A tour boat navigates a river that runs through the city of Chicago.

Regional Economics

Working Paper

The Value of Piped Water and Sewers: Evidence from 19th Century Chicago

WP 25-07 – The value of land doubled when sewer and water lines were installed in 19th century Chicago. The aggregate increase in land values exceeded the cost of installing sewer and water by a factor of 60.

Featured Work

Regional Spotlight: Technology vs. the Middle Class

Economic Insights — Thanks in part to technological change, many midwage occupations have vanished over the last 50 years. Are there lessons we can learn from this period that will help us in the age of AI?

Regional Economics

Working Paper

Flood Underinsurance

WP 24-23 – Using data on expected flood damage and National Flood Insurance Program policies, we estimate annual flood risk protection gaps and underinsurance among single-family residences in the contiguous United States.

Timing of Flood Insurance Payments

In this research brief, we document important stylized facts about the payout structure and speed of flood insurance claims from the National Flood Insurance Program underwritten by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Featured Data

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Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey

Monthly survey of manufacturers in the Third District

Updated: 20 Mar ’25

Map of the United States

State Leading Indexes

Six-month forecast of the coincident index for each of the 50 states

Updated: April 29, 2020

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COVID-19 Business Outlook Survey

Special survey (now monthly, previously weekly) of firms in the Third District

Updated: 23 Dec ’20

November 2019 Map

State Coincident Indexes

Monthly index of general economic conditions for each of the 50 states

Updated: 31 Jan ’25

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Nonmanufacturing Business Outlook Survey

Monthly survey of nonmanufacturing businesses in the Third District

Updated: 25 Mar ’25

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Third District Beige Book

Qualitative assessment of economic conditions in the Third District released prior to each FOMC meeting

Updated: 05 Mar ’25