Economy articles
What is the average wage in the US?
The average wage was $1,301 per week in September 2026, 0.1% lower than a year before. The average weekly wage, the typical earnings that employees bring home for one week of work, is a valuable indicator to assess economic conditions, labor market health, and wage trends.
Are wages keeping up with inflation?
No. From September 2025 to September 2026, wages grew 0.11 percentage points slower than inflation. Nominal wages — the literal dollars earned regardless of cost of living — increased by 3.6% while inflation stood at 3.7%. When wage growth trails inflation, it indicates that workers are experiencing a decrease in purchasing power from the previous year.
What is this year’s Social Security cost of living increase?
Social Security payments will go up an average of $75 a month in 2027 — a 3.6% increase.
What countries produce the most oil?
Five countries — the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Iraq — accounted for more than half of the world’s oil production in 2025. Those countries lead a list of 99 countries worldwide that produce an average of 84.5 million barrels of oil every day, according to the Energy Information Administration. Oil production includes crude oil and lease condensate, per EIA.
What do rising mortgage rates mean?
Mortgage rates are at a three-year high. What does that mean for homebuyers?
How many civilian jobs are in the US federal government?
There are about 2.68 million civilian jobs in the federal government as of September 2026. Federal jobs include all jobs ranging from janitors to air traffic controllers to nurses to postal workers and more. (Enlisted service people are considered government employees but aren’t included in this figure because they’re not civilians.) Out of the 159 million nonfarm jobs in the US, 1.7% are in the federal government, the nation’s largest employer. Another way to look at it: The federal government is responsible for one in every 60 jobs.
How active has the 2026 hurricane season been?
As of October 9, there have been eight tropical storms and one hurricane in 2026. In the Atlantic Ocean, tropical storms and hurricanes are the most dangerous designations of storms that are collectively known as tropical cyclones. The average number of such storms per year for the prior decade (2016 to 2025) was 18. That’s the highest 10-year average on record, based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data dating back to 1851.
What is the value of US trade overall?
The US imported $4.36 trillion and exported $3.43 trillion in goods and services in 2025. Benefits of trade can include higher wages and job growth, a wider variety of products available at lower prices, increased productivity, and more efficient resource allocation
What is the labor force participation rate in the US?
The US labor force participation rate was 61.8% in September 2026. The labor force participation rate measures the percent of people ages 16 and older engaged in the labor market, including those who are working or who are unemployed but actively looking for a job.
How many jobs were added in the US last month?
In September 2026, about 29,000 jobs were gained. That's below the monthly average of 187,900 new jobs of the previous five years. This data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly Employment Situation Report, aka the “jobs report,” a closely watched economic indicator. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
How many people are laid off in the US each month?
There were about 1.64 million layoffs and discharges in August 2026. This includes all terminations of employment by an employer — called layoffs and discharges — such as permanent layoffs, temporary layoffs, and terminations because of mergers, downsizing, closings, or employee performance.
What is the unemployment rate in the US right now?
Unemployment was at 4.2% in September 2026. That's a 0.1 percentage point increase from the prior month. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
How many job openings are there in the US?
There were about 7.08 million job openings as of August 2026. The number of job openings increased by 160,000 from August 2025. A “job opening” is defined as a position open on the last business day of the month. To be considered “open,” a job must meet three conditions: (1) There’s work available for the position; (2) The job could start within 30 days; and (3) The employer is actively recruiting.
How much foreign aid does the US provide overall?
About $48.3 billion in aid was obligated for fiscal year (FY) 2025, the most recent fully-reported year. Another $5.65 billion has been reported for FY 2026, and $5.65 billion was reported for FY 2026.
Diesel prices rose 89% from January low to September record high
The average cost of a gallon of diesel in the US is over $6. What's behind the increase?
How much do teachers get paid in the US?
Teachers made about $65,100 per year in 2025. That’s the annual median wage for pre-K-12 teachers across the United States, based on estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median marks the middle point—half of teachers earn more and half earn less. The lowest-paid 10% earned $48,200 or less, while the highest-paid 10% earned $104,300 or more.
What countries receive the most foreign aid from the US?
In fiscal year (FY) 2025 — the most recent fully-reported year — Ukraine received $6.75 billion, the most of any country. This amount reflects disbursements, a measure of foreign aid that captures when money is actually transferred out of US government accounts. Foreign aid is reported by more than 20 agencies within the federal government that fund foreign assistance activities.
Just the Facts on the Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve may be the most important bank you never use. But why is it called a “bank”, how is it governed, and how does it influence daily life in the US? In this episode of Just the Facts, Steve Ballmer tells you everything you need to know about the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States.
Just the Facts on oil prices
Why do geopolitical tensions with Iran have such a large impact on how much everyday Americans pay for gas at the pump? And why are we seeing oil prices rise when the US is such a large producer of oil? Oil is a global market, so if supply is threatened anywhere, prices can rise everywhere — including at your local gas station.
Just the Facts on donor and recipient states
Every year, the federal government collects trillions of dollars in taxes from individuals and businesses across all 50 states. But does your state get that money back? Or does it send more than it receives?