The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has announced the appointment of Karen Emis-Williams and Brian Gottlob to the advisory board of the New England Public Policy Center (NEPPC).
The Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book report indicates a slight decline in economic activity across the districts, influenced by unusual weather patterns affecting seasonal goods purchases.
Economists and financial experts gathered at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for its 68th Economic Research Conference to discuss how technological advancements, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, might reshape financial...
The town of Springfield, Vermont, once known for its vital machine tool industry during World War II, is working to recover from the loss of jobs and identity that followed the industry's decline. Bob Flint, executive director of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation, highlighted efforts to clean up former factory sites with $9 million already spent and an additional $5 million committed. This remediation is seen as a step toward commercial redevelopment.
Like many small New England cities, Fitchburg developed around a river and the mills it powered. The city struggled after the mills began closing in the mid- to late 20th century as manufacturing declined nationwide.
Traffic was so rare on the road in Lewiston, Maine, where David Chittim and his wife bought an old farmhouse in the late 1970s, that they’d jump to look out the window every time a car passed by. The newlyweds, both 27, moved to the house because it was something they could afford and fix up themselves. But even though it was just a few miles from the city’s downtown, Chittim said they were “essentially isolated.”
A recent field note from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's Regional & Community Outreach department examines how U.S. households perceive and respond to changing prices. The research, which utilized national survey data, indicates that despite a significant decline in inflation over the past two years, many Americans remain concerned about price increases.
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins visited Newport, Providence, and Cranston on Wednesday to understand the economic challenges and successes in Rhode Island. During her trip, she engaged with local business leaders and nonprofit organizations.
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan M. Collins visited Biddeford, Bangor, and Millinocket this week to observe how Maine business owners and residents are addressing economic challenges through innovation and collaboration.
The Beige Book, published eight times annually, compiles anecdotal information on current economic conditions from each Federal Reserve Bank's District. This data is gathered through reports from Bank and Branch directors, interviews with key business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources.
A recent working paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston examines how liquidity risks can propagate through networks of financial institutions, particularly during times of crisis. The study, coauthored by Lina Lu, a senior financial economist at the Boston Fed, and published by the Bank’s Supervisory Research and Analysis group, focuses on the impact of liquidity shocks within interconnected banks.
Leaders from across the Federal Reserve System visited Chelsea, Massachusetts, on Monday to learn about local economic conditions and hear about the lasting impacts of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Working Cities Challenge. The Fed contingent, including Reserve Bank presidents and first vice presidents – among them Boston Fed President Susan M. Collins and First Vice President Karen Pennell – met with Chelsea residents and community leaders. They also toured the downtown of this majority Hispanic/Latino city of about 38,000, located a few miles from Boston’s financial...
A decade ago, Lawrence became one of New England’s first “Working Cities,” joining several small Massachusetts cities with rich but faded industrial pasts in a new community development initiative. On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan M. Collins visited Lawrence, where the Bank has been involved since the Working Cities Challenge began in 2014. Some say the program sparked significant changes in the former mill city.
The Beige Book, published eight times per year, gathers anecdotal information on current economic conditions from various sources across each Federal Reserve District. This summary provides insights by district and sector.
The national unemployment rate stood at 3.9% in April, aligning with pre-pandemic levels. New England's unemployment rate was even lower at 3.3%. According to MIT economist David Autor, the tight labor markets during the pandemic resulted in rising wages for low-paid workers, reversing a four-decade trend of increasing inequality between low- and high-wage workers. The Biden administration has emphasized that the recovery from the pandemic-induced downturn is one of the most equitable in recent history.
A recent working paper from the Federal Reserve has examined how financial institutions manage potential risks in their credit card portfolios. The study, titled “Managing Risk in Cards Portfolios: Risk Appetite and Limits,” finds that firms typically employ a consistent approach to risk assessment, constantly monitoring potential risks against predetermined limits or thresholds.
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan M. Collins emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing wealth disparities, stating, “There’s a lot to be done, and we each bring different ideas, thoughts, and understandings to the table. Unless we work together, we’re not going to be successful in terms of moving things forward.”During a roundtable discussion in Hamden at the Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program, OrLando Yarborough III, director of ConnCAT’s bioscience training programs, highlighted the need for creating career pipelines and...
