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Every number is the story of what's counted, and what's not

Oct 12, 2020
In this book excerpt, Deborah Stone examines the way we calculate unemployment numbers.
Demonstrators rally at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., in 2019.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Stan Lee's Marvel-ous legacy

Nov 19, 2018
Let's do the numbers on Stanley Lieber's seven decades in comics.
 Spider-Man creator Stan Lee poses at his office on June 18, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California.
Vince Bucci/Getty Images

Let's do the numbers: St. Patrick's Day edition

Mar 15, 2018
From closed bars to Pedialyte, here are a few things you might not have known about the holiday.
A water taxi navigates the Chicago River shortly after it was dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day on March 11, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

How Katrina changed the face of New Orleans

Aug 21, 2015
We do the numbers on demographics.

Good retail sales don't necessarily mean all's well

Jun 11, 2015
Retail sales numbers look good, but there are reasons to be skeptical.

What to look for in the jobs report, in four charts

Apr 3, 2015
As the unemployment rate falls, are more people coming back into the labor force?

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The meaning behind your favorite number

Feb 16, 2015
Rogerson's Book of Numbers explores the cultural meaning of every-day numbers.

Taking the retail sales number too seriously

May 13, 2014
Retail sales for April were disappointing, but month-to-month data is problematic.