"Resources" are links to websites related to international, national, and regional economics. Included are links to glossaries and dictionaries of economic terms, inflation calculators, economic education sites, Federal Reserve history, economic publications from the Federal Reserve Banks, and websites of organizations dedicated to economic research. The links are by no means comprehensive; rather they are limited to a small list of key sites as a starting point for research.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Education Resources
This site contains economic and financial education resources from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Includes program offerings such as conferences and workshops for educators; print and electronic resources to help teachers and students understand economics and the Federal Reserve System.
Gross Domestic Product Definition and Information
Gross domestic product (GDP) is the most widely used measure of the state of the national economy and is produced by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. GDP represents the total market value of all final goods and services produced within the country for a given period. GDP consists of four major components: consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports (that is, exports minus imports). GDP data are released quarterly. On our economic data site, FRED, GDP is available in many ways. Users can search for the individual components, or the many ways of showing the composite index. Users can graph and download GDP eight different ways on FRED, but economists typically measure GDP growth by evaluating it in real terms (taking out inflation) and using a compounded annual rate of change. Here’s how that graph looks on FRED. So, when the preliminary estimate of third-quarter 2008 GDP was announced, news reports used the compounded annual rate of change (and GDP decreased at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in the third quarter).
A common rule of thumb used to define a recession is two consecutive quarters of decline (e.g., below zero) in real GDP. Recessions are officially announced by the National Bureau of Economic Research’s Business Cycle Dating Committee, and in a statement on Monday, December 1, 2008, they officially declared the United States to be in a recession. The Committee “maintains a record of the beginning and ending dates (months and quarters) of U.S. recessions. It determined that a peak in economic activity occurred in the U.S. economy in December 2007. The peak marks the end of the expansion that began in November 2001 and the beginning of a recession. The expansion lasted 73 months.”
GDP forecasts are freely available from the Federal Open Market Committee. Since October 2007, the FOMC has published the forecasts of the committee participants for GDP, inflation, and unemployment; these are available on FRASER. In addition, the Philadelphia Fed offers a Survey of Professional Forecasters, which includes forecasts for GDP.
Lesson Plan on the difference between Nominal and Real Gross Domestic Product.
A lesson plan on the data used to measure an economy’s health from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' Economic Information Department. Economic Indicators included are inflation/deflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), output measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and unemployment measured by the unemployment rate. This lesson plan is part of a larger unit on the Great Depression.
Meltzer, "A History of the Federal Reserve Volume 1: 1913-1951"
The purpose of this website is to provide access to source materials cited by the author, Dr. Allan H. Meltzer, in A History of the Federal Reserve, Volume 1: 1913-1951. This site includes previously unpublished materials in the form of hearings and memoranda, as well as journal articles, Congressional hearings, working papers, and books no longer under copyright.
Monetary Trends
A monthly review of U.S. monetary and financial conditions, with an emphasis on various measures of the Fed's monetary policy stance, including money supply.
The Financial Crisis A Timeline of Events and Policy Actions
Hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, this site provides information about major financial events and policy actions over the past months (February 2007 to date) and is updated as additional events and actions occur. The site includes recent actions and news, a timeline of events, a glossary, FAQs, and links to related data series, publications, and cooperating agencies.
U.S. Financial Data Calendar of Releases
A monthly calendar of economic data releases and forecasts which list the date that each indicator (for example GDP, employment, or CPI) is released to the public.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Inflation Central
Track inflation in the United States and put it in perspective with analysis and commentary from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Research Department.
