This figure reflects both a most significant decline in revenue and a notable increase in expenditure, of which more than 70% is directly related to the pandemic. The latest data, which exclude local government budgetary developments, are along these same lines: they show a budget deficit to August of 7.8% of GDP in cumulative 12-month terms, 4.9 pp up on the end-2019 figure. Besides the highly significant impact the pandemic has exerted on the main aggregate indicators of activity, its influence, and that of the measures implemented to contain it, has been extraordinarily asymmetrical across sectors, firms and workers. For instance, some services sectors linked to the hospitality industry and to transport, where activity habitually requires relatively high levels of social interaction, have since the start of the pandemic shown much more marked declines than those seen in the other sectors (e.g. manufacturing) across a wide range of activity, confidence and employment indicators. The regional distribution of the declines in activity and employment has also been very uneven.1 The crisis has also had a very uneven impact among workers.
These actions cannot address the health issues, but can help 1/2  BIS central bankers' speeches  manage near-term risks to the economy in a highly uncertain time. Earlier this week, the FOMC voted unanimously to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 1 to 1-1/4 percent. This strong policy action provides meaningful support to the economy and will help sustain the economic expansion. The outlook is evolving and highly uncertain. In the weeks and months ahead, we will continue to closely monitor developments and their implications for the economic outlook. We will use our tools and act as appropriate to support the economy. As part of our response, my colleagues and I in the Federal Reserve System are coordinating with our counterparts around the world. Tuesday’s phone call between G7 finance ministers and central bank governors, the subsequent statement, and policy actions by central banks are clear indications of the close alignment at the international level. Financial Markets Turning to the specific responsibilities of the New York Fed, we are tasked with the implementation of monetary policy. Our goals are to keep the federal funds rate within the target range and foster stable conditions in short-term funding markets. We will ensure that the supply of reserves in the banking system remains ample, consistent with the FOMC’s direction.2 Treasury bill purchases continue to add to the underlying level of reserves, and repo operations are keeping reserve levels ample. We are monitoring conditions in money markets closely.