Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

With more people falling below the poverty line, a look at what benefits they might receive

Sep 15, 2020
High unemployment and reduced income for many during the pandemic may make more people eligible for federal aid programs.
The poverty threshold, just over $26,000 a year for a family of four, is used to allocate more than a trillion dollars in government payments.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The wealth gap widens

Sep 26, 2019
A lot of it comes down to taxation, the stock market and the country's demographic makeup.
Income inequality is rising even though the economy is in its longest period of growth.
Joe Raedle/Newsmakers

For businesses, American Community Survey is a trove of valuable information

Sep 26, 2019
The Census Bureau's annual survey helps businesses figure out where and what they should be selling.
Businesses use ACS data to decide where to open new stores. Above, a storefront for lease in Chicago.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

The fastest—and slowest—growing counties in the U.S.

Apr 19, 2019
Counties in Texas, North Dakota and Florida are experiencing a high rate of population growth.
MicroStockHub

Texas leads way in population growth

Apr 18, 2019
Strong economy and a lower cost of living are contributing to the increase in the Lone Star State.
A fan waves a Texas state flag while the Texas Rangers play.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

The rise of renters

Oct 16, 2018
We spoke to renters in Denver, Colorado, about the financial barriers to homeownership.
A sign advertising apartments for rent is displayed in front of an apartment complex July 8, 2009 in San Francisco, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

How are consumers spending their money?

Jul 16, 2018
The U.S. Census Bureau will release June retail sales data this morning. We already know that consumer spending is strong right now due in part to a tight labor market and inflation. But how are consumers financing their current spending spree and what are they spending on, exactly? Click the audio player above to hear the […]

For public good, not for profit.

New home sales are looking up in a tight housing market

Feb 26, 2018
New home sale numbers are out today from the U.S. Census Bureau. In a tight housing market, strong new construction numbers could be a boost to first-time homebuyers. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Can technology make the census more accurate?

Oct 31, 2017
The census influences how hundreds of billions of dollars are spent. Will reaching out online improve the response rate?
Forms for Census 2010 are displayed during an event April 1, 2010 in Washington, DC.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

What happens when the economic census is late

All of the policy and business decisions that use that census data — and there are a lot — will get pushed back, too.