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A large fiscal deficit, and high and rising public debt, especially in the context of high interest rates, raise concern...
11/07/2025

A large fiscal deficit, and high and rising public debt, especially in the context of high interest rates, raise concerns about the long-term health of the US economy.

Public debt in the United States is projected to rise faster and reach higher levels than in most other advanced economies.

The US federal debt as a share of GDP is close to its highest level ever and projected to keep increasing. Higher intere...
11/06/2025

The US federal debt as a share of GDP is close to its highest level ever and projected to keep increasing. Higher interest rates will add to the cost of servicing the debt.

The relatively short maturity structure of US government debt means that increases in interest rates translate rapidly into higher interest costs.

Recent changes in US policies have altered trade relationships and the international role of the dollar. Oleg Itskhoki j...
11/06/2025

Recent changes in US policies have altered trade relationships and the international role of the dollar. Oleg Itskhoki joins EconoFact Chats to discuss the sources and consequences of these shifts.

Recent changes in US policies have altered trade relationships and the international role of the dollar. Oleg Itskhoki discusses the sources and consequences of these shifts.

Christopher Towe explains why recent tariff measures will only have a modest impact on the US trade deficit.
11/06/2025

Christopher Towe explains why recent tariff measures will only have a modest impact on the US trade deficit.

The recent tariff hikes will have only a limited impact on the U.S. trade deficit, at the cost of a significant worsening of U.S. and global economic prospects.

What are government shutdowns and how do they impact the economy? Bill Gale and Ian Berlin (Brookings) discuss in this E...
10/31/2025

What are government shutdowns and how do they impact the economy? Bill Gale and Ian Berlin (Brookings) discuss in this EconoFact memo:

Shutdowns can cost the government more than regular operations and can hurt the economy. There have been over 20 shutdowns in the past 50 years.

An increased focus on deportations could also reduce police effectiveness if victims of crime become less likely to repo...
10/30/2025

An increased focus on deportations could also reduce police effectiveness if victims of crime become less likely to report incidents to the police out of fear.

A program that increased deportations reduced the likelihood that Hispanic victims would report crimes to the police and increased crime in Hispanic communities

China is the world’s largest supplier and processor of rare earth elements, minerals used in a broad range of key produc...
10/29/2025

China is the world’s largest supplier and processor of rare earth elements, minerals used in a broad range of key products that include fighter jets, drones, guided missiles, computer chips, and more. Dependence on China for these minerals remains a vulnerability in the manufacturing supply chains for many military and high technology products.

The U.S. depends on China for rare earth components in many military and high-tech products. Building an alternative rare earth supply chain is years away.

John Campbell joins EconoFact Chats to discuss his latest book 'Fixed,' which highlights how personal finance markets of...
10/28/2025

John Campbell joins EconoFact Chats to discuss his latest book 'Fixed,' which highlights how personal finance markets often benefit
the wealthy and more educated at the expense of those with fewer advantages. The book also offers practical advice on topics like
saving for college, getting a mortgage, making investment decisions, and creating an emergency fund for hard times.

A discussion with John Campbell on his new book, co-authored with Tarun Ramadorai, 'Fixed: Why Personal Finance is Broken and How to Make It Work for Everyone.'

Lisa Lawson (Annie E. Casey Foundation) talks about her new book 'Thrive,' which highlights how cognitive, emotional, an...
10/25/2025

Lisa Lawson (Annie E. Casey Foundation) talks about her new book 'Thrive,' which highlights how cognitive, emotional, and social development continues past puberty, and failure to build on investments throughout this longer period of adolescence can result in missed mental and emotional growth.

Lisa Lawson discusses her new book 'Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children.'

What factors influence the price of gold?
10/24/2025

What factors influence the price of gold?

Gold has a long history of being held as a financial asset by private investors and central banks, which can be the source of large shifts in its price.

Tariffs on imported goods have risen steeply in recent months. Have these increases translated into higher retail prices...
10/24/2025

Tariffs on imported goods have risen steeply in recent months. Have these increases translated into higher retail prices? Alberto Cavallo, Paola Llamas and Franco Vazquez explain.

Prices of over 350,000 products at major U.S. retailers show a slow and gradual pass-through of tariffs to consumers. Both imports and U.S.-made goods are affected.

How is the U.S. agricultural sector faring in 2025? Menzie Chinn analyses challenges facing farmers.
10/23/2025

How is the U.S. agricultural sector faring in 2025? Menzie Chinn analyses challenges facing farmers.

The Trump administration’s trade and immigration policies are having negative effects on agriculture, compounding the impact of low commodity prices and high costs.

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