Fewer Kids are Going to College. Here’s Why That’s Bad News for the Economy.
High school senior Chris White planned on attending University of Texas at Arlington, a local university about a 30-minute drive from his home. But then covid hit, his father lost his job because of pandemic-related lay-offs, and he struggled to adapt to remote and...
Even in states like Texas, the high cost of materials threatens housing affordability
Eddie Franz has been in the homebuilding industry in Houston, Texas, since 1972. He weathered the financial crisis in the ‘80s and survived the 2008 recession, but the challenges he faces now are unlike anything he has ever seen before. “The sheet of plywood that we...
The Future of Institutions: Will Hiring Practices at Museums Change Following a Pandemic Disruption?
Juline Chevalier packed her bags in June of last year when her position at the Minneapolis Institute of Art was eliminated. After five years and six months of working as a museum educator at the MIA, she returned to Virginia, where she continued working as the...
5 Things To Watch For In April’s CPI Report
When the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the April consumer price index (CPI) report on Wednesday, May 12 at 8:30am, economists forecast a 0.2 percent increase in the overall CPI, which includes all indices, and even smaller gains in the core CPI, which exclude...
Weak U.S. Job Growth in April Casts Doubt on Recovery
The job market stumbled last month, dampening hopes for rapid economic recovery amid the coronavirus vaccination rollout, while crystallizing debate over the health of the economy. U.S. employers added a meager 266,000 jobs in April, the Labor Department reported...
5 Things to Watch For in March’s International Trade Report
The March international trade report is expected to deliver news of another record-breaking trade deficit. The U.S. is importing and exporting more, a sign that the economy is finding its legs as it recovers from the pandemic-induced recession. The trade gap is...
5 Things To Watch For In March’s Personal Income and Spending Report
The March report on personal income and spending — an important indicator of Americans’ financial security and consumer confidence in the economy — is expected to signal turbocharged spending and stockpiles of wealth because of additional federal stimulus, easing...
Five things to watch in February Case-Shiller Report
Home prices likely continued to increase in February because of low interest rates and tight housing inventory. Some economists estimate that tomorrow’s release of the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index will likely show that home prices rose...
Five Things to Watch for in March’s Durable Goods Orders Report
The Commerce Department will release the advanced durable goods report on Monday. Economists expect a positive report after February's slight decline, the first decline in nine months. With high vaccination rates in March, the report should signal an ever-fast-growing...