Purpose of the Center

The Inflation Research Center uses the latest developments in statistical methodology and economic theory to help address practical problems faced by policymakers when formulating monetary policy. More background information...

Research

In-depth articles on topics of interest regarding the Inflation Research Center.

Conferences

In order to disseminate the Center's work to a wider audience, and to receive input from the best minds in the field, we hold periodic conferences.

Firms' Price Choices: Exchanging Insights between Industrial Organization, Marketing Science and Macroeconomics
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Inflation Research Center hosted a conference entitled "Firms' Price Choices: Exchanging Insights between Industrial Organization, Marketing Science and Macroeconomics." The conference's goal was to foster a mutually beneficial exchange between economists from these three fields studying firms' pricing decisions. The conference program consisted of six invited papers with discussants. The organizers were Jeff Campbell from the Chicago Fed, Jean-Pierre Dubé from the University of Chicago and Aviv Nevo from Northwestern University.

Conference presentations are available.

December 15, 2006

2005 Inflation Research Center Conference on Price Stability
This conference brought together leading academic economists and policymakers to discuss the latest research on the determinants of inflation and its relationship with questions facing monetary policymakers.

Conference presentations and a Chicago Fed Letter (PDF, 62KB) summarizing the conference are available.

November 3–4, 2005

Visitors

The center brings experts on inflation and macroeconomic modeling to the bank as visiting scholars.

Data and Software

Chicago Fed Income Based Economic Index (IBEX)
The Chicago Fed Income Based Economic Index (IBEX) provides monthly inflation (IBEX–CPI) data for over 30 socioeconomic and demographic groups, including the elderly, the working poor and groups defined by educational attainment and income. The initial data cover the period from 1983 to 2005 and will be updated annually.

Useful Links

Information of interest to researchers interested in inflation and macroeconomic modeling.