeting |
Why the October 7 release may draw attention
The September policy statement tells readers what the Committee decided. The minutes add the meeting-level context: how participants described inflation, employment, growth, financial conditions and the risks around the outlook at that time. The official record is useful for understanding the decision; it is not a promise about the next meeting.
Research published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that FOMC-minutes releases have historically been associated with higher asset-price volatility and trading volume. That research does not establish a reliable direction for stocks, bonds or currencies after any individual release.
September meeting context
On September 16, the FOMC raised the federal-funds target range by 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00% in a 12–0 vote. The statement said economic activity was expanding at a solid pace and inflation remained elevated. The October 7 minutes will provide the Committee-approved summary of the discussion behind that completed decision.
What to look for in the official minutes
- Inflation and employment assessment: Note how participants described the balance of risks at the September meeting. Treat those descriptions as dated meeting context, not a substitute for later data releases.
- Reasons behind the policy action: Compare the discussion with the September statement rather than relying on a headline or a single phrase.
- Policy-path uncertainty: Look for the conditions participants emphasized, not a claim that the minutes predict the October decision.
- Financial-market conditions: Separate observations about market functioning from a recommendation to buy or sell a particular asset.
What the minutes cannot tell you
The minutes are not a live press conference, a new interest-rate vote or a current forecast. They describe information available during the September 15–16 meeting. Readers should distinguish that record from later releases, including the next JOLTS report and Core PCE report.
A practical 2:00 p.m. ET checklist
- Open the original Federal Reserve release first; do not rely on a social-media excerpt.
- Read the policy-discussion sections before judging a market move.
- Compare the minutes with the September statement and projections, then note which data arrived after the meeting.
- For the next scheduled decision time and a broader calendar, use our Next Fed Meeting guide.
FOMC minutes FAQ
What time are the September 2026 FOMC minutes released?
The Federal Reserve calendar lists Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Are FOMC minutes the same as an interest-rate decision?
No. The minutes are a later summary of a completed meeting. The September decision was announced on September 16; the October 7 release adds the discussion record.
Will the minutes decide what happens at the October meeting?
No. The next scheduled FOMC meeting is October 27–28. The minutes can add context, but they do not determine a future policy outcome.
Primary sources
- Federal Reserve October 2026 calendar
- Federal Reserve: What are FOMC minutes?
- September 16, 2026 FOMC statement
- New York Fed research on the market impact of FOMC minutes
Last reviewed September 20, 2026. This article is educational information, not personalized investment, tax or legal advice.