Economy articles
What kinds of jobs do young people have?
Over half of young people ages 16 to 24 have jobs in the leisure and hospitality, retail, or education and health services industries.
The history and impact of 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.
What is the unemployment rate in the US right now?
Unemployment was at 4.2% in June 2026. That's a 0.1 percentage point decrease 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.
Just the Facts about the US economy
How does the government measure the economy? By tracking GDP, unemployment numbers, and the prices people pay for goods and services.
Who doesn’t pay federal income taxes?
Whether someone owes federal income tax depends on their income, deductions, and credits. In 2023, 3 in 10 filers owed nothing.
What goes into the monthly jobs report?
A look at how the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on the economy.
Is there a labor shortage in the US?
In December 2023, there were 2.76 million more open jobs than unemployed people.
What is a recession?
The US has gone through 34 recessions since 1855, the longest of which lasted more than five years.
What are the fastest-growing professions in America?
“Wind turbine service technician” is the fastest-growing occupation in the country; the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects open roles could grow 50% by 2034.
Food prices are up as millions of Americans are unemployed
The average price of goods overall declined 0.8% from March to April. However, average prices for food staples rose 2.6%.
How much money does the government collect per person?
Individual income taxes accounted for more than half of total revenues for the federal government in 2022.
Which countries own the most US debt?
As of April 2024, foreign countries own approximately $7.9 trillion in Treasury securities — or 22.9% of total US debt.