The FOMC decided to wait and hold  the QE3 in place at a pace of $85 billion per month. Apparently, the economy of the United States is not ready to quit the stimulus, decided the FOMC members by a 1-to-9 vote. Indeed, the data below expectations coming from the labour market influenced the decision took today and Ben Bernanke gave assurances that the progress of the economy  is basically deciding whether or not the QE3 will continue to run or not.

Likewise, the interest rate is going to remain at low levels with no changes on the long-term. The “no tapering” indicated an economy still fragile, then add the fact that the Fed is revising down its economic growth forecasts, seeing  growth between 2% and 2.3% this year, down from 2.3% to 2.6%. Even if the program is being maintained, it doesn’t mean that it failed to deliver results, just that a better recovery of the economy is needed.  As an example, since September 2012 when the QE3 started, the jobless rate fall from 8.3% to 7.3%, a substantial improvement but still above the targeted percentage. As there are no worries about inflation which this year is expected to vary between 1.2% and 1.3%, the Quantitative Easing program will continue to support the American economy as long as needed.