The federal funds rate is an intrabank, overnight lending rate. The Federal Reserve increases or decreases this so-called "target rate" when it wants to cool or spur economic growth. The last Fed move on October 30, 2019 was the third decrease in the funds rate since 2008, when the Fed moved the rate to nearly zero. The FOMC is the Fed’s rate-setting body, and it votes on interest rate changes every six weeks or so. The FOMC looks at where it thinks the economy is headed and sets interest rates to help the economy reach or maintain full employment, moderate long-term interest rates, and an inflation rate of 2%. Data before 1975 represent the date of the New York Fed discount rate change, data after 1975 represent the date of the first Federal Reserve bank discount rate change. Source: Board of Governors: Banking and Monetary Statistics, 1914-1941, and 1941-1970; the Annual Statistical Digest, 1970-1979; and the Federal Reserve Bulletin, 1978 - January