Tag: Economics
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June Jobs Report: Hiring Slows Sharply, But the Unemployment Rate Drop Isn’t What It Looks Like
Payrolls rose just 57,000 in June, half of what forecasters expected, while April and May were revised down a combined 74,000. The unemployment rate hit a one-year low — but for a reason that isn’t actually good news.
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Inflation Hit a 3-Year High in May
Infographic: The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure climbed to 4.1% in May 2026, its highest level since April 2023. Despite surging prices, Americans kept spending — though after adjusting for inflation, real gains were modest.
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Inflation Hit a 3-Year High in May — But Consumers Keep Spending
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure climbed to 4.1% in May 2026, its highest level since April 2023. Despite surging prices, Americans kept spending — though after adjusting for inflation, real gains were modest. Here’s what the numbers mean for your wallet and the Fed’s next move.
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Paying More and Buying Less: 2025 Tariffs and U.S. Household Spending
A new Federal Reserve working paper finds that 2025 tariffs led to partial retail price pass-through but much larger reductions in household spending, especially on non-essential goods. The burden fell unevenly, with low-income households facing the highest welfare cost as a share of income.
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Inflation Hits 4.2% in May — Highest in Three Years
The May 2026 Consumer Price Index hit 4.2% year-over-year, the highest inflation reading since April 2023 and almost entirely driven by an energy price spike from the Middle East conflict. But strip out food and energy, and core inflation is a much calmer 2.9% — a critical nuance most coverage misses.
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May 2026 Jobs Infographic
The May 2026 jobs report delivered a major upside surprise: 172,000 jobs added against forecasts of 80,000–105,000.
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May 2026 Jobs Report: Economy Adds 172,000 Jobs
The May 2026 jobs report delivered a major upside surprise: 172,000 jobs added against forecasts of 80,000–105,000. Prior months were also revised up by a combined 93,000. Here’s a plain-English breakdown of who’s hiring, who’s losing ground, and what it means for interest rates.
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Hassett Defends Economy, Touts Tax Cuts, and Vouches for Pulte as DNI in White House Gaggle
Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett made sweeping economic claims outside the West Wing on June 2. Our fact-check finds his GDP figure off by 2.5×, his $3,000 wage gain disputed, and his Bill Pulte DNI defense dodges credentials.
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Inflation Accelerated in April 2026: Energy Prices Drive CPI to 3.8% — Highest in Three Years
Inflation accelerated sharply in April 2026, with consumer prices rising 3.8% over the past year — the fastest pace since May 2023. Energy costs, led by a 28.4% annual surge in gasoline, drove more than 40 cents of every dollar of monthly price growth.
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April 2026 Jobs Report: Hiring Slows Sharply as Federal Cuts Mount
The April 2026 jobs report delivered a clear warning: U.S. hiring is slowing fast. Employers added only 115,000 jobs last month, well short of expectations, while the three-month average has tumbled to just 48,000 — the weakest sustained pace in years.
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Trade Deficit Rose to $60.3 Billion in March, but the Year-Over-Year Story Is Dramatic
The U.S. trade deficit widened modestly to $60.3 billion in March 2026, but the headline number obscures a remarkable year-over-year story: the gap is 55% smaller than a year ago, as importers no longer need to front-run tariffs.
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Kevin Hassett Fact-Check: Iran War Claims & Economic Data
White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett made a string of economic claims on Face the Nation — some accurate, some misleading, and one outright false. This fact-check grades each one against primary sources, from IRS filing data to historical GDP records.