Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

A table shows the how the estimated flows into and out of unemployment affected the overall unemployment rate in February.

The February #JobsReport, just out today, shows unemployment rose to 4.4%. That’s up from 4.3% in January. Our #FlashReport examines how people moving into and out of unemployment and the labor force help explain this uptick https://bit.ly/4ly5Jf3

The trimmed mean PCE inflation rate decreased to 2.44% for the 12 months ending in December, down from 2.51% in November. For more on the @DallasFed alternative measure of core inflation, see FRED: https://bit.ly/4rArgFR

#Economy #EconSky

A pie chart shows the distribution of foreign exchange reserves by country in 2024. China held 26%, and “Other” countries had 35%. Japan had 9%, Switzerland approximately 7% and India about 5%. Smaller shares were held by Russia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Germany and Singapore, each representing between 2.5%-4.5% of total reserves.

Globally, the five largest holders of foreign exchange reserves are China, Japan, Switzerland, India and Russia. The U.S. dollar is widely used for foreign exchange reserves https://bit.ly/4l4cdSA

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem spoke at a @macstlouis event in downtown St. Louis today. He discussed the role of the Federal Reserve in the St. Louis region during a Q&A moderated by @Ackerman1120 of @kmoxnews and @KMOXSports

Watch the event video: https://bit.ly/4aB0abJ

U.S. average fuel prices per gallon ticked higher for a sixth straight week in the week ending Feb. 23:

Diesel increased to $3.81 and gasoline to $2.94 https://bit.ly/3ZRCmu7

When U.S. interest rates rise relative to rates in another country, the U.S. dollar will typically appreciate against that other country’s currency. Check the FRED Blog to see the long-term pattern and short-term exceptions https://bit.ly/4c4JBpI

#EconSky

Line chart shows value added as a percentage of GDP for private services-producing industries, private goods-producing industries and government from the first quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2025. Services-producing industries' share rose in that time to over 70% while the goods sector's share declined.

Today, the services sector makes up most of the U.S. economy. But how much, exactly? And what accounts for its growth? Our blog explores these questions https://bit.ly/4rLOcla

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem discussed the U.S. economy and monetary policy during a Feb. 20 interview on Fox Business. He also shared his views on inflation and the labor market: https://fxn.ws/4cGa7pD

Tune in to Fox Business at 2:30 p.m. CT today to hear St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem’s views on the U.S. economy and monetary policy. His interview with Edward Lawrence will be broadcast live from our Economy Museum.

Agricultural Employment and the Economic Transition from Malthus to Solow New analysis shows how a decline in the share of agricultural employment predicts a sustained rise in economic growth.

From farms to factories: The decline in agricultural jobs signals the start of sustained economic growth. New research from the St. Louis Fed shows how this simple metric successfully predicts transition dates for economies that reached the next level https://bit.ly/4aIEtFw

Permits to build privately owned U.S. housing were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.448 million units in December, a pace 4.3% above the November rate of 1.388 million and 2.2% below the December 2024 rate of 1.480 million https://bit.ly/46fJlR1

#EconSky #Economy

In December, privately owned U.S. single-family housing starts rose 4.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 981,000. The rate for buildings with at least five units increased 10.1%, to 402,000 https://bit.ly/4rZTNo9

#EconSky #Economy

Tips for saving money on Valentine's Day Valentine's Day is more expensive than ever, from the cost of chocolate and gold to going out to dinner. The high cost of love doesn't have to ruin the day.

Economy Museum specialist Liz Senzee discusses on KSDK News ways to manage the “high cost of love” this Valentine’s Day, such as making a budget for gifts and sticking to it https://bit.ly/4ap95vu

#EconSky #Museums

A line chart shows the income ratios between highest-income workers and lowest-income workers for two different age groups, 25 to 29 to 55 to 59. While the income ratio for the 25-29 group is roughly stable, the 55-59 group has been trending downward, indicating narrowing differences between both ends of income distribution.

Do income differences among workers in a certain age group vary by birth year? This analysis examines which factors might shape such outcomes https://bit.ly/3NWWSGR

#EconSky

Standing in a hallway, a man speaks while St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem and three other people listen.

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem listens to a woman as they stand in front of purple walls hung with art.

