Today, we explore the challenges behind curbing inflation, the tools available to the Federal Reserve to do so, and the consequences of the Fed acting too aggressively or too gently.

"States of the Economy" is a monthly look at the economic picture across the country. In this episode CSBS Chief Economist Tom Siems and host Matt Longacre discuss what the latest inflation and jobs numbers, business confidence measures and more are telling us about the current trajectory of the U.S. economy.