The Beige Book — officially known as the Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District — is produced eight times each year prior to Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. The information in the Beige Book is gathered primarily through interviews with business people in each District, as well as from Federal Reserve Bank and Branch directors. The publication's original purpose was to supplement official statistics with more current anecdotal accounts of the economic environment in order to assist policymakers during FOMC deliberations.

In producing the Beige Book the Federal Reserve interacts with and gathers data from businesses in each region. When Cleveland BUSINESS RADIO interviewed Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank Senior Vice President and Director of Research Dr. Mark Snidermen, we asked him how local businesses could participate in the compilation of Beige Book data.  Our question prompted the creation of a special Beige Book email address for interested businesses to use to contact the Federal Reserve about sharing industry and economic information that would be used in future publications.

If you've been in business 3-5 years and have at least 10-12 employees, The Fed wants to talk to you! All business segments and all industries are welcome.

Contact the Cleveland Federal Reserve at beige_book@clev.frb.org.

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