Connecting Communities®

During this Connecting Communities webinar, researchers from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors shared key findings from the annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED), which was fielded in October 2025 and released on May 13, 2026. The survey is a key tool for measuring the economic well-being of U.S. households and identifying potential risks to their finances. In addition to monitoring household financial circumstances, each year the survey explores a range of related topics. In 2025, it introduced new questions about the use of generative Artificial Intelligence at work, alongside expanded modules on family finances, employment, and economic hardships. The survey also continues to track other financial topics such as access to credit, housing affordability, savings and investments, child care costs, and banking. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the panelists during a live Q&A session, gaining deeper context and clarity on the findings. Related resources: Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking Interactive Charts Codebook for the 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (PDF)

In April 2024, the Federal Reserve conducted the Community Perspectives Survey, which focuses on economic conditions in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities and the health of organizations serving them. Overall, the survey found poor conditions for economic mobility in LMI communities. Access to housing and increasing cost of goods and services were among the top challenges. Respondents did note that continued availability of jobs was contributing positively to economic mobility. During this Connecting Communities webinar, Federal Reserve Staff and leaders from national community development organizations discussed the findings and how their organizations continue to provide vital services to LMI communities and play a part in promoting economic resilience and mobility.

The Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking is the main survey from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for tracking the financial circumstances of low- and moderate-income families and potential risks to their financial health. This year's survey continues to track key topics related to financial outcomes, such as the effects of inflation on household finances, emergency savings, housing, returns to education, and retirement. New topics have been added, such as food sufficiency, caregiving, employment of those with a previous arrest or conviction, and homeowners insurance. In this Connecting Communities episode, researchers from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors shared findings from the survey on trends in financial well-being. Based on the survey results, they answered attendees' questions about the financial conditions among low- and moderate-income populations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021 the U.S. Department of Treasury deployed $46 billion to support housing stability. Without existing local and state infrastructure to quickly deploy these federal rental assistance dollars, community-based organizations (CBOs) across the country played a key role in helping ensure the funding reached households that needed it most. On February 15, 2024, we hosted a Connecting Communities event featuring experts who will share groundbreaking tactics used by three CBOs across the country. Discover essential principles for effectively distributing aid to marginalized communities and learn strategies to enhance the capabilities of CBOs for future challenges.

Benefits cliffs create economic challenges for workers and employers alike. A benefits cliff may occur when an increase in income—from working more hours, getting a raise, or taking a new position—pushes a worker above the income eligibility limit for one or more public assistance programs, and the loss of assistance is greater than the value of the increase. This forces people to choose between their family's immediate financial best interest and their own longer-term wage growth and career advancement. These cliffs can also stymie employers seeking to hire workers and develop their skills through internal career pathway opportunities. On October 12, 2023, we hosted a Connecting Communities webinar with experts exploring this economic challenge from the perspective of employers, the Federal Reserve, and community leaders who help families navigate public assistance programs and plan for career advancement opportunities. In this session, we learned about tools developed by the Atlanta Fed that can identify and inform mitigation strategies. We also heard about innovation pilots including Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington D.C. that may inform the future efforts of state and community leaders working to develop solutions to the benefits cliff.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) provide financial products and services to underserved markets where it may be difficult to access what traditional financial institutions offer. Every other year, the Fed conducts a survey of CDFIs to better understand the barriers and opportunities that they face. This year's survey sought input on various topics ranging from demand for products and product innovation. This year, 453 institutions responded to the Fed's 2023 CDFI Survey. Speakers from the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta, New York, and Richmond hosted a Connecting Communities webinar, sharing key findings from the survey and their thoughts about the road ahead for CDFIs. During this Connecting Communities webinar, speakers discussed the demand for CDFIs' products and services, challenges to meeting demand—including lending capital—and innovations in products and practices. Learn about CDFIs' approaches to tracking outcomes—and their limitations. Speakers discussed how the survey results help inform future Fed research initiatives. Speakers shared Fed research on CDFIs' use of secondary markets and financial leverage.

How did inflation affect families last year? Did trends shift in the use of emerging financial products? This recent discussion with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors explores findings from the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED). For the past decade, the SHED has provided insights into financial challenges families face. The latest report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2022 uncovers compelling data around various aspects of people's financial lives.

Access to quality early childhood education (ECE) is critical to the well-being of communities and the economy. The pandemic further exposed existing issues, including how a lack of access to reliable and affordable childcare affects the parental workforce, yet also how financing challenges strain provider profitability. On May 11, 2023, the Federal Reserve Banks of Boston, Minneapolis, and St. Louis hosted a Connecting Communities webinar exploring recent research around cost and affordability challenges, especially for workers needing nontraditional hours of care and financial constraints on the provider side. The event included a discussion of innovative solutions to help attract and retain ECE workers and sustain quality programs.