Dot plots reveal shifts in data that summary statistics miss. This analysis uses Federal Reserve projections to show how these charts track changes in central bank forecasts over time.
Key Takeaways
- The March 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.75% for end-2012.
- The March 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.25% for longer-run.
- The March 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.13% for end-2013.
- The March 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2014.
Dot plots clearly show the data’s shape, including center, spread, and any outliers at a glance.
Related reading
01 · Category
Current Year Median30 stats
01
The March 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.75% for end-2012.
02
The June 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2012.
03
The September 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2012.
04
The December 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2012.
05
The March 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2013.
06
The June 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2013.
07
The September 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2013.
08
The December 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2013.
09
The March 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2014.
10
The June 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.13% for end-2014.
11
The September 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.38% for end-2014.
12
The December 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.13% for end-2014.
13
The March 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2015.
14
The June 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2015.
15
The September 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.38% for end-2015.
16
The December 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.38% for end-2015.
17
The March 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.38% for end-2016.
18
The June 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.63% for end-2016.
19
The September 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 0.88% for end-2016.
20
The December 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.38% for end-2016.
21
The March 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.38% for end-2017.
22
The June 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.63% for end-2017.
23
The September 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.63% for end-2017.
24
The December 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.88% for end-2017.
25
The March 2018 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.88% for end-2018.
26
The June 2018 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.13% for end-2018.
27
The September 2018 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.38% for end-2018.
28
The December 2018 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.38% for end-2018.
29
The March 2019 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.38% for end-2019.
30
The June 2019 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.38% for end-2019.
Interpretation
Current Year Median Interpretation
The Fed's long, stubborn romance with near-zero interest rates finally gave way to a grudging, meandering courtship with higher rates that proved forecasting is often just a polite term for guessing.
02 · Category
Longer Run Median3 stats
01
The March 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.25% for longer-run.
02
The June 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.25% for longer-run.
03
The September 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.25% for longer-run.
Interpretation
Longer Run Median Interpretation
Despite three Fed meetings in 2012, the official crystal ball for long-term interest rates remained stubbornly stuck at a single, rather optimistic, 2.25%.
More related reading
03 · Category
Next Year Median27 stats
01
The March 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.13% for end-2013.
02
The June 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.38% for end-2013.
03
The September 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.38% for end-2013.
04
The December 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.38% for end-2013.
05
The March 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.38% for end-2014.
06
The June 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2014.
07
The September 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2014.
08
The December 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2014.
09
The March 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2015.
10
The June 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.00% for end-2015.
11
The September 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.00% for end-2015.
12
The December 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.00% for end-2015.
13
The March 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2016.
14
The June 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2016.
15
The September 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2016.
16
The December 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2016.
17
The March 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.38% for end-2017.
18
The June 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2017.
19
The September 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.88% for end-2017.
20
The December 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.00% for end-2017.
21
The March 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.00% for end-2018.
22
The June 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.25% for end-2018.
23
The September 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.38% for end-2018.
24
The December 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.38% for end-2018.
25
The March 2018 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.63% for end-2019.
26
The June 2018 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.88% for end-2019.
27
The September 2018 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 3.00% for end-2019.
Interpretation
Next Year Median Interpretation
The Fed's dot plot resembles a cautious but stubborn hiker, repeatedly stopping to gaze at a distant summit, only to realize each time that the trail ahead is longer and steeper than they initially thought.
04 · Category
Two Years Ahead Median23 stats
01
The March 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 1.75% for end-2014.
02
The June 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.00% for end-2014.
03
The September 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.00% for end-2014.
04
The December 2012 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.00% for end-2014.
05
The March 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.25% for end-2015.
06
The June 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.50% for end-2015.
07
The September 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.50% for end-2015.
08
The December 2013 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.50% for end-2015.
09
The March 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.75% for end-2016.
10
The June 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 3.00% for end-2016.
11
The September 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 3.00% for end-2016.
12
The December 2014 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 3.00% for end-2016.
13
The March 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.75% for end-2017.
14
The June 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.88% for end-2017.
15
The September 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection: 2.88% for end-2017.
16
The December 2015 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.88% for end-2017.
17
The March 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.50% for end-2018.
18
The June 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.75% for end-2018.
19
The September 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 2.88% for end-2018.
20
The December 2016 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 3.00% for end-2018.
21
The March 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 3.00% for end-2019.
22
The June 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 3.13% for end-2019.
23
The September 2017 FOMC dot plot showed a median federal funds rate projection of 3.25% for end-2019.
Interpretation
Two Years Ahead Median Interpretation
The Federal Reserve, in its infinite wisdom, consistently saw higher interest rates on a distant horizon, only for that horizon to perpetually drift forward like a monetary mirage.
Reference
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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Dot Plot Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dot-plot-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Dot Plot Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/dot-plot-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Dot Plot Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dot-plot-statistics.