Small business survey: Firms report payments challenges
Release Date: 04/22/2025
Understanding the Beige Book and its insights into the economy
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What is the Beige Book? It’s the story of the economy that you can’t always see in the numbers. Eight times a year, each Federal Reserve Bank publishes a Beige Book after gathering real-world economic insight from regional business leaders and experts. Mary Burke is a principal economist and policy advisor with the New England Public Policy Center at the Boston Fed. She talks to Six Hundred Atlantic about what the Beige Book is and why it matters to the U.S. economy. Visit bostonfed.org to learn more about the . For more interviews and analysis of the economy in New England...
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Small business survey: Firms report payments challenges
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The Fed’s latest small businesses survey found that 80% of respondents reported challenges related to how they send and receive payments, including credit card processing fees and slow payments systems. Brian Clarke is a payments analyst and deputy director in the Regional & Community Outreach department at the Boston Fed. He breaks down the most important findings from the survey – and how advancements in payments technology might help businesses address their top challenges. Visit bostonfed.org to learn more about from the Small Business Credit Survey. You can read the full...
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Synthetic Identity Fraud: How AI is Changing the Game
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Synthetic identity fraud is a fast-growing and costly type of financial fraud, and its threat is increasing – thanks to generative AI. Criminals use Gen AI to quickly create synthetic identities and make these fake identities seem more like real people so it’s easier to use them to steal. Federal Reserve payments fraud expert Mike Timoney discusses what synthetic identity fraud is and how it’s evolved. He says one of the best tools to stop thieves who use generative AI in synthetic identity fraud … is AI. Timoney is a vice president of secure payments at the Boston Fed. Visit...
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Interview: More Ways to Pay with Joanna Stavins
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Interview: Lottery trends with Riley Sullivan
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New Englanders love the lottery, and it’s long been an important source of public funding. But it’s not the only option for people’s gambling dollars. Boston Fed researcher Riley Sullivan talks about lottery history, policy, and trends.
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Interview: New Englanders aren’t moving as much with Pinghui Wu
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The story after the pandemic started was that people were relocating more. But now, New Englanders just aren’t making as many moves, either short- or long-distance. Boston Fed economist Pinghui Wu talks about the trend and what it means.
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Interview: Working Places at 10 with Colleen Dawicki
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Check fraud with Mike Timoney
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Check fraud is on the rise, even as the number of checks in circulation is dropping. Why? Boston Fed payments fraud expert Mike Timoney discusses why checks are an attractive target for thieves and how consumers can protect themselves.
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Is a criminal history a life sentence in the labor markets?
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Employers are reluctant to hire people with criminal histories, and that can be a drag on the economy, because they make up a surprisingly large part of the population. What can be done to reduce employer risks while giving this group a fair chance?
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Gig workers are undercounted – or unseen
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info_outlineThe Fed’s latest small businesses survey found that 80% of respondents reported challenges related to how they send and receive payments, including credit card processing fees and slow payments systems.
Brian Clarke is a payments analyst and deputy director in the Regional & Community Outreach department at the Boston Fed. He breaks down the most important findings from the survey – and how advancements in payments technology might help businesses address their top challenges.
Visit bostonfed.org to learn more about payments-related findings from the Small Business Credit Survey. You can read the full report on fedsmallbusiness.org. For more interviews and analysis of the economy in New England and nationwide, visit BostonFed.org/SixHundredAtlantic.aspx. Subscribe to our email list to stay updated on new episodes.