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More Americans are staying unemployed longer — even as the economy grows

by Sabri Ben-Achour

A growing number of Americans are finding themselves out of work for six months or longer.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in November, 1.9 million people were unemployed for at least six months.

Predictions for the economic year ahead

Talk about a glum outlook: Consumers still feel pessimistic heading into new year
The value of the greenback: 2025 was a bumpy year for the U.S. dollar. What will 2026 bring?
“Housing reset” forecast for 2026: Hopes for greater balance in the housing market
A low-hire, low-fire environment: 2026 is looking like more of the same when it comes to jobs

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What American policy makers want to happen and what economists suggest often don't align these days.

Why politicians (and Americans) stopped listening to economists

Economyby Kai Ryssdal and Sarah Leeson

Andrew Prokop, senior politics correspondent at Vox, argues that policy makers have been relying less on economists for the last decade.

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