The federal funds rate target should be anticipated so long as the Unemployment Rate remained above 6. 5 , inflation between one and two years ahead was projected to be no more than half a percentage point above the committees longerrun goal and expectations continued to be well anchored. My colleagues and i have certain sized that the statements in that guy dance were thresholds, not triggers. Crossing one of the thresholds would not automatically give rise to an increase in the federal funds rate target. Instead, it was signaled only that it would be appropriate for the committee to begin considering based on a wider range of indicators whether and when an increase in the target might be warranted. Large scale asset purchases also provide monetary accommodation by lowering longterm Interest Rates. Working through the portfolio balance channel, asset purchases reduced the supply of loan duration assets in the hands of the public, thus reducing longer term yields. At times the decision