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How might China's reliance on exports be both a blessing and a curse? In our latest memo, Michael Hirson and Houze Song ...
01/22/2026

How might China's reliance on exports be both a blessing and a curse? In our latest memo, Michael Hirson and Houze Song explain.

Chinese dependence on manufacturing as an engine of growth has increased, as resistance to Chinese imports is growing abroad and domestic demand remains low.

Why has the price of gold risen so sharply? Charles Collyns and Michael Klein explain:
01/21/2026

Why has the price of gold risen so sharply? Charles Collyns and Michael Klein explain:

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.

An aggregate trade deficit is not by itself evidence of economic weakness. In fact, there have been times when stronger ...
01/17/2026

An aggregate trade deficit is not by itself evidence of economic weakness. In fact, there have been times when stronger GDP growth is associated with increasing trade deficits.

The U.S. has been running a trade deficit every year since 1975. However, both exports and imports have more than doubled since the beginning of this period.

The trend towards increased legal independence for central banks has been met with near-unanimous approval among economi...
01/16/2026

The trend towards increased legal independence for central banks has been met with near-unanimous approval among economists, as independence insulates the central bank from pressure to stimulate the economy for political gain, which eventually tends to increase inflation.

Legal independence for central banks has increased around the world. But it is not a one-way road. What conditions lead to an erosion of autonomy?

A reform of the US's main source of residential flood insurance is changing the price of premiums, impacting take up and...
12/18/2025

A reform of the US's main source of residential flood insurance is changing the price of premiums, impacting take up and coverage. More in this memo by Francesc Ortega and Ivan Petkov

The US's main source of flood insurance has undergone the biggest reform since it inception. Will it help reduce Americans’ financial exposure to flooding?

Mark Zandi joins EconoFact Chats to discuss the state of the economy, focusing on consumer sentiment, Fed Independence, ...
12/17/2025

Mark Zandi joins EconoFact Chats to discuss the state of the economy, focusing on consumer sentiment, Fed Independence, and likely trends in inflation, unemployment, and GDP growth in early 2026.

Mark Zandi discusses the state of the economy, focusing on consumer sentiment, Fed Independence, and likely trends in inflation, unemployment, and GDP growth in early 2026.

How can state-level policies reduce food insecurity?
12/16/2025

How can state-level policies reduce food insecurity?

State minimum wage and refundable state earned income tax credit (EITC) policies can reduce food insecurity among economically at-risk households with children.

Are tariffs raising US retail prices? Recent data indicates goods prices have indeed been increasing in response to tari...
11/23/2025

Are tariffs raising US retail prices? Recent data indicates goods prices have indeed been increasing in response to tariffs, although the magnitude of price increases remains modest relative to the announced tariff rates.

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.

Recent college graduates starting out their professional careers are particularly vulnerable to economic conditions. You...
11/21/2025

Recent college graduates starting out their professional careers are particularly vulnerable to economic conditions. Young workers graduating into a recession face worse employment prospects and tend to receive lower earnings relative to peers who graduated just before or after the recession.

Graduating college in a downturn can have lasting career impacts. Worsening trends for new graduates raise concerns for those graduating in the COVID recession.

While individuals may become homeless for many reasons, overall variations in homelessness are closely associated with t...
11/21/2025

While individuals may become homeless for many reasons, overall variations in homelessness are closely associated with the availability of affordable housing. Charles Collyns (EconoFact) explains why the US homeless population has been rising:

In 2024, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States on a single night was the highest since survey records began. Why is this?

While changes in the rate of immigration have a complex fiscal impact, projections suggest that on balance, higher immig...
11/20/2025

While changes in the rate of immigration have a complex fiscal impact, projections suggest that on balance, higher immigration tends to reduce the government deficit and support social security payments for the retired.

Immigration has accounted for almost half of U.S. labor force growth since 1995. Slower labor force growth would negatively impact employment and GDP growth.

How might a fiscal crisis in the U.S. come about? And how might it be avoided? Greg Mankiw discusses in this episode of ...
11/19/2025

How might a fiscal crisis in the U.S. come about? And how might it be avoided? Greg Mankiw discusses in this episode of EconoFact Chats.

Greg Mankiw discusses some of the key economic challenges facing the U.S.

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