Consumer Information
Research Reports
Earnings Inequality within the Urban United States: 2000 to 2006
This study from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis looks at one of the most striking economic trends in the United States: the ever-widening wage gap between workers at the top end of the pay scale and those at the low end. In the report, economist Christopher H. Wheeler discusses the reasons behind this continuing trend and what public policymakers can do about it. The study includes information on four metropolitan areas within the Eighth Federal Reserve District: Little Rock, Louisville, Memphis and St. Louis.
Local Crime and Local Business Cycles
Do business cycles affect crime rates? A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis provides some answers to that question by presenting information on local business cycles and crime rates in 23 major cities. Written by Fed economist Thomas A. Garrett and senior research associate Lesli S. Ott, the report includes data for four cities in the Bank’s District: St. Louis, Little Rock, Louisville and Memphis.
Booklets, Guides, and Brochures
Coming Up with the Money
Published in 2002, this self-study guide explains the basics of launching a community development project. Available as an easy-to-use online tool or in a series of printable PDFs:
- Introduction (PDF 138 KB)
- Unit 1: Core Principles (PDF 206 KB)
- Unit 2: Go/No Go (PDF 226 KB)
- Unit 3: Case Study No. 1 / Case Study No. 2 (PDF 365 KB)
- Glossary (PDF 193 KB)
- Web Sites (PDF 106 KB)
For a free paper copy, e-mail us.
Credit Scoring
The Federal Reserve System's Mortgage Credit Partnership Credit Scoring Committee has produced a series on this increasingly popular underwriting tool. The series was published in installments in 2001 and 2002 by the St. Louis Fed as a project of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco and St. Louis, as well as the Board of Governors.
The series examines many of the controversial elements of credit scoring. Each part is available as a separate PDF.
- Introduction (PDF 552KB)
- Part 1 — Credit Scoring Overview (PDF 1.09MB)
- Part 2 — Credit Scoring Model Development and Maintenance (PDF 232KB)
- Part 3 — Third-Party Brokers (PDF 506KB)
- Part 3 — Supplement (PDF 400KB)
- Part 4 — Staff Training, Loan Pricing and Data Accuracy (PDF 535KB)
- Part 5 — Overrides and Second-Review Process (PDF 816KB)
Foreclosure Survival Guide
This publication from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is intended for homeowners who are having difficulty paying their mortgage. The guide provides basic information on when to worry about a loan, how to get help from a housing counselor and pitfalls to avoid in choosing a counselor. The free publication also includes a national hotline number (1-888-995-HOPE) and a list of local counseling agencies.
Kids & Money
This short-and-sweet booklet from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis helps parents teach their school-age children how to manage money. It highlights three key topics (planning, budgeting and saving) and suggests fun family activities that will get kids thinking about saving—and spending responsibly.
Learn Before You Leap
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' Learn Before You Leap brochures list counseling agencies, customized by Eighth District Branch, that provide advice on every step of the home-buying process, from budgeting income to negotiating a contract to closing on a loan. Available as printable PDFs in both English and Spanish. Multiple hard copies can also be ordered from each District Branch contact:
- St. Louis (call Sherry McDonald, 314-444-8761)
English (PDF 292 KB) Spanish (PDF 238 KB) - Little Rock (call Julie Kerr, 501-324-8296)
English (PDF 307 KB) Spanish (PDF 305 KB) - Louisville (call Emily Lape, 502-568-9282)
English (PDF 195 KB) Spanish (PDF 247 KB) - Memphis (call Cathy Martin, 901-579-4102)
English (PDF 362 KB) Spanish (PDF 354 KB)
Los Niños y el Dinero
The Spanish version of "Kids and Money," this short-and-sweet booklet from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis helps parents teach their school-age children how to manage money. It highlights three key topics (planning, budgeting and saving) and suggests fun family activities that will get kids thinking about saving—and spending responsibly.
You've Earned It! What the Earned Income Tax Credit Can Do for You
Millions of low-income, working Americans are unaware that they are eligible for thousands of dollars in tax credits. This booklet explains how the tax credit works and how to find out if you qualify. Eligible taxpayers can receive up to $4,500 with their income-tax refund. The typical refund in the Bank's Eighth District has been about $2,000. Read the booklet online or order a free copy by calling 314-444-8761 in St. Louis; 501-324-8296 in Little Rock, Ark.; 502-568-9282 in Louisville, Ky.; and 901-579-4101 in Memphis, Tenn. Versions containing information specific to each state are also available: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee.