In this episode of the NPR Indicator podcast, the hosts present the quirky "Beige Awards," an amusing ceremony honoring the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, which offers snapshots of regional economies. The Minneapolis Fed earned a runner-up spot for its insightful analysis of rural labor shortages, while the Richmond Fed clinched the top prize for its in-depth exploration of the economic fallout from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. The winning report revealed the long-term struggles businesses face, especially in tourism and brewing, and illustrated how the hurricane's impact rippled through the local economy and supply chains. With interviews featuring a Federal Reserve economist and a malt house owner affected by the storm, the podcast effectively conveys the real-world implications of economic upheavals.
