ChicagoFed

The 2026 Community Conditions Survey is now open. Community organizations: help inform the Fed about economic conditions in the low- and moderate-income communities you serve: bit.ly/3RtapYG. Survey closes Friday, August 14.

Elizabeth Kepner of @ChicagoFed joins the St. Louis Fed’s @MatuschkaLindo and Charles Gascon to discuss economic conditions across the Eighth District and the rest of the nation. Listen to the latest Beige Book podcast bit.ly/4fFAgpC

The latest Community Perspectives and Conditions blog post is now available. Explore takeaways from the July Beige Book, which was prepared at the @chicagofed and is based on information collected on or before July 6, 2026. Explore the entries: fedcommunities.org/july-2026-beig…

How did economic conditions affect egg, cheese, and soybean prices in late May and June? Find out what Chicago Fed contacts told us in the latest Beige Book. Read more: bit.ly/3Ysar0s

The Chicago Fed Advance Retail Trade Summary (CARTS) projects retail & food services sales excluding motor vehicles & parts (ex. auto) to increase +0.7% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis and to increase +1.6% when adjusted for inflation. #retailsales bit.ly/3OIirIC

The National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) decreased to –0.54 in the week ending July 10, suggesting looser financial conditions. #NFCI #economy bit.ly/3HIOBzR

Join senior economist Shanthi Ramnath on August 5 to hear about her new research on the relationship between property insurance premiums and prospective and current homeowners’ access to mortgage and refinancing loans. bit.ly/4gY34uA

Watch live tomorrow as President Goolsbee joins Kenosha Area Business Alliance President Nicole Ryf for a discussion on the economy at the Alliance’s Business Lunch in Kenosha, Wisc. Join at 12:00 p.m. CT at bit.ly/4h8pmKb

Senior economist Scott Brave was on Marketplace this week discussing the Chicago Fed's new consumer sentiment composite index. Listen now to learn more about the new measure: bit.ly/4vfWdQC

In July 2001, the Chicago Fed’s Money Museum opened its doors to the public, with then-President Michael H. Moskow and then-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on hand. Today, we celebrate 25 years of educating the public on economics, money, and the role of the Fed.

The National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) decreased to –0.51 in the week ending July 3, suggesting looser financial conditions. #NFCI #economy bit.ly/3HIOBzR

🗣️Speakers: @KEBroady, Shanthi Ramnath, Stephanie Moulton (@OhioState), Daniel Ringo (@federalreserve), Tess Scharlemann (@federalreserve), and John Sim (@jpmorgan). bit.ly/4gY34uA

Join us Wednesday, August 5, for a virtual event focused on the impact of rising property insurance premiums on the mortgage market, with new research from Shanthi Ramnath. Register: bit.ly/4gY34uA

Today we celebrate our nation's independence and wish all a happy Fourth of July!

In this Chicago Fed Letter, Jane Dokko, Daniel Hartley, and Grace Njuguna take a look at how housing affordability and local economic growth have evolved across U.S. counties. Read more: bit.ly/4xQsYq9

Recent research from Scott Brave, Benjamin Henken, and Katherine Jolley introduces the Composite Consumer Sentiment Index (C-CSI), blending high frequency data on consumer sentiment and confidence with traditional monthly measures. Read the full research: bit.ly/4gNpheN

The Chicago Fed forecast sees the unemployment rate leaning toward an increase in June. The odds of an increase are 31 percentage points greater than a decrease. bit.ly/4270rP2

The Chicago Fed Real-Time Unemployment Rate Forecast for June is 4.36%, a small increase from the BLS value for the previous month. bit.ly/4270rP2

The National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) was unchanged at –0.50 in the week ending June 26, suggesting steady financial conditions. #NFCI #economy bit.ly/3HIOBzR

TODAY: Faith-based organizations are working to transform their own real estate as well as Chicago’s vacant properties into affordable housing. Tune into the livestream today at 10 a.m. CT. bit.ly/4xuA83j