🎁'Tis the season to support public service journalism Donate Now

Looking for an escape, more adults are buying childhood toys

Nov 29, 2023
From Tamagotchis to Star Wars, the number of adults buying new and old versions of their childhood toys has continued to climb.
Tamagotchis and other toys from the '90s are becoming popular collectibles for adults looking to reconnect with their childhoods.
Gorlov / Getty Images Plus

As a recession fails to materialize, some economists are changing their tune

Nov 21, 2023
The Index of Leading Economic Indicators has been pointing to a slowdown for 19 months. It hasn't materialized.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Do the latest job numbers point to a coming recession?

Nov 6, 2023
The number of new jobs created each month has been trending down for the past year — but there is also a good amount of positive data in the latest report.
Overall, the number of new jobs created each month has been chaotic but generally trending down for 12 months.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Germany's economy stumbles, once again making it the "sick man of Europe"

Oct 26, 2023
Business activity in Germany contracted for a fourth straight month in October. Experts are labeling Europe’s largest economy the "sick man of Europe."
The International Monetary Fund expects Germany's economy to contract 0.3% this year. Above, the banking district skyline of Frankfurt.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

Temp jobs falling usually signals a recession. Maybe not this time.

Oct 5, 2023
It's probably more a sign of pandemic labor market weirdness than a coming recession.
Following an explosion of temp jobs during the pandemic, many positions were made permanent as companies scrambled to recruit and retain workers. Above, participants at a San Francisco job fair.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Conference Board reports fall in consumer confidence

Sep 27, 2023
The nonprofit business research group found that consumers think a recession is on the way, as the economy faces challenges ahead.
One thing consumers are worried about, and think could signal an oncoming recession, is high food prices.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

An inverted yield curve usually signals recession. Is it wrong this time?

Sep 7, 2023
For well over a year, the interest paid by long-term Treasury bonds has been lower than that of shorter-term debt. But a recession hasn't happened yet.
When the yield curve inverts, it indicates that bond investors are betting on a coming recession.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Leading economic indicators stubbornly point to a recession. It still hasn't arrived.

Aug 17, 2023
So are the indicators wrