Small, rural banks see the federally chartered Farm Credit System as increasingly significant loan competition. Banks say there is an unfair advantage; the System says choices are good for customers.

As housing prices climbed, many people complained that homes had become unaffordable to middle-income Americans. Research shows that homeowners are actually better off today than decades ago.

Esther George is now responsible for this Reserve Bank's operations and budget, as well as participating in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings in Kansas City Fed President Tom Hoenig's absence.

Small towns struggle with dwindling populations as young adults leave, but the return of older residents can offset this out-migration with their contributions to the local workforce.

Looking back at the sector's boom-bust nearly two decades ago offers insight into today's situation.

Learn about how economists define when we're in a recession, what that means and how the current economic crisis compares with previous ones.

The cost of Medicare benefits will soon exceed the program's available funds, and its financial woes will far surpass Social Security's as healthcare costs continue to rise faster than economic growth.