In terms of overall size,the Fed’s balance sheet has more than doubled to just over $2 trillion.However, this increase has likely only partially offset the funds rate shortfall, and the FOMC has committed to further balance sheet expansion by the end of this year.Looking ahead even further over the next few years,the size and persistence of the monetary policy shortfall suggest that the Fed’s balance sheet will only slowly return to its pre-crisis level.This gradual transition should be fairly straightforward,as most new assets acquired by the Fed are either marketable securities or loans with maturities of 90 days or less. Still,any economic forecast is subject to considerable uncertainty.Some outside forecasters have warned of a deeper and more protracted recession,in which case,the monetary policy funds rate shortfall and the balance sheet expansion would be even larger and more persistent.In contrast,other analysts have argued that the Fed’s growing balance sheet will lead to a resurgence of inflation (despite Japan’s recent historical experience to the contrary of an increasing central bank balance sheet and falling inflation).