For immediate release: April 16, 2012
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta today launched The Fed Explained, a new feature on the Bank's website. The Fed Explained highlights a broad range of new and existing resources that have been aggregated on one web page for general audiences to learn about the work of the Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank.
With today's launch, The Fed Explained introduces a series of animated video briefs that use engaging graphics to illustrate economic topics and the Fed's role in the economy. The format is geared to the general public as well as students and teachers. The first in the video series is a primer on inflation, which features straightforward examples to help explain the Federal Reserve's role in managing inflation. Future videos will focus on topics such as economic growth and employment.
In addition, The Fed Explained also highlights "Econ 101," a brief analysis of current economic issues. "Econ 101" is also a regular column in EconSouth, the Atlanta Fed's quarterly online and print publication on the Southeast economy. The Fed Explained also offers a FedFAQ, which allows users to get information about the Fed by searching on key words or categories.
The Atlanta Fed is part of the nation's central banking system, which Congress created in 1913. The Federal Reserve conducts monetary policy by influencing money and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of full employment and stable prices, supervises and regulates banking institutions, and helps ensure that the nation's payments systems operate smoothly. The Atlanta Fed serves the Sixth Federal Reserve District, which encompasses Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and sections of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The Atlanta Fed participates in setting national monetary policy, supervises numerous commercial banks, and provides a variety of financial services to depository institutions and the U.S. government.