Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

We host roundtables to discuss economic trends in our seven-state region. Recently, our Denver Branch welcomed a group of economists to hear their thoughts about economic trends they are seeing in their states.

Calling all digital access researchers! Submit your proposal to present at the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Digital Access Research Forum in Kansas City, September 16-18, 2025. This event brings together academics, researchers, community development practitioners and policymakers for impactful conversations around digital access research. Topics include labor market implications, program evaluation and outcomes measurement, and the benefits of digital access interventions in communities. Proposals are due by March 14. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3EOsytp #FederalReserve #Broadband #DigitalAccess #DigitalTechnology #CommunityDevelopment #DigitalDivide

Since the Federal Reserve began tightening monetary policy in March 2022, nonbanks have lost market share to banks, suggesting that higher interest rates may benefit bank over nonbank business models. An Economic Review article by Jordan Pandolfo, Chris Acker and Phillip An examines the effects of higher interest rates on both business models. You can read it here: https://bit.ly/4b31C5j #FederalReserve #Banks #Banking #Finance #InterestRates #Economy #Economist

Influencing my thinking: Contacts from several communities and industries noted recently that heightened uncertainty is weighing on their decision making in various ways. During these discussions, I have drawn on insights from my colleagues at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City about how various uncertainties can influence the economic outlook. Here are a few pieces of research that I've relied on to frame my understanding of the narratives coming from contacts across the region. Brent Bundick has shown how heightened economic uncertainty can act like an adverse demand shock, leading to declines in output, consumption, investment, and hours worked. Viewing rising uncertainty as a potential demand shock has helped me make sense of many of the narratives I've heard recently. https://lnkd.in/gKBCh7Gs Brent Bundick, Lee Smith and Luca Van der Meer provide timely data that measure uncertainty about monetary policy, measures that are strongly associated with macroeconomic fluctuations. https://lnkd.in/gqjpPE4d The KC Fed's Jackson Hole Symposium in 2017 was titled "Fostering a Dynamic Global Economy," and several panelists highlighted how trade policy uncertainty influences employment, investment and other outcomes. I've shared, and drawn on, their insights in many discussions. That full program is here: https://lnkd.in/gsJjSiFU In past work, I've measured differences in regional impacts of changes in import costs that are driven by variation in the economic footprints of local economies. Differences in the propensities of businesses across states to reduce imports as costs rise will likely lead to very different perspectives on the consequences of trade costs from business to business, industry to industry and state to state. https://lnkd.in/ebjE2nQp I appreciate the deep expertise from our research team to guide my thinking as economic conditions fluctuate, and the salient issues driving decision making shift over time.

Curious on the latest regional commercial real estate (CRE) activity? Our latest CRE Index incorporates a broad range of related economic activities and financial considerations across a variety of commercial property types. You can view the index and read the 2025 first quarter release here: https://bit.ly/3QQsFIe #FederalReserve #CRE #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstate #Economy #Econonmist #Finance

This morning, Jeff Schmid, Kansas City Fed's President and CEO, is speaking on "Agriculture and the Federal Reserve" at the USDA's Agricultural Outlook Forum. Read his remarks here: https://bit.ly/4hWbIrl #Agriculture #FederalReserve #Economy #MonetaryPolicy #Banks #AgOutlook25

Calling all digital access researchers! Submit your proposal to present at the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Digital Access Research Forum in Kansas City, September 16-18, 2025. This event brings together academics, researchers, community development practitioners and policymakers for impactful conversations around digital access research. Topics include labor market implications, program evaluation and outcomes measurement, and the benefits of digital access interventions in communities. Proposals are due by March 14. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3EOsytp #FederalReserve #Broadband #DigitalAccess #DigitalTechnology #CommunityDevelopment #DigitalDivide

Where are farm real estate values headed? Find out below.

Catch up on the latest CRE Index report below.

What makes the Kansas City Fed a great place to be? Our people! Andy Vasquez is an examiner in our Omaha Branch's Exams and Inspections department. It might be an understatement to say he isn't one to back down from a challenge. While attending Nebraska Wesleyan University he competed in not one, not two, but three sports: cross country, swimming and track and field. Nowadays Andy's career with the Kansas City Fed, and a baby and a toddler at home, keep him busy. But it hasn't slowed him down much. He competes in semi-professional track racing and is working toward his goal to run a mile in under 4 minutes. You can also find Andy on stage playing bass and singing lead vocals with a local band. "It’s a fun activity I do with my dad and some buddies we met at church," he says. Andy hopes to pass the importance of setting goals on to his children one day, starting with running goals. He wants to teach his children that making tiny improvements year after year will lead to remarkable results in whatever goals they choose to pursue. **************** Here at the Kansas City Fed, we bring together people who are committed to excellence to help us fulfill our mission of promoting a stable economy that works for all.