Blog Posts

With its stunning landscape and rich culture, Alaska is known as the “The Last Frontier.” But the real “frontier” begins outside populated areas like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau where decent, safe, and energy-efficient housing becomes scarce.

Work hard and you’ll achieve success and have a higher income than your parents. That’s the American dream. Yet thousands of struggling Americans are realizing that determination isn’t always enough, and it’s difficult to get ahead when you’re always behind. Here are five important things to know about economic mobility challenges holding people back.

How much cash does it take to cover a football field? How many notes can the Fed process during a 30-second commercial? We have the answers to these questions and a few more to help you get warmed up for the big game.

Which economic issues got people talking in 2016? From wages to a low natural real rate of interest, check out the most viewed and shared SF Fed Economic Letters published since our 2015 roundup.

The expected normalization of interest rates reflects a healthy U.S. economy. But this is occurring in an environment of persistently low global interest rates. SF Fed President John C. Williams, in a recent interview with The New York Times, recognized that what happens abroad can influence the domestic outlook and monetary policy.

The SF Fed Economic Education team attended the National Council on Economic Education Conference in Phoenix, AZ, on Friday, October 7. Economist Mary Daly also attended, speaking about the importance of investing in human capital to raise the speed limit on the slow growth economy.

How do business and community voices make their way to monetary policy decision makers in Washington D.C.? Often through Federal Reserve Bank branches. SF Fed branch managers share how they gain insights into the issues and concerns affecting people and micro-economies in their areas.

Sky-high rents and a competitive real estate market have created a housing crisis of epic proportions in California and especially in the San Francisco Bay Area. What can be done at the city level to create more affordable housing now?

Federal Reserve policy actions have increased the size of the Fed’s balance sheet to about $4.5 trillion. But what exactly is the Fed’s balance sheet? Here’s the answer from Glenn Rudebusch, director of SF Fed Economic Research.

Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew today announced plans for the new $20, $10 and $5 notes, with the portrait of Harriet Tubman to be featured on the front of the new $20.