Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Headlines http://www.frbatlanta.org/ The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the other eleven Reserve banks play an important part in all three of the Fed's functions--monetary policy, bank supervision and regulation, and the operation of a narionwide payments system Atlanta Fed Logo http://www.frbatlanta.org/images/icon_frblogo.jpg http://www.frbatlanta.org Cooperating competitors? Yes, when it comes to payment standards http://www.frbatlanta.org/banking/highlight_120514_portals.cfm Mon, 14 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Private firms generally work together to develop payment standards through membership organizations. Portals and Rails asks: do standards increase competition in the payments industry by leveling the playing field? Or do they inherently favor the companies that most influenced their development? Atlanta Fed Working Paper Explores Causes of the Foreclosure Crisis http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/webstory_120514_wp12-07.cfm Mon, 14 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Why did so many mortgage borrowers and investors make bad decisions? A working paper by economists Christopher Foote, Kristopher Gerardi, and Paul Willen offers two opposing narratives in response to this question. It then presents 12 facts that refutes one of them. Econ Ed Live! Online Learning from the St. Louis Federal Reserve http://www.frbatlanta.org/edresources/highlight_120511_econEdLive.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Looking for online courses for your students? The St. Louis Federal Reserve's award-winning collection of new and improved resources will help bring economics lessons to life with online courses and more. Watch as they continue to add new online courses. Labor force nonparticipants: So what are they doing? http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/highlight_120511_macroblog.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 02:42:08 EST People exit the labor force for a variety of reasons, and some of these people eventually rejoin the labor force. A new macroblog post looks at recent trends in labor force participation rates and what they might allow us to infer about the future workforce. Signs of rebuilding in housing? http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/highlight_120511_southpoint.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 02:42:08 EST The recession bruised the Southeast's housing market, and it has struggled to regain its footing in the recovery. However, signs of a renewal are appearing, according to Atlanta Fed research. SouthPoint examines some recent survey feedback. Regional manufacturing remained strong in April http://www.frbatlanta.org/rein/highlight_120510_southpoint.cfm Thu, 10 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Southeastern manufacturing continued showing momentum in April, flexing its muscle as the sector adds jobs and production. SouthPoint looks at recent indicators to place the gains in perspective. Southeast Economy Gains Some Ground in March http://www.frbatlanta.org/rein/highlight_120510_rein.cfm Thu, 10 May 2012 02:42:08 EST The Southeast economy continued to make steady gains in March, according to the latest release of the Atlanta Fed's Data Digest. The monthly report points to recent improvements in labor markets and sales tax revenues, but also reports declines in manufacturing activity. Longer-term deflation probabilities inch lower http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/inflationproject/120510_highlight_dp.cfm Thu, 10 May 2012 02:42:08 EST The Inflation Project's deflation probability estimates are updated weekly using data on prices of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) with similar maturity dates in 2017. The data estimate the probability of deflation in the Consumer Price Index. Answer the Call...for Papers http://www.frbatlanta.org/commdev/highlight_120509_call_for_papers.cfm Wed, 09 May 2012 02:42:08 EST The eighth Federal Reserve Community Development Research Conference will be held next April 11-12 in Washington, DC. The Fed invites paper submissions on applied and action-oriented research that will support vibrant, resilient communities. The deadline is September 15; submit your paper online. Consumer Scam: People Should Not Use Atlanta Fed Account Numbers to Pay Bills; Could Face Late Fees, Other Charges http://www.frbatlanta.org/news/pressreleases/atlantafed/120509.cfm Wed, 09 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Recently the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has received some unauthorized transactions in which customers try to use the Atlanta Fed's account to pay their bills. Consumers should know that when making online or e-check bill payments, they cannot use Federal Reserve accounts. A take on labor force participation and the unemployment rate http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/highlight_120509_macroblog.cfm Wed, 09 May 2012 02:42:08 EST The intertwined nature of the unemployment rate and the labor force participation rate is well established. But how do fluctuations in one affect the other? A new macroblog post looks at recent data to shed some light on the statistical dynamics. Regulating mobile: Distinguishing the payment from the channel http://www.frbatlanta.org/banking/highlight_120507_portals.cfm Mon, 07 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Laws, regulations, and rules for credit card, debit card, or online payments should not change even when the payment goes through the mobile channel. After all, the handset is just another device, says this week's Portals and Rails, not a payment. Why Did So Many People Make So Many Ex Post Bad Decisions? The Causes of the Foreclosure Crisis http://www.frbatlanta.org/pubs/wp/12_07.cfm Thu, 03 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Christopher L. Foote, Kristopher S. Gerardi, and Paul S. Willen. Working Paper 2012-7 (May). The choices made by homeowners and financial institutions prior to the financial crisis didn't seem so bad at the time, but in hindsight they proved disastrous. New Atlanta Fed research looks at what led to some of these decisions and how policymakers should address them in the future. A Look at the Economy through the Federal Reserve's Dual Mandate http://www.frbatlanta.org/news/speeches/120503_lockhart.cfm Thu, 03 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Atlanta Fed President and CEO Dennis Lockhart discusses the current economy through the lens of monetary policy at the 2012 Santa Barbara County Economic Summit on May 3. Symmetric goals, asymmetric risks http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/highlight_120503_macroblog.cfm Thu, 03 