The FED Said (Federal Reserve System) Overall US Economic Activity Economic activity continued to expand across the United States, with 10 of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts reporting moderate or modest growth. The outliers were the Dallas District, which reported strong growth driven in part by the energy sector, and the St. Louis District where […] Read more
The Fed Said The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Across the Southeast, consumer spending is up, and companies continue to have trouble finding qualified workers. Those are some of the findings from the latest Beige Book of economic conditions. Most businesses expect increased activity in the second part of this year despite some uncertainty related to […] Read more
The FED Said (Federal Reserve Atlanta) Residential complexes going up near Atlanta transit stations promote pools, leash-free dog parks, and lifestyles “where urbanity meets savvy simplicity.” If these amenities don’t evoke the gritty utility often associated with public transportation, they’ve achieved their desired effect. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is at the forefront […] Read more
The FED Said The new Beige Book covers some familiar themes, but also includes a few timely details that could portend future changes in certain economic sectors. Uncertainty and other effects of trade policy showed up among manufacturers and contacts in the transportation industry. Most manufacturing contacts reported increases in their costs, particularly for steel, […] Read more
The FED Said A folding placard near the Atlanta transit system’s Avondale Station makes a humble promise: “New Things Coming.” The new things are under construction—470 apartments, 34 condominiums, and street-level space for shops and restaurants. Despite the unassuming sign, this is not just another mixed-use development amid hundreds of similar projects across metropolitan Atlanta. […] Read more
The FED Said With U.S. unemployment down to levels not seen since 2000, job seekers are gaining the upper hand in the labor market as employers struggle to fill positions across skill levels. Such hiring difficulties are prompting some employers across the Southeast to raise pay. “We’ve been hearing that wage pressure is building among […] Read more
The Harvard Business Review by Marc Freedman Judson Manor is a gracious former 1920s luxury hotel near The Cleveland Clinic, Case Western University, and many of the museums and arts institutions in Cleveland, Ohio. Today it houses 120 highly educated retirees with an average age of 79 — and seven 20-something graduate students. Back in 2010, one […] Read more
The FED Said The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta A recent FEDS Notes article summarized some interesting findings from the Board of Governors’ 2017 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking. One set of responses that caught my eye explored the connection between part-time employment and pay raises. The report estimates that about 70 percent of people working part-time did […] Read more
Knowledge@Wharton An approach to Income Inequality Trials are underway within the U.S. and elsewhere to understand the effects of cash transfer programs like universal basic income to provide people with basic sustenance — where the government sends out a regular stipend to everyone regardless of income or employment status. Interest is rising following concerns that technological […] Read more
The FED Said Overall US Economic Activity Economic activity expanded moderately in late April and early May with few shifts in the pattern of growth. The Dallas District was an exception, where overall economic activity sped up to a solid pace. Manufacturing shifted into higher gear with more than half of the Districts reporting a […] Read more
The FED Said Two-thirds of small businesses report hiring challenges. We look at the different difficulties they face and how they solve for them. Evidence from the Federal Reserve Banks’ Small Business Credit Survey Ellyn Terry and Mels de Zeeuw, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Primary Issue Understanding the sources of mismatch between the labor […] Read more
The FED Said Once upon a time, tariffs—the fees levied on imported goods—were revenue-raising instruments for the federal government as much as protection for fledgling American industries. Hefty tariffs were the U.S. government’s primary source of revenue from 1790 to 1914, pointed out Federico Mandelman, an Atlanta Fed research economist. Put simply, in the 1800s, America […] Read more
The FED Said Where a public housing project once stood on the western fringe of downtown Atlanta, a garden grows. Each year, the three-acre patch produces 35,000 pounds of kale, broccoli, collards, tomatoes, and other produce for four farmers markets and other local outlets. The Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture is a staple in […] Read more