Fed interest rate decision (FOMC), March 18, 2026
On March 18, 2026, the US Federal Reserve announced its interest rate decision at 2:00 PM New York time (for you: ), followed by the Fed Chair's press conference at 2:30 PM. This meeting also brings new economic projections, including the "dot plot" of where officials expect rates to go.
Time around the world
| Place | Rate decision | Press conference |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Wed 18 Mar, 14:00 | Wed 18 Mar, 14:30 |
| UTC | Wed 18 Mar, 18:00 | Wed 18 Mar, 18:30 |
| London | Wed 18 Mar, 18:00 | Wed 18 Mar, 18:30 |
| Frankfurt | Wed 18 Mar, 19:00 | Wed 18 Mar, 19:30 |
| Dubai | Wed 18 Mar, 22:00 | Wed 18 Mar, 22:30 |
| Singapore | Thu 19 Mar, 02:00 | Thu 19 Mar, 02:30 |
| Tokyo | Thu 19 Mar, 03:00 | Thu 19 Mar, 03:30 |
| Sydney | Thu 19 Mar, 05:00 | Thu 19 Mar, 05:30 |
What is the FOMC?
The Federal Open Market Committee is the group inside the US Federal Reserve that sets the federal funds rate, the main US interest rate. It meets eight times a year. The decision and a short statement come out at 2:00 PM New York time on the second day of the meeting.
Why crypto watches the Fed
Interest rates change the cost of money and the strength of the dollar. Lower rates or hints of cuts tend to help riskier assets such as Bitcoin, while higher rates or a firmer tone tend to weigh on them. Prices often move sharply in the minutes after the statement and during the press conference, especially when the decision or the Fed's outlook differs from what traders expected.
Other Fed meetings
- January 28, 2026
- March 18, 2026
- April 29, 2026
- June 17, 2026
- July 29, 2026
- September 16, 2026
- October 28, 2026
- December 9, 2026
Previous: January 28, 2026. Next: April 29, 2026.
Meeting dates: federalreserve.gov. See all scheduled releases in the events calendar and the latest Bitcoin news.