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem recently visited Northwest Arkansas. He met with business and community leaders and toured the University of Arkansas’ National Multi-User Silicon Carbide Research and Fabrication Laboratory (MUSiC) and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Matuschka Lindo Briggs, regional executive of the St. Louis Fed’s Little Rock Branch, moderated the Q&A

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem spoke today about the U.S. economy and monetary policy at an event hosted by the University of Arkansas’ Center for Business and Economic Research. View his remarks: https://bit.ly/4aaMqTF

Real GDP data: FRED map shows the percentage change growth rates from the previous quarter, with light yellow denoting slight growth (below 2%), light green denoting moderate growth (2% to 4%), and dark green denoting more robust growth (above 4%).

How much did your state’s economy grow in the third quarter of 2025?

From a low of 0.4% in North Dakota to a high of 6.5% in Kansas, the FRED Blog maps economic growth data for all 50 states https://bit.ly/4t2clW0

Did your region gain or lose jobs in the third quarter? Check the FRED Blog for maps of state and metro area employment data, fresh from @BLS_gov https://bit.ly/4pVTDNf

Did you know you can find average price data in #FRED—from the cost of eggs and electricity, to ground beef and gasoline?

Check those prices and more https://bit.ly/4qlGn5F

#EconSky #Economy #Data

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem will discuss the U.S. economy and monetary policy in a Q&A moderated by Pedro da Costa. Register for this MNI Webcast, which will be from 9-9:35 a.m. CT on Jan. 13: https://bit.ly/3Nc0HHV

On Jan. 2, our Economic News Index was projecting Q4 2025 real #GDP growth of 1.1% at an annual rate. The “nowcast” draws from key monthly data releases to forecast GDP growth. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4q2ZTDA

#EconSky #Economy

A line chart shows U.S. net exports in services as a percentage of GDP trending upward from 1960 to 2024, rising from -0.26% to 1.06% over this period.

A bar chart shows the value of 2024 U.S. services exports in 10 categories: travel, $214 billion; financial services, $195 billion; intellectual property, $170 billion; transport, $102 billion; computer and information services, $91 billion; maintenance and repair services, $36 billion; government goods and services, $31 billion; insurance services, $28 billion; personal, cultural and recreational services, $21 billion; construction, $2 billion.

Did you know the U.S. is a net exporter of services? An economic analysis traces this positive trade balance in the services sector since the 1970s and identifies the country’s top services export categories by value: https://bit.ly/4j8BUAi

Revisiting Professional Forecasters’ Past Performance and the Outlook for 2026 So far, the 2025 forecasts have turned out to be rather accurate. For 2026, professional forecasters expect 1.9% GDP growth and a 2.9% increase in the consumer price index.

For 2026, professional forecasters expect 1.9% growth in U.S. GDP and a 2.9% increase in the consumer price index. Read more about next year’s economic outlook: https://bit.ly/4j4dmIR

#EconSky #Economy

Probably the most famous U.S. building and loan is fictional: the Bailey Bros. Building & Loan in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” If the movie sparked your curiosity about thrift institutions, our blog has answers about why they were important in the first few decades of the 1900s https://bit.ly/4oIIAq9

Line graph from FRED shows a clear seasonal spike in the number of retail employees at the end of the year. Hiring picks up in November, peaks in December, and then falls once the holidays are over.

Every December, retailers hire a large number of extra workers to keep up with holiday demand.

The FRED Blog looks at the hiring trends and changes in wages for the retail trade https://bit.ly/4atkOLl

Portraits of seven outgoing directors from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, with a message saying thank you.

Thank you to our outgoing directors. Head-office and branch boards contribute to the Fed’s overall understanding of the #economy: https://bit.ly/493dJPc

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem participated in a roundtable discussion today with southwestern Illinois business, community and government leaders. Meetings like this help him learn about real-time economic conditions in the District we serve

Housing was the most commonly cited reason why remote workers moved to a different U.S. state, according to this analysis of census data.

Why? https://bit.ly/4rTrqsm

#EconSky #Economy

St. Louis Fed economist breaks down beige book, interest rates, consumer trends St. Louis Fed’s Chuck Gascon discusses the beige book, recent rate cuts, stagnant economy and what changes in prices and spending mean for everyday life.

St. Louis Fed economist Chuck Gascon talks with KSDK News about recent rate cuts and what changes in prices and spending trends mean for consumers. Watch the full clip here: https://bit.ly/48GDFkJ