Research Department Working Papers
Tempting FAIT: Flexible Average Inflation Targeting and the Post-COVID U.S. Inflation Surge
In August 2020, the Federal Reserve replaced Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) with Flexible Average Inflation Targeting (FAIT), introducing make-up strategies that allow inflation to temporarily exceed the 2% target. Using a synthetic control approach, this paper estimates that FAIT raised CPI inflation by about 1 percentage point and core CPI inflation by 0.5 percentage points, suggesting a moderate impact net of food and energy and a largely temporary effect. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis of a steeper-than-expected post-pandemic Phillips curve in the New Keynesian model.
April 09, 2025
Surveys
Banking Conditions Survey
Loan volume and demand growth decelerated sharply in March. Credit tightening continued, but loan pricing declined.
April 07, 2025
Globalization Institute Working Paper
Living Up to Expectations: The Effectiveness of Forward Guidance and Inflation Dynamics Post-Global Financial Crisis
This paper studies the effectiveness of forward guidance when central banks face private agents with heterogeneous expectations allowing for a degree of bounded rationality.
April 03, 2025
Texas economic outlook downbeat as uncertainty increases
The Texas economy grew slightly below trend through the first quarter of 2025. While job growth appears just off its long-term annual trend rate of about 2.1 percent, the Dallas Fed Texas Business Outlook Surveys (TBOS) point to slowing activity in both the services and manufacturing sectors.
April 03, 2025
Texas Economy
Growth decelerates in Texas service sector as company outlooks worsen
Texas service sector activity stalled in March, according to business executives responding to the Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey.
April 01, 2025
Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey
Texas factory activity rose in March after declining in February, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey.
March 31, 2025
Surveys
Oil and gas activity edges higher; uncertainty rising, costs increase
Activity in the oil and gas sector increased slightly in first quarter of 2025, according to oil and gas executives responding to the Dallas Fed Energy Survey.
March 26, 2025
Agricultural Survey
Bankers responding to the first-quarter survey reported sustained dry conditions across most regions of the Eleventh District.
March 24, 2025
Texas Economy
Growth in Texas service sector activity continues despite surge in uncertainty
Texas service sector activity increased in February, according to business executives responding to the Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey.
February 25, 2025
Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey
Texas factory activity fell in February after rising notably in January, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey.
February 24, 2025