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
The Money Circle Curriculum
The Money Circle curriculum target audience is high school students. Included in this series of lesson plans are print and web-based resources from the Federal Reserve System focusing on four concepts related to money: 1. interpreting the history, functions and characteristics of money; 2. evaluating the significance of learning, earning and responsible spending on personal financial well-being; 3. applying financial planning and budgeting mechanisms; and 4. analyzing the role and tools of the FED in ensuring a healthy, growing and stable economy and how the Fed affects the nation's money supply.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Dynamic Maps of Nonprime Mortgage Conditions in the United States
As part of the Federal Reserve response to rising foreclosures, the New York Fed offers dynamic maps that show conditions and density of owner-occupied subprime mortgage loans for the states, counties and zip codes in the United States. The maps are based on data for owner-occupied mortgage loans that have been securitized into a product that is categorized as subprime, based on the grade assigned to the security. The underlying data will be updated periodically.
Savings Resources for Consumers
Provides information and links to agencies and organizations that provide guidance on managing personal finances and achieving short- and long-term financial goals.
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Educational Resources from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
This site includes a wide variety of economic education information including the "International Economic Summit" which is a world trade simulation for high school students, "Fedville," for Elementary school students, "Ask Dr. Econ," The Fed Chairman Game" and more.
Glossary of Economic Terms
This glossary of economic terms from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco defines economic terms from absolute advantage to zero coupon mortgage.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
G.17 Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization
The Federal Reserve's monthly index of industrial production and the related capacity indexes and capacity utilization rates cover manufacturing, mining, and electric and gas utilities.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
National Healthcare Quality Report and National Healthcare Disparities Report
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) produces the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and the National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR). The 2008 reports present, in chart form, the latest available findings on quality of and access to health care.
Go to the 2007 State Snapshots site for State-specific health care quality information and comparisons.
AmosWEB LLC
AmosWEB GLOSS*arama
Searchable glossary of economic terms, concepts, definitions, and explanations.
Business Cycle Dating Committee, National Bureau of Economic Research
Business Cycle Dating Committee National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The FAQ page of the Business Cycle Dating Committee National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) clearly explains how the committee determines a U.S. recession.
Economic History Association
How Much is That?
Have you ever wondered what the value of a dollar was in 1895? Or what the GDP was in 1929? Here is a place where you can ask questions of comparative value covering purchasing power, exchange rates, and other variables between the past and today.
ERSI (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.)
Geography Network
Through the Geography Network, you can access a wide range of geographic content, including live maps, downloadable data, and more advanced services, from hundreds of providers around the U.S.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) website
Includes tools for consumers and depositors such as "Failed Bank Information," "Is My Account Fully Insured?," and "Bank Find." The site also includes banking news and information on bank rating services.
Federal Open Market Committee
Summary of Economic Projections
Since October 2007, the FOMC has made available their quarterly forecasts for GDP, inflation, and unemployment. These forecasts are now separated out and available on FRASER. They are also included at the end of the individual files for the FOMC minutes on the website of the Board of Governors.
Federal Reserve System Board of Governors
Mortgage Foreclosure Resources
The Federal Reserve Banks have established Foreclosure Resource Centers to help address local and regional challenges in their mortgage markets and local communities.
Foundation for Investor Education
The Stock Market Game
An electronic educational simulation program designed to introduce students and adults to basic economics, finance and capital formation.
National Association for Business Economics
National Association for Business Economics
NABE® is an association of professionals who have an interest in business economics and who want to use the latest economic data and trends to enhance their ability to make sound business decisions. NABE's mission is to provide leadership in the use and understanding of economics. The site offers links to a variety of economic data and information, a "find an economist" tool, a speakers bureau, student information, and career information.
National Bureau of Economic Research
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
A free email service gives you daily email links to all U.S. government economic data releases, including unemployment, trade, interest rates, GDP, etc.
NBER U.S. Business Cycles and Contractions
Shows the peaks and troughs of past expansions and contractions in the U.S. economy.
National Council on Economic Education
National Council on Economic Education
The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) is a nationwide network that leads in promoting economic literacy with students and their teachers. NCEE's mission is to help students develop the real-life skills they need to succeed: to be able to think and choose responsibly as consumers, savers, investors, citizens, members of the workforce, and effective participants in a global economy.
