Federal Reserve Economic Data: A History

摘要

This article describes the contributions of the Federal Reserve System to the production and distribution of economic data. First, we present a chronological account of those contributions. Next, we describe the origins and evolution of the data information services provided by the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) online database, its partnership with sources, and the profile of its users. Next, we review the data-related educational outreach efforts of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, presenting some evidence of their impact. A summary and several reflections on the future of economic data and education conclude the article.