Federal Reserve officials surprised some onlookers by unveiling a rough plan for balance sheet runoff in the minutes for their May meeting. They were so on top of things, in fact, that many economists think more formal guidelines could come as early as this week.

The flexibility to veer from his traditional strategy has helped Jonathan Law of Advisors Asset Management find value in a volatile market.

The Federal Reserve is on track to begin unwinding its balance sheet this year or next, although U.S. central bankers are not in a rush to tighten and will take care to ensure their actions don’t trigger disruptions that harm the global economy, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley said.

The Federal Reserve should begin shrinking its balance sheet this year and put the reductions “on autopilot,” Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President and CEO Esther L. George said Tuesday.

Income expectations rose, but consumers expect to spend less, according to the Survey of Consumer Expectations, released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Monday.

If the economy grows as expected, further rate hikes will be necessary, although they should be gradual, not one every Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President and CEO Loretta J. Mester said Monday.

The fed funds rate target is not far from the appropriate level, given the low natural rate of interest, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said Monday.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President John Williams said his outlook hasn’t changed: he still expects three or four rate hikes and the beginning of reducing the Fed balance sheet to begin later this year.

While policy rules have their merits, policymakers should not apply them “mechanically,” and committees offer benefits rules can’t, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer said Friday.

The Federal Open Market Committee held rates at 0.75% to 1%, with no dissents, while offering no clues as to what the June meeting holds.

The Federal Open Market Committee meets May 2-3. Here's what you need to know about voters' recent statements.

The Federal Reserve expectations of three rate hikes this year still stand, Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair Stanley Fischer said in a televised interview Friday.

The Federal Reserve's latest report of economic conditions Wednesday found all 12 regional Fed districts reporting their regional economies cruising along at a modest or moderate pace, with businesses remaining optimistic on growth in the face of continued policy uncertainty.

The Federal Reserve's balance sheet will probably continue to be used as a monetary policy tool in the future, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren said.

Traders are pulling back from bets the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in June as inflation expectations crumble.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President John Williams said it may take the U.S. central bank around five years to shrink its balance sheet to a more normal size once that process gets underway.

Most Federal Reserve officials said they backed a policy change that would begin shrinking the central bank's $4.5 trillion balance sheet later this year, as they reiterated their outlook for gradual interest-rate increases.

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker resigned Tuesday saying he confirmed confidential materials in 2012, according to published reports.

Three rate hikes appear to remain appropriate for this year, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and CEO Patrick T. Harker repeated Monday, noting they can be spread out.

The primary muni market has been volatile the past month since the election. Now with 2016 almost over, the Federal Open Market Committee is set to meet on Wednesday with a bump in interest rates widely expected, which would be the first since last December. In the latest installment of Muni Minute, we preview the Fed meeting and speculate on what could follow from the FOMC in 2017.