What is the Federal Reserve?
The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States. Central banks are often called the "bankers bank" and the "government's bank." Basically, this means 'the Fed' a) works to insure the safety and efficiency of the commercial banking and payment system in the U.S., and b) oversees the monetary policy of the U.S., mainly through managing interest rates, setting reserve requirements, acting as a lender of last resort and controlling the money supply.
Select Periodicals
- Board of Governors of the Federal ReserveFederal Reserve Publications
- Banking BriefFederal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
- Communities and BankingFederal Reserve Bank of Boston
- Econ FocusFederal Reserve Bank of Richmond
- Economic LetterFederal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
- Economic Policy ReviewFederal Reserve Bank of New York
- Economic ReviewFederal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
- FedViewsFederal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
- Economic Research and Reports from Kansas City FedFederal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
- On The Economy (Blog)Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Federal Reserve Data, Statistics, and Publications
- Board of Governors of the Federal Researve - Economic Research and DataThe Publications section of this site includes statistical digests and releases, consumer information brochures, regulatory information, supervision manuals, surveys, reports and working papers.
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve - Banking Information & RegulationClearinghouse of information from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board; includes banking data and information on banking structure, overview of the Basel regulatory capital framework, information on legal developments and regulation, supervision and regulation letters, Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) information and more!
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve - Consumer & CommunitiesBasic information for consumers' self-education regarding bank accounts and services, credit reports and credit scores, identity theft, frauds and scams, leasing, mortgages, personal finance, federal agency contracts and independent foreclosure review. Note the Federal Reserve Consumer Help link, which provides a variety of information such as how to file a complaint about a bank, etc.
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve - Federal Reserve Bulletin(Monthly) Key source of summary economic and financial statistics, such as interest rates, the money supply, flow of funds, and much more. Federal Reserve Board research articles are also published. The website offers links to selected Bulletin articles, 1996 to current.
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve - The 12 Federal Reserve DistrictsInformation about the twelve Federal Reserve Banks and their districts, branches, and presidents.
- Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC)This is the FFIEC's Central Data Repository's Public Data Distribution web site; access to financial and structural information for most FDIC-insured institutions.
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - ArchivaL Federal Reserve Economic Data (ALFRED)As described on their own page, ALFRED provides access to " vintage versions of economic data that were available on specific dates in history. In general, economic data for past observation periods are revised as more accurate estimates become available. As a result, previous vintages of data can be superseded and may no longer be available from various data sources. Vintage or real time economic data allows academics to reproduce others' research, build more accurate forecasting models, and analyze economic policy decisions using the data available at the time."
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research (FRASER)FRASER’s mission is to safeguard and provide easy access to economic history—particularly the history of the Federal Reserve System.
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
This link opens in a new window
2012 Best of the Best Business Websites Award Winner
Provides historical U.S. economic and financial data, including daily U.S. interest rates, monetary and business indicators, exchange rates, balance of payments and regional economic data. *BRASS Best of the best Business Website Award Winner, 2012 - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - Fed in PrintIndexes all economic research published by the Federal Reserve Banks, 1965 to current. The print version has been replaced by the free web version which has a powerful search engine and links to full-text.
A History of the Federal Reserve, Volume 1 by Call Number: Univ. of Chicago PressISBN: 0226519988Publication Date: 2003Allan H. Meltzer's monumental history of the Federal Reserve System tells the story of one of America's most influential but least understood public institutions. This first volume covers the period from the Federal Reserve's founding in 1913 through the Treasury-Federal Reserve Accord of 1951, which marked the beginning of a larger and greatly changed institution. To understand why the Federal Reserve acted as it did at key points in its history, Meltzer draws on meeting minutes, correspondence, and other internal documents (many made public only during the 1970s) to trace the reasoning behind its policy decisions. Written by one of the world's leading economists, this magisterial biography of the Federal Reserve and the people who helped shape it will interest anyone seeking a deep understanding of the institution that controls America's purse strings.
A History of the Federal Reserve, 1951-1969 (Volume 2, Book 1) by Call Number: Univ. of Chicago PressISBN: 0226520021Publication Date: 2010This two-part second volume of the history chronicles the evolution and development of this institution from the Treasury - Federal Reserve accord in 1951 to the mid-1980s, when the great inflation ended. It reveals the inner workings of the Fed during a period of rapid and extensive change.
A History of the Federal Reserve, 1970-1986 (Volume 2, Book 2) by Call Number: Univ. of Chicago PressISBN: 0226519945Publication Date: 2010
