The Most Important Developments Since the Fed Met in September

Federal Reserve officials meet in Washington this week to vote on whether the nation's economy is on sufficiently solid footing to sustain the first-interest rate increase since 2006.

Many investors don't believe there will be a move this year, according to pricing in federal funds futures, but the Fed has not taken it off the table. The move, when it comes, is expected to be just 25 basis points. That's tiny, but the message will be monumental: It will show that the Fed believes the U.S. economy has healed from the worst recession since the Great Depression and the move will stoke expectations for more increases ahead.