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Forecasting the behavior of inflation is rarely straightforward. But having a sound basis for making business decisions is crucial, so the effect of monetary policy on inflation is always hotly debated. A new macroblog post looks at discussion surrounding the Fed's inflation target. Inflation Project incorporates new data for constructing longer-term deflation probabilities http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/inflationproject/120503_highlight_dp.cfm Thu, 03 May 2012 02:42:08 EST The Inflation Project's deflation probability estimates are updated weekly using data on prices of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) with similar maturity dates in 2017. The data estimate the probability of deflation in the Consumer Price Index. Regional job growth slows in March, unemployment rate falls further http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/highlight_120502_southpoint.cfm Wed, 02 May 2012 02:42:08 EST Labor markets in the Southeast are healing, albeit slowly. SouthPoint looks at recent employment data that depict a region where employment recovery still struggles to gain its footing. Why are credit and debit cards still embossed? http://www.frbatlanta.org/banking/highlight_120430_portals.cfm Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST Who hasn't experienced eye strain reading their card's raised numbers for an online purchase? Portals and Rails says cards are embossed still mostly for legacy reasons. When issuers finally adopt chip-embedded cards, it may also be time to discard the embossed card. Estimating a Semiparametric Asymmetric Stochastic Volatility Model with a Dirichlet Process Mixture http://www.frbatlanta.org/pubs/wp/12_06.cfm Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST Mark J. Jensen and John M. Maheu. Working Paper 2012-6 (April).The authors develop a novel way to model the correlation between returns and volatility, enabling them to examine how volatility responds to unexpected market movement. Fed Creates Expert Council to Advise on Stress Tests http://www.frbatlanta.org/pubs/financialupdate/12q2_stress_test_council.cfm Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST Financial Update, Volume 25, Number 2.The Federal Reserve Board recently unveiled a series of steps it is taking to include outside expertise in the stress-testing process. One such step is the Model Validation Council, which will advise the Fed on the effectiveness of its stress-testing models. Can home loan modification through the 60/40 Plan really save the housing sector? http://www.frbatlanta.org/research/highlight_120426_realestateresearch.cfm Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST A recent article offers up a solution, called the '60/40 Plan,' to help distressed homeowners. But according to a new Real Estate Research post, the plan is neither new nor does it consider factors that have hampered loss-mitigation activities since the mortgage crisis began. Financial Update - Volume 25, Number 2 - Lockhart: Wise Regulation Is the http://www.frbatlanta.org/invoke.cfm?objectid=C534B704-8BA0-0001-F5B9-1E1D820C15D&method=display Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST At the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's 2012 Financial Markets Conference, Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said regulators should avoid precipitous action and accept that designing and implementing an improved system will take time. Financial Update - Volume 25, Number 2 - Atlanta Fed Launches New Web Feature http://www.frbatlanta.org/pubs/financialupdate/12q2_fed_explained.cfm Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST A new Atlanta Fed online feature, 'The Fed Explained,' provides both original and aggregated content geared to making information about the work of the Fed more accessible to the general public. The feature launches with an animated video on inflation. Atlanta Fed named a top workplace http://www.frbatlanta.org/about/highlight_120423_top_workplace.cfm Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST A report published yesterday in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recognized the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta as one of Atlanta's top workplaces. Among large Atlanta companies, the Atlanta Fed ranked ninth. Southeast Economy Makes Modest Gains in February http://www.frbatlanta.org/rein/highlight_120423_rein_surveys.cfm Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST The April Data Digest reports modest improvement in the region's labor and residential real estate markets. Three southeastern states report unemployment rates below the national average. Consumer protection: What to do when the consumer's the threat? http://www.frbatlanta.org/banking/highlight_120423_portals.cfm Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST Around 79 million households use online banking, and businesses are following suit. As banks strive to remain relevant, they must also stay safe. Portals and Rails lists five sound business practices that can go a long way toward safe electronic banking. Financial Update - Volume 25, Number 2- Bernanke Discusses Fed's Increasing Role in Systemic Stability http://www.frbatlanta.org/pubs/financialupdate/12q2_bernanke_fmc_speech.cfm Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke recently spoke at an Atlanta Fed conference about the central bank's moves to reorient itself toward being an agency with a broader supervisory focus on systemic financial stability. Financial Update - Volume 25, Number 2- Atlanta Fed's Financial Markets Conference Explores Future Regulation http://www.frbatlanta.org/pubs/financialupdate/12q2_fmc_summary.cfm Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST Central bankers, finance professionals, and academics recently convened in Atlanta to discuss regulatory matters such as the government's future role in mortgage finance and the potential for another shadow banking system to develop in response to new financial regulations. Southeast Economy Makes Modest Gains in February http://www.frbatlanta.org/invoke.cfm?objectid=C5335CEB-65E0-0001-F73A-6ED4AE2A710&method=display Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST The April Data Digest reports modest improvement in the region's labor and residential real estate markets. Three southeastern states report unemployment rates below the national average. As Linhas de Swap Acentuam o Papel Global do Dolar http://www.frbatlanta.org/pubs/econsouth/12q1_currency_swaps_portuguese.cfm Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:42:08 EST EconSouth, First Quarter 2012. Quando os mercados financeiros globais enfrentam dificuldades, os bancos centrais coordenam swaps de moedas para aliviar a tensao.