Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Is extreme heat changing where people live and work in the U.S.?

New research suggests that the historical trend of people moving from colder to warmer states could reverse given climate change.
David McNew/Getty Images

More homeowners are "equity rich," but what can they do with that wealth?

Aug 1, 2024
High interest rates often make home equity loans or cash-out refinance options unappealing.
"You can sell some of your mutual funds," says Jenny Schuetz of Brookings Metro. "You can't sell off a part of your house."
David McNew/Getty Images

Celebrity book clubs are "extremely influential" in the publishing world

Aug 1, 2024
"I saw such a shift to having some of those more traditional media sources become less influential in sales," said journalist Sophie Vershbow. "Ultimately, a lot of these book clubs have taken that place and started selling a lot of books."
Books selected by "Reese's Book Club" on display at an event in Los Angeles.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Hello Sunshine / Taco Bell

Productivity growth beats forecasts in second quarter

Aug 1, 2024
Real wages also grew. To some extent, productivity growth offsets the inflationary effect of pay gains.
Because productivity grew alongside wages, economists aren't concerned about a wage-price spiral.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Here's what California's offshore wind industry might look like

Aug 1, 2024
In a patch of calm water off the Port of Long Beach, 1,000-foot wind turbines would be assembled before they're towed out to sea.
At Pier Wind, completed turbines will wait in a wet storage area at the Port of Long Beach, shown in the rendering above.
Courtesy Port of Long Beach

How economics impact Olympic achievement

Aug 1, 2024
A country's athletic infrastructure as well as subsidies and citizens' health influence medal counts. Economist Veronika Dolar weighs in.
Big-picture data like GDP and population can hint at a country's Olympic success. But subtler issues play a role as well, Pace University's Veronika Dolar explains. Above, champion swimmer Katie Ledecky.
Xavier Laine/Getty Images

Biden administration tries again to relieve student debt

Aug 1, 2024
It's trying a different route to loan forgiveness, but it is unclear how successful the plan will be.
President Joe Biden's administration is eyeing statutory rules changes to waive accrued interest in its latest attempt at debt relief. Above, Biden in April.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Poll workers are vital to elections, but there's a shortage

Aug 1, 2024
The seasonal workers manage lines, hand out ballots, process mail-in ballots and serve as greeters at polling sites.
By election day, voting locations will need a million poll workers nationally.
Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images

As the Fed holds interest rates steady, Powell says "it's a difficult balancing act"

Aug 1, 2024
But some former central bank officials think the Fed's risking a recession.
"That time [for a rate cut] could be in September, if the data support that," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act — 2 years on

Heather Boushey, a member of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, on the results of the legislation so far.
"We've now seen announcements of $900 billion of private sector investment all across the country," said Heather Boushey, a member of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images