In an announcement Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee said that "economic activity is leveling out" and that "conditions in financial markets have improved further in recent weeks," citing stabilized household spending and business inventories despite ongoing job losses, tightened credit and the depressed housing market.

"Although economic activity is likely to remain weak for a time, the committee continues to anticipate that policy actions to stabilize financial markets and institutions, fiscal and monetary stimulus, and market forces will contribute to a gradual resumption of sustainable economic growth in a context of price stability," the committee said.

The Reserve also announced that it will hold the target range for federal funds at zero percent to 0.25 percent, and will purchase $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed securities and up to $200 billion of agency debt by the end of 2009. It will also buy $300 billion of Treasury securities.

Although the unemployment rate fell 0.1 point in July to hit 9.4 percent, the Labor Department announced this week that the rate may hit 10 percent before it begins to significantly drop, Reuters reported.