Mortgages
Calendar: What’s driving mortgage rates the week of May 9-13, 2022
1 min read
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
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Jobs surge in April, unemployment rate drops to 49-year low
April jobs numbers beat expectations with unemployment dropping, but wages missed estimates.
4 min read May 03, 2019 -
Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, notes unexpectedly soft inflation
The Fed continues to delay any interest rate moves amid persistently low inflation.
4 min read May 01, 2019 -
Here’s how much Trump’s Fed picks could actually shake up the central bank
The Fed might find itself in a tricky situation.
7 min read Apr 30, 2019 -
U.S. economy blows away expectations in the first quarter, but questions remain
GDP expanded by 3.2 percent, but gains came from the typically more volatile components.
3 min read Apr 26, 2019 -
3 things to watch for at the Fed’s April-May meeting
The Fed will most likely hold interest rates steady, but here’s how it could still impact your wallet.
7 min read Apr 26, 2019 -
U.S. economy expands at ‘slight-to-moderate’ pace amid some ‘strengthening’
Activity was held down in part by a tight labor market.
4 min read Apr 17, 2019 -
Nearly half of Americans say Washington politics is the biggest threat to economy
Yet, only 25 percent say these economic concerns are leading them to spend less.
6 min read Apr 17, 2019 -
Fed officials say rates could shift in ‘either direction’ depending on economic growth
Federal Reserve officials are giving themselves room to be flexible with monetary policy.
3 min read Apr 10, 2019