The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy
Published . Updated .
The Fed's 2 percent inflation target affects workers, borrowers, and families—but Congress never established it. Erin Lockwood explains why the target deserves greater scrutiny and democratic accountability.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF-1.8% 30d
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF: Treasury bond prices move with interest-rate expectations. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story.
- IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF-0.9% 30d
iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF: Treasury bond prices move with interest-rate expectations. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story.
- TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF-0.5% 30d
iShares TIPS Bond ETF: it is a common hedge when prices rise. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story.
- JPM JPMorgan Chase-3.8% 30d
JPMorgan Chase (national commercial banks): rate changes move lenders' margins and borrowers' demand. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story.
- BAC Bank of America-12.5% 30d
Bank of America (national commercial banks): rate changes move lenders' margins and borrowers' demand. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story.
- DHI D.R. Horton+5.5% 30d
D.R. Horton (operative builders): rate changes move lenders' margins and borrowers' demand. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story.
- SCHW The Charles Schwab
The Charles Schwab (security brokers, dealers and flotation companies): rate changes move lenders' margins and borrowers' demand. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story.
- WMT Walmart+11.0% 30d
Walmart (variety stores): big consumer-goods sellers feel price rises in costs and shopper demand. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLT | -1.71% | -0.37% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| IEF | -0.94% | -0.05% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| TIPNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| JPM | -0.20% | -1.26% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| BAC | +0.28% | -0.24% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| DHINo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SCHWNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| WMTNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Market Call
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The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy The Roosevelt Institute
Source: The Roosevelt Institute
Ishares Tr (TLT) since this story, compared with the market
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Of America (BAC) | three days earlier | -0.24% | final price |
| Bank Of America (BAC) | five days earlier | +0.28% | final price |
| Ishares Tr (IEF) | three days earlier | -0.05% | final price |
| Ishares Tr (IEF) | five days earlier | -0.94% | final price |
| Jpmorgan Chase (JPM) | three days earlier | -1.26% | final price |
| Jpmorgan Chase (JPM) | five days earlier | -0.20% | final price |
| Ishares Tr (TLT) | three days earlier | -0.37% | final price |
| Ishares Tr (TLT) | five days earlier | -1.71% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Sen. John Boozman bought Ishares Tr (IEF) (jointly held), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 9 Sep 2026. That is 49 days before publication. Filed 21 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse sold Jpmorgan Chase (JPM), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 54 days before publication. Filed 1 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse sold Jpmorgan Chase (JPM) (held by a spouse), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 54 days before publication. Filed 1 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Jpmorgan Chase (JPM) (held by a spouse), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 62 days before publication. Filed 4 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Bank Of America (BAC) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 9 Sep 2026. That is 49 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Laurel Lee sold Bank Of America (BAC) (held by a spouse), worth $50,001 - $100,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 65 days before publication. Filed 16 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Horton D R (DHI), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 17 Aug 2026. That is 72 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Jonathan Jackson sold Walmart (WMT) (jointly held), worth $50,001 - $100,000 on 28 Sep 2026. That is 30 days before publication. Filed 19 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Walmart (WMT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 33 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Walmart (WMT) (held by a dependent child), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 11 Sep 2026. That is 47 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Costco Wholesale (COST) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 33 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Richard W. Allen sold Costco Wholesale (COST) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 18 Sep 2026. That is 40 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Ishares Tr (TLT)
Companies carried with this story
- TLT Ishares Tr
For “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy,” Ishares Tr (TLT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF: Treasury bond prices move with interest-rate expectations. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story
- IEF Ishares Tr
For “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy,” Ishares Tr (IEF) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF: Treasury bond prices move with interest-rate expectations. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story
- TIP Ishares Tr
In “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy,” Ishares Tr (TIP) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares TIPS Bond ETF: it is a common hedge when prices rise. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story
- JPM Jpmorgan Chase
In “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy,” Jpmorgan Chase (JPM) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: JPMorgan Chase (national commercial banks): rate changes move lenders' margins and borrowers' demand. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story
- BAC Bank Of America
Bank Of America (BAC) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 28 Oct 2026 story “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy.” Reason on file: Bank of America (national commercial banks): rate changes move lenders' margins and borrowers' demand. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story
- WMT Walmart
In “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy,” Walmart (WMT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Walmart (variety stores): big consumer-goods sellers feel price rises in costs and shopper demand. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story
- COST Costco Wholesale
In “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy,” Costco Wholesale (COST) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Costco Wholesale (variety stores): big consumer-goods sellers feel price rises in costs and shopper demand. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story
- PG Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble (PG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 28 Oct 2026 story “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy.” Reason on file: The Procter & Gamble (soap, detergents, cleang preparations, perfumes, cosmetics): big consumer-goods sellers feel price rises in costs and shopper demand. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story
Ishares Tr (TLT)
Ishares Tr (TLT) is the company in “The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy,” the 28 Oct 2026 this story story.
Ishares Tr (TLT) is on the page because iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF: Treasury bond prices move with interest-rate expectations. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story
Also listed, Ishares Tr (IEF): iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF: Treasury bond prices move with interest-rate expectations. Linked by “fed” (US interest rates) in this story
Price levels for Ishares Tr (TLT)
IEF traded between 88.64 and 91.23 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 90.08. TIP traded between 103.77 and 105.67 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 105.27. TLT traded between 76.44 and 81.94 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 79.46.
A simple score for Ishares Tr (TLT)
46 out of 100
“The Fed’s Arbitrary 2 Percent Inflation Target and a More Accountable Monetary Policy” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.