Gold Exports Record Drive Sharp Narrowing in U.S. Trade Deficit
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in January as exports surged to a record high and imports edged lower, a shift that—if sustained—could make trade a positive contributor to economic growth in the first quarter. The Commerce Department said the overall trade gap in goods and services fell 25.3% to $54.5 billion. Economists had expected […]
Fed Beige Book: Growth Holds Up But Shoppers Resist Price Increases
The Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book offered a cautiously positive read on the U.S. economy, describing modest growth, stable employment, and continued—but potentially easing—price pressures across much of the country. Based on surveys and interviews gathered through late February, economic activity “rose a bit” in recent weeks, with 7 of the Fed’s 12 districts expanding […]
Middle-Class Squeeze: Most Americans Say a New Car and a First Home Are Out of Reach
A new Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos survey finds that many Americans feel they can cover today’s basics but still can’t reach the milestones that define “getting ahead”—especially buying a home and purchasing a new car. The poll paints a picture of an economy where the stock market and consumer spending may look steady, yet households say […]
International Monetary Fund ( IMF) Warns U.S. Debt Path is a Rising Global Risk
The International Monetary Fund delivered a mixed but pointed message about the U.S. economy: the near-term growth outlook remains resilient, yet Washington’s fiscal deficits are large enough to threaten long-run stability and to worsen the country’s external imbalances. In its annual “Article IV” review, the IMF projected U.S. growth of 2.4% in 2026, broadly consistent […]
Trump’s First Year Back: Markets and Prices Up, Job Engine Slows
The Wall Street Journal’s year-one snapshot of President Trump’s second-term economy paints a picture of uneven performance: some headline indicators look stable or even strong, but several underlying pressures—especially jobs, housing, and trade—remain stubborn or have worsened. On the labor market, the biggest shift is slower job creation. The U.S. added 181,000 jobs in 2025, […]
White House Fires Back at NY Fed Research Arguing Americans Shoulder Most Tariff Costs
A political clash is brewing between the White House and central-bank researchers after Kevin Hassett publicly suggested punishment for the authors of a Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis that challenges the administration’s tariff narrative. In a February 18 interview with CNBC, Hassett said the research was “an embarrassment,” called it “the worst paper” […]
US Factory Output Jumps Most in 11 Months, Signaling a Tentative Manufacturing Rebound
The Next Global Race AI Isn’t Just Who Discovers More, But Who Discovers Faster
Physicist Nishant Sahdev argues that the speed of scientific discovery has become a strategic asset—and that artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the “super-accelerator” that will decide which nations lead and which become dependent. Writing from Chapel Hill, he points to a recent move by the US Department of Energy: the launch of 26 “science and […]
Even With an AI Productivity Surge, US Workers May Not Reclaim Their Shrinking Slice of The Economy
Even if the United States is entering a productivity upswing—possibly accelerated by artificial intelligence—workers should not expect it to reverse a long-running decline in labor’s share of national income. The piece highlights a stark benchmark: labor’s share has fallen to 53.8%, described as the lowest since records began, underscoring how much of the country’s income […]
Houston Launches “Brain Health” Push to Become Global Neuroscience Innovation Hub
Leaders across Houston are trying to add “brain health” to the city’s list of signature strengths—alongside its historic identity as an energy capital and the well-known medical expertise concentrated at Texas Medical Center. A new regional collaboration, Project Metis, has been launched to attract researchers, clinical trials, and brain-focused technology start-ups, with the larger goal […]
