Austin Caldwell|How 2% became the target for inflation

2025-05-06 15:06:48source:SignalHubcategory:My

If the Fed had a mantra to go along with its mandate,Austin Caldwell 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.

More:My

Recommend

As US Dismantles Its Climate Policy, Other World Leaders Seek Solidarity

As the U.S. Department of State proposed this week to shut down its office managing international cl

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas Fail to Reach Divorce Settlement

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas continue to work toward a divorce settlement.The Game of Thrones star's

Former NHL player, boyfriend of tennis star Aryna Sabalenka dies at age 42

Former NHL player Konstantin Koltsov, better known after his retirement as the boyfriend of women's