Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI)
Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index — Historical Chart
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Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (FRED series NFCI) is a weekly economic indicator measured in index. The series is published through FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis economic database, with history going back to 1971.
Why it matters: Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index is one of the indicators traders, economists, and policymakers watch within the economic complex. Analysts use it to track conditions in the US economy and to anticipate shifts in growth, inflation, and policy.
How to read it: focus on the direction and persistence of changes rather than any single weekly print. Comparing the latest value against its level a year ago, and against its long-run range since 1971, gives a better sense of whether the series is signaling acceleration, deceleration, or a turning point.
About This Series
The Chicago Fed's National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) provides a comprehensive weekly update on U.S. financial conditions in money markets, debt and equity markets and the traditional and "shadow" banking systems. Positive values of the NFCI indicate financial conditions that are tighter than average, while negative values indicate financial conditions that are looser than average. For further information, please visit the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (http://www.chicagofed.org/webpages/publications/nfci/index.cfm).
Recent Data
| Date | Value (Index) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| June 5, 2026 | -0.51 | -0.01 |
| May 29, 2026 | -0.49 | +0.02 |
| May 22, 2026 | -0.51 | +0.01 |
| May 15, 2026 | -0.52 | +0 |
| May 8, 2026 | -0.52 | -0.01 |
| May 1, 2026 | -0.51 | +0.01 |
| April 24, 2026 | -0.52 | -0.02 |
| April 17, 2026 | -0.50 | -0.03 |
| April 10, 2026 | -0.47 | -0.03 |
| April 3, 2026 | -0.43 | +0.01 |
| March 27, 2026 | -0.44 | +0.01 |
| March 20, 2026 | -0.45 | +0.01 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index today?
The latest value of Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) is shown at the top of this page, along with its observation date and the change from the prior reading. Data is sourced from FRED and refreshed regularly.
How often is Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index updated?
Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index is reported weekly (Weekly, Ending Friday). New observations appear on FRED shortly after the source agency releases them, and this page updates daily.
What does a rising Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index mean?
A sustained rise in Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index signals strengthening readings in this economic measure, in index. Whether that is positive or negative for markets depends on context — compare the move against the series’ trend and related indicators in the same category.
Where does the NFCI data come from?
The data comes from FRED® (Federal Reserve Economic Data), maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, under series ID NFCI. History is available back to 1971.
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Data sourced from FRED®, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI). Retrieved from fred.stlouisfed.org. Last updated June 10, 2026.