The Federal Reserve, often referred to as the Fed, is the central banking system of the United States that regulates the national monetary policy and financial institutions. It controls inflation, supervises banks, and provides financial services to the government and commercial banks.
Think of the Federal Reserve as the referee in a basketball game. Just as a referee ensures the game follows established rules, maintains fairness, and keeps the game flowing smoothly, the Federal Reserve oversees the banking system to ensure it operates efficiently, remains stable, and follows monetary policy rules to keep the economy running smoothly.
Monetary Policy: The actions undertaken by a central bank, such as setting interest rates and adjusting bank reserve requirements that influence a nation's supply of money and credit.
Inflation: A measure of how much general prices of goods and services rise over time, leading to a decrease in purchasing power of money.
Bank Supervision: The process through which regulatory authorities oversee banking institutions' operations to ensure they are safe, sound, and comply with laws and regulations
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