Researchers know a lot about household income because the topic is well-studied and has huge implications for financial health. But what about wealth, a family's assets minus their liabilities? Much…
Not too long ago, people had just a handful of options for making payments: Think cash, checks, and wire transfers. But the number of payment options available to the average person has exploded since…
The U.S. enacted new tariffs during both of President Donald Trump's terms in office, but the execution and impact of the 2018 and 2025 tariff policies were very different. Research shows many more…
When countries practice geoeconomics, they use their economic might to win concessions from other nations. Geoeconomics can include tools like industrial policy, tariffs, and embargoes. But some say…
Global trade is the world economy’s “hidden wiring:” Instead of trading finished goods, countries exchange product components and services, linking nations across the world through spread-out supply…
Money moves through the U.S. payments system every second of the day. One key part of that system is the FedNow® Service, the Federal Reserve’s instant payment rail. Launched in 2023, it enables…
“Is college worth it?” Boston Fed research indicates the answer is yes. It shows a correlation between higher salaries and higher educational attainment in New England over the last 40 years. Also,…
Instant payments often aren’t “instant” at all, due to lags between when money is sent and received. These lags can be costly for people who need the money immediately to pay bills on time. Some end…
How is tariff uncertainty affecting the outlooks of small and medium-sized businesses, and how will this impact consumers? Boston Fed Research Director Egon Zakrajšek is part of a team at the Bank…
At one time, the housing affordability crisis was associated with certain addresses. Often, they were in high-demand coastal cities and nearby communities. Today, though, people from all corners of…
