Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis | Economic Data, Monetary Rates, Economic Education

U.S. Economic News—Week of Sept. 24

On Wednesday, the FOMC will release economic projections and a monetary policy statement. Chairman Powell will hold a press conference.
Bankruptcy Rules and "Medicaid Churn" Affect Saving

The sometimes transient nature of Medicaid plays a role in low-income families’ decisions about saving.
Overcoming Adversity

Listen to our Women in Economics podcast to hear how economist Diane Swonk turned her struggles with dyslexia into a strength.
Building a Skilled Workforce in the South

A recent report shows Southern states are at risk of being left behind in this expansion if they don’t address a middle-skills gap.

From The President

BIO Latest Remarks and Interviews All Speeches, Presentations and Commentary

September 12, 2018

What Is the Best Strategy for Extending the U.S. Economy’s Expansion?

In Chicago, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard discussed a possible strategy for extending the U.S. economic expansion. He said his preferred approach relies on placing more weight on financial market signals than has been customary in past U.S. monetary policy strategy. He delivered similar remarks in New York on Sept. 5.
Presentation (pdf) | Press Release
July 20, 2018

Assessing the Risk of Yield Curve Inversion: An Update

In Glasgow, Ky., St. Louis Fed President James Bullard talked about the possibility that the yield curve would invert, which he first discussed in a speech on Dec. 1, 2017. “Since then, events have transpired that have flattened the yield curve further, and imminent yield curve inversion in the U.S. has become a real possibility,” he said.
Presentation (pdf) | Press Release | Video
Audience Q&A (audio) | Photos | Transcript of Media Q&A (pdf)

Women in Economics: Gail Heyne Hafer

Hafer, an economics professor at St. Louis Community College-Meramec and author of children’s books about economics, talks about how teaching economics has evolved over the past 30 years.
Fiscal Policy's Link to Inequality

St. Louis Fed economist Miguel Faria-e-Castro talks about rising inequality in both income and wealth in the United States and how we compare to other countries.
Taking a Closer Look at U.S. Exports to China
Third Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
Civilian aircraft, soybeans, motor vehicles and microchips are the biggest U.S. exports to China, and production of these goods is geographically concentrated. In the case of soybeans, 10 states produced 79 percent of the U.S. crop in 2016.
Soybeans, the Eighth District’s No. 1 Crop, Caught in Trade Tussle
Third Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
In 2017, the District’s farmers grew 19 percent of the country’s soybeans. But China recently imposed a 25 percent tariff on soybeans, creating uncertainties for U.S. growers.
Bankruptcy Rules and “Medicaid Churn” Affect Saving of Families Planning for Medical Bills
Issue 21 2018 | In the Balance
The use of bankruptcy to avoid medical bills and the sometimes transient nature of Medicaid play a role in low-income families’ decisions about saving.
Women in Economics: Diane Swonk

Swonk, chief economist and managing director at Grant Thornton, talks about her struggles with dyslexia and growing up in Detroit during the city’s economic “demise” of the 1970s and 1980s.
Bitcoin: Beyond the Basics

Economist David Andolfatto takes a deep dive into cryptocurrency and the technology behind it. Learn about distributed ledgers, mining, hacking and regulation.
In the U.S. Hispanic Labor Force, Women Surpass Men in Multiple Ways
Third Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
In the U.S., female Hispanic workers surpass male counterparts in education and in high-paying jobs.