[뉴욕=뉴스핌] 민지현 특파원 = 미국 연방준비제도(연준)가 18일(현지시간) 이틀 간의 연방공개시장위원회(FOMC) 정례회의를 마치고 금융 시장의 예상대로 기준금리인 연방기금금리 목표 범위를 1.75~2.00%로 25bp(1bp=0.01%포인트) 인하했다고 밝혔다. 

지난 7월 말 기준금리를 2008년 제로금리 정책 시행 이후 10여년 만에 처음으로 인하한 데 이어 약 두 달 만에 금리를 또 다시 내렸다. 

소수 의견을 낸 위원으로는 제임스 불러드 세인트루이스 연방준비은행 총재가 1.50~1.75%로 50bp 인하를 주장했으며, 에스터 조지 캔자스시티 연은 총재와 에릭 로젠그렌 보스턴 연은 총재는 동결을 주장했다. 

연준은 이날 정책 성명에서 "노동시장이 견고하고 소비지출도 빠른 속도로 증가하고 있으나 기업의 고정투자와 수출이 약화됐다"며 "세계 경제 성장에 미칠 영향과 잠잠해진 물가상승 압력을 고려해 금리를 인하하기로 결정했다"고 밝혔다. 

다음은 이날 공개된 정책 성명서 전문이다. 

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in July indicates that the labor market remains strong and that economic activity has been rising at a moderate rate. Job gains have been solid, on average, in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Although household spending has been rising at a strong pace, business fixed investment and exports have weakened. On a 12-month basis, overall inflation and inflation for items other than food and energy are running below 2 percent. Market-based measures of inflation compensation remain low; survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed.

Consistent with its statutory mandate, the Committee seeks to foster maximum employment and price stability. In light of the implications of global developments for the economic outlook as well as muted inflation pressures, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 1-3/4 to 2 percent. This action supports the Committee's view that sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation near the Committee's symmetric 2 percent objective are the most likely outcomes, but uncertainties about this outlook remain. As the Committee contemplates the future path of the target range for the federal funds rate, it will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook and will act as appropriate to sustain the expansion, with a strong labor market and inflation near its symmetric 2 percent objective.

In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its maximum employment objective and its symmetric 2 percent inflation objective. This assessment will take into account a wide range of information, including measures of labor market conditions, indicators of inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and readings on financial and international developments.

Voting for the monetary policy action were Jerome H. Powell, Chair, John C. Williams, Vice Chair; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; Richard H. Clarida; Charles L. Evans; and Randal K. Quarles. Voting against the action were James Bullard, who preferred at this meeting to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 percent; and Esther L. George and Eric S. Rosengren, who preferred to maintain the target range at 2 percent to 2-1/4 percent.

jihyeonmin@newspim.com