Sarah Foster

U.S. ECONOMY REPORTER

EXPERTISE

Economy
Federal Reserve
U.S. economic policy
Personal finance
Taxes
Unemployment insurance (UI)

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in News-Editorial Journalism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Master of Science in Journalism, Northwestern University

The Federal Reserve is one of the most complex institutions in the world; yet, its decisions impact consumers’ wallets more than any other policymaker in Washington, D.C. My goal is to remove some of the mystery surrounding the U.S. central bank, so you can be an even smarter consumer.
— Sarah Foster

About the author

Bankrate.com writer Sarah Foster covers the Federal Reserve, the U.S. economy and economic policy. Originally from a small town in rural Illinois, Foster developed a passion for economics while watching her community recover from the Great Recession. She witnessed just how much Main Street is impacted by Wall Street and saw firsthand that the Federal Reserve’s most well-intentioned policies can still leave those most desperate for help behind.

Experience

Sarah previously worked for Bloomberg News, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Daily Herald and has been quoted in several national and regional media outlets, including Yahoo! News, NBC, the Toronto Star, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and more.

Media mentions

The Federal Reserve is one of the most complex institutions in the world; yet, its decisions impact consumers’ wallets more than any other policymaker in Washington, D.C. My goal is to remove some of the mystery surrounding the U.S. central bank, so you can be an even smarter consumer.
— Sarah Foster

Sarah's latest articles

Fed holds interest rates near zero, sees two rate hikes in 2023

Higher inflation and a troubled labor market could be the Fed’s nightmare scenario.

7 min read Jun 16, 2021
Should you be worried about inflation? Here’s what the experts are saying

Higher inflation is here, but the big question is whether it’s here to stay or not.

7 min read May 27, 2021
Facing long-term joblessness? Try these 7 things if you’re struggling to find work

The longer an individual is out of a job, the more likely they are to lose skills, face discrimination from employers and see lower wages.

8 min read May 18, 2021
Your post-pandemic financial checklist: 7 steps to manage your money for long-term success

Before making this your own version of the roaring ’20s, here’s what you may want to consider.

7 min read May 12, 2021
Survey: Here’s what Americans say is their biggest financial regret

A new Bankrate poll finds what people regret and plan to do differently with their finances.

5 min read May 12, 2021
Biden’s proposed Child Tax Credit extension: See if you’d qualify for the ramped-up credit

The bill proposes making the credit permanently fully refundable. Here’s what to know.

3 min read Apr 29, 2021
3 ways Biden’s American Families Plans could change your taxes

The proposal includes changes to long-term capital gains and more.

5 min read Apr 29, 2021