Public Policy Forum
Research on Early Childhood Education Outcomes
If our newsletter doesn't provide enough evidence of the benefits to individuals and to society from early childhood education, then check out this
linked spreadsheet "Research on Early Childhood Education Outcomes." It was researched and designed by Elizabeth Drilias, a research intern from the Public Policy Forum in Wisconsin.
The chart lists many individual longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, reviews and analyses of early childhood education outcomes. Study details can be viewed or you can link directly to each study.
At a glance you can see the major cognitive, behavioral, educational, sociability, and societal benefit outcomes for each study.
This page offers a great summary of many major research projects from the last ten years, in an easily accessible format.
StatSoft, Inc.
StatSoft Electronic Statistics Textbook
This Electronic Statistics Textbook offers training in the understanding and application of statistics.
The Ohio State University
Financial Data Finder
Maintained by the Ohio State University, Financial Data Finder taps a comprehensive database of web sites targeted for finance researchers and scholars.
United States Government Accountability Office
Troubled Asset Relief Program: Additional Actions Needed to Better Ensure Integrity, Accountability, and Transparency
Gives a detailed report of steps taken to stabilize the financial markets and banking system.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
BLS Handbook of Methods
The BLS Handbook of Methods presents detailed explanations of how the Bureau of Labor Statistics obtains and prepares the economic data it publishes.
U.S. Census Bureau
Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services
This report provides the current release with links to tables, previous releases, annual revisions, and historical releases back to 1953. The advance estimates are based on a subsample of 5,000 retail and food services firms, of the Census Bureau's full retail and food services sample of over three million firms. Responding firms account for approximately 65% of the total dollar estimate.
American Factfinder
A User friendly interface to the April 2000 decennial census. The Decennial Census collects data every 10 years about households, income, education, homeownership, and more for the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas.
Bureau of the Census Health Insurance Main Page
Contains reports, briefs, and data on Health Insurance.
Economic Census
The Economic Census profiles American business every 5 years, from the national to the local level. Reports focus on the 7 million establishments with paid employees (employers).
Educational Attainment
This site offers links to many sources for data and information on educational attainment and earnings in the United States.
FAQs on Seasonal Adjustment
This Census Bureau web page provides clear, easily understood answers to questions about seasonal adjustment, including the following:
What is "seasonal adjustment?
Why are data seasonally adjusted?
What is the seasonal adjustment process?
What kinds of seasonal effects are removed for seasonal adjustment?
This source provides an excellent overview of the seasonal adjustment process and details on the mathematical processes involved.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Economic Research Service
Includes data and information on all aspects of farming and agriculture in the United States.
U.S. Department of Education
ED.gov Doing What Works: Early Childhood Education
This section of the ED.gov website concentrates on early childhood education. It offers background information, research, recommendations, planning templates, a glossary, and links to other early education sites.
Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE)
Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) administers, coordinates programs that are related to adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and community colleges.
U.S. Department of Energy
Fuel Economy website
This website provides detailed information on fuel economy, including a complete version of the Fuel Economy Guide to download.
U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) website offers the latest information on federal government job training and worker dislocation programs, federal grants to states for public employment service programs, and unemployment insurance benefits and provides resources and online tools to help workers in all stages of the job and career development.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury Website
Provides up-to-date coverage on the financial crisis, TARP, the Financial Stability Plan, Homeowner Affordability Plan and other Treasury initiatives.
U.S, Federal Trade Commission
YouAreHere
The Federal Trade Commission's website to introduce kids to key
consumer and business concepts. Set in a shopping mall, YouAreHere takes kids on an experiential journey that presents the FTC’s mission and its important role in American commerce. The site features animated guides who help visitors navigate a virtual mall and interact with shopkeepers and other consumers. For parents and teachers, the site offers fact sheets that cover advertising, marketing, and competition in more detail, along with ideas for related activities.
