You are reading this backwards. The inflation/employment numbers were taken into account and they warned that the economy has sufficiently recovered and a raise

You are reading this backwards. The inflation/employment numbers were taken into account and they warned that the economy has sufficiently recovered and a raise was imminent. The date has nothing to do with it. The Fed however did indicate in their comments their line of thinking that if the current trend continues, they would begin raising rates around this timeframe. They did.