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

U.S. Economic News—Week of Aug. 20

Minutes of the latest FOMC meeting are released Wednesday. Data releases include durable goods orders (Friday).
Voices of the Fed

How is your community reflected in our work? Current and former St. Louis Fed directors share their perspectives. Watch the videos and read the blogs.
Interest Rates and U.S. Debt

Rising short-term rates do lift the U.S. government’s borrowing costs, but how the higher rates affect these costs is more complicated.
Report: Medicaid Can Increase Saving

Low-income families planned to save more or as usual from tax refunds after becoming eligible for the public insurance program.

From The President

BIO Latest Remarks and Interviews All Speeches, Presentations and Commentary

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)
2018:Q2

Reflections on Crisis to Recovery

James Bullard provides reflections on his first 10 years as St. Louis Fed president and on the financial crisis, Great Recession and subsequent recovery. He highlights some of his key themes and monetary policy positions over that period.
Article

Forecasters See Solid U.S. GDP Growth during Rest of 2018
Third Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
Buoyed by consumption and business fixed investments, U.S. real GDP growth is expected to average close to 3 percent during the second half of 2018, according to professional forecasters.
60% of District's Jobs Could Face Automation in the Next 20 Years
Third Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
Jobs in the St. Louis Fed’s District face a higher risk of automation than do jobs nation-wide. Smaller MSAs in the District will face bigger impact.
Rising Rates Impact Borrowing Costs for the U.S. Government, Too
Third Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
The Fed has been raising short-term rates. This lifts borrowing costs for everyone, including the U.S. government, but the effect on longer-term Treasury rates is less predictable.
Women in Economics: Fenaba Addo

Fenaba Addo shares what it was like for her to be the only black woman in most of her economics courses in the latest Women in Economics podcast.
Medicaid Can Increase Saving by Distressed Households
Issue-20 2018 | In the Balance
After Medicaid eligibility, financially stressed families chose to save more from tax refunds, but low-income families that weren’t as financially stressed didn’t make major changes to saving choices.
CEO Succession at Rural Banks
Second Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
New CEOs at rural banks are younger than their urban peers, a marked change from 1997 to 2008.
Hispanics and Their Contribution to America’s Human Capital
Second Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
Despite making gains in higher-skill occupations, Hispanics are more likely to end up in lower-skill jobs. This disparity may be due to Hispanics lagging behind their non-Hispanic peers in education.
Reflections on Crisis to Recovery
Second Quarter 2018 | Regional Economist
James Bullard reflects on his first 10 years as St. Louis Fed president and highlights some of his key themes and monetary policy positions over that period.