How does the Federal Reserve influence the economy?

The Federal Reserve influences the economy primarily through regulating credit extension and adjusting interest rates. When the Fed changes interest rates, it affects the cost of borrowing and the return on savings, which in turn influences consumer spending and business investment. For example, lowering interest rates makes loans cheaper, encouraging individuals and businesses to borrow and spend more, which can stimulate economic growth. Conversely, raising interest rates can help cool off an overheating economy and control inflation by making borrowing more expensive.

This mechanism allows the Federal Reserve to manage economic cycles and ensure financial stability. The Fed also utilizes tools like open market operations and reserve requirements to control the money supply, all of which directly impacts the overall economic activity.

Other options are less applicable to the Fed's role. Fiscal policies, such as government spending and tax decisions, are determined by government entities, not the Federal Reserve. Monitoring stock performance isn't a primary responsibility of the Fed; while it may consider market trends, its focus is more on the overall economy. Handling foreign exchanges is typically the domain of the U.S. Treasury and involves different functions than what the Fed manages.