Articles from
Dallas Fed Economics providing critical insights on trade, immigration, and other major international issues, along with in-depth analysis of monetary policy challenges affecting the U.S. economy and its deep financial and economic ties with Mexico.
Dallas Fed Economics
Record-breaking Texas summer heat tests the grid, ERCOT operations
Texas just witnessed its second-hottest summer ever and its highest electricity demand without experiencing interruption to electricity delivery.
October 17, 2023
Dallas Fed Economics
Russian ruble buckles under trade sanctions, declining export earnings
Russia’s currency is losing value, falling 40 percent against the U.S. dollar since December 2022. With measures targeting Russian exports likely to persist, the country’s balance of payments will remain under pressure, leading to continuing currency weakness.
October 10, 2023
Dallas Fed Economics
Refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve offers chance to recalibrate its size
A series of emergency drawdowns, exchanges and planned sales since 2020 have reduced crude oil inventories held by the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to a 40-year low. Calls to fully refill the SPR in recent months raise important questions.
October 03, 2023
Dallas Fed Economics
Global energy producer Midland–Odessa seeks economic stability, end to boom-and-bust
In the fifth stop on her 360° in 365 Listening Tour, Dallas Fed President Lorie K. Logan met with Midland–Odessa business and community leaders in mid-April to learn about the area’s strengths, challenges and outlook.
May 09, 2023
Dallas Fed Economics
Trade diversion has helped ease the impact of the embargo on Russian oil
Much has been made about the effect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the price of oil. However, the price of oil was already drifting upward well before the invasion in late February 2022.
February 21, 2023
Dallas Fed Economics
Residential solar power shines on, backed by securitized lending
Residential solar is a small and rapidly expanding sector, and the securitization market—the packaging of loans to investors—has been one of the most popular sources of funding for new solar installations.
February 14, 2023
Dallas Fed Economics
Texas electrical grid remains vulnerable to extreme weather events
New regulations, weatherization standards and operational changes have addressed many shortcomings, but some critical gaps persist.
January 17, 2023
Dallas Fed Economics
Diverse, resilient Houston looking at moving beyond traditional energy base
Dallas Fed President Lorie K. Logan met with Houston business and community leaders earlier this month in the stop on her 360° in 365 Listening Tour.
October 20, 2022
Dallas Fed Economics
Automakers’ bold plans for electric vehicles spur U.S. battery boom
Meeting ambitious manufacturing goals will require batteries—lots of them—as an electric vehicle (EV) can use hundreds to thousands of individual lithium-ion batteries.
October 11, 2022
Dallas Fed Economics
High fuel prices in the U.S. may crimp oil demand soon
If prices climb higher, expect consumers to respond by cutting back on fuel consumption and overall spending sooner than later.
June 21, 2022