Fed announces 2005 meeting schedule

WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Federal Reserve announced Friday the tentative meeting schedule for policy-makers next year.

The Federal Open Market Committee is slated to meet a total of eight times in 2005, namely Feb. 1 to 2, March 22, May 3, June 29 to 30, Aug. 9, Sept. 20, Nov. 1, and Dec. 13.

In addition, the Fed said the FOMC will meet Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 in 2006.

FOMC usually meet for a day on a regular basis to vote on whether or not to adjust interest rates. But twice a year, they also hold two-day meetings to discuss the U.S. economic outlook for the next six months.