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Where Are the Best Housing Values in the U.S.?
A 2018 analysis of changes in house-price-to-income ratios shows that some Upper Midwestern major metro areas offer the best relative housing values, on average. Here are the best and worst.
The Fed's Three Parts: Washington, Wall Street, Main Street
How does the Fed's decentralized structure ensure that policymakers hear from many different voices?
Does Holiday Shopping Affect My Credit Score?
New credit accounts are hard credit inquiries and can affect your score. Meanwhile, checking your own credit report is a soft inquiry and will not hurt your score.
Is Trade a Zero-Sum Game? The Answer Lies in Chocolate
To help people answer that question for themselves, Senior Economic Education Specialist Scott Wolla uses a candy bar exercise.
Tis the Season to Talk Seasonal Adjustments
Seasonal adjustments account for predictable variations in economic data. But residual (aka ''leftover'') seasonality in GDP data may pose challenges for policymakers.
Do Longer Lives and Fewer Babies Affect the Natural Interest Rate?
A recent analysis examines potential implications of changing U.S. demographics since the 1960s.
Generation Z Economics: Teenagers Are Wary of Debt
High school students who attended the St. Louis Fed's Dinner with an Economist share what's on their minds when it comes to money, finance and the economy.
How Your Credit Score is Determined and How to Improve It
FICO's credit scoring model considers payment history, debt-to-credit ratio, length of credit history, new accounts and credit mix.
An Economist's Guide to Tidying Up
Marie Kondo's method prescribes asking whether an item sparks joy. Economic concepts, like costs and utility, might also help you declutter your home.
Sparking Joy: Can Economics Help with Happiness?
What does economics say about happiness? Economists and researchers who practice the 'dismal science' share how concepts such as sunk cost, scarcity and utility can inform your personal sense of happiness.