However, the minutes of the Fed's December meeting showed a few participants raised concerns that keeping interest rates low over a long period might encourage excessive risk-taking. The Fed judged that the current stance of monetary policy is appropriate to support a sustained economic expansion, strong labor market conditions, and inflation near its symmetric 2 percent objective. The accompanying statement noted the Fed will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook, including global developments and muted inflation pressures, as it assesses the appropriate path for rates.