Federal Reserve Bank of Boston hosts Fed Listens in Keene to gather perspectives on inflation and economic uncertainty

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston held a Fed Listens event in Keene, New Hampshire, convening business, labor, and nonprofit leaders from across New England to discuss how inflation and economic uncertainty are affecting households, local labor markets, and community conditions. Boston Fed President and CEO Susan M. Collins framed the session as an effort to collect on-the-ground input through in-person conversations outside downtown Boston. Participants described rising housing and health care costs and a sense that wage growth has not kept pace, alongside business adjustments to post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, including shifts toward higher-cost local sourcing to improve reliability. Nonprofit leaders highlighted that operating costs have risen while donations have not necessarily increased in line with inflation, and noted ongoing housing shortages and interest in alternative models such as shared housing. Following the Keene discussion, Collins attended part of the Southern Vermont Economic Summit in West Dover and toured Cersosimo Lumber Company’s facility in Brattleboro to learn more about local industry conditions.