1. Policy makers expect to raise their benchmark interest rate more slowly than they had previously thought
The median estimate now pegs the federal funds rate at 0.625 percent at the end of this year, down from the 1.125 percent median in December. At the end of 2016, the median forecast sees the funds rate at 1.875 percent, down from 2.5 percent. And at the end of 2017, it's 3.125 percent instead of 3.625 percent.
2. The committee mentioned exports for the first time since March 2009
Compare this sentence in the policy statement released Wednesday: "Business fixed investment is advancing, while the recovery the housing sector remains slow and export growth has weakened."
With this, from the statement following their last meeting in January: "Business fixed investment is advancing, while the recovery in the housing sector remains slow."
In January, exports fell from a year earlier for the first time since September 2009. That was information Fed officials didn't have in their Jan. 27-28 gathering. In her press conference on Wednesday, Fed Chair Janet Yellen said "probably the strong dollar is one reason for that."
A stronger U.S. currency makes American goods more expensive for consumers overseas.
3. Officials cut their projections for economic growth sizably, across multiple years
One of the most striking aspects of the new set of forecasts was that, unlike in December, Fed officials no longer see economic growth reaching 3 percent — this year, next year, the year after that, or in the long run.
The "central tendency" of their 2015 GDP growth forecast — which excludes the top and bottom three of the 17 committee members' forecasts — fell to a 2.3 to 2.7 percent range, from 2.6 to 3 percent. For next year, the range was reduced to 2.3 to 2.7 percent from 2.5 to 3 percent. For 2017, the range fell to 2 to 2.4 percent from 2.3 to 2.5 percent.
"I certainly expect net exports to serve as a notable drag this year on the outlook," Yellen said during her press conference.
The dollar rally that began last year is only about halfway through, according to analysts at Morgan Stanley. One reason to believe the dollar will continue to rise? The Fed will soon begin tightening policy while other central banks around the world ease or at least maintain interest rates at very low levels.
4. The Fed now expects lower inflation
Officials said core inflation — a measure of underlying price trends that excludes food and energy — will probably track at 1.3 to 1.4 percent this year, from their December estimate of 1.5 to 1.8 percent.
This is significant because the Fed said in its statement it needs to be "reasonably confident" that inflation will trend back up to its 2 percent target before raising interest rates.
Now, the Fed doesn't see core inflation reaching its target until 2017. In December, officials thought it more likely that the goal would be achieved in 2016.
A stronger dollar puts pressure on prices by reducing the cost of goods imported from outside the United States.
"Declining import prices have also restrained inflation, and in light of the recent appreciation of the dollar, will likely continue to do so in the months ahead," Yellen said during the press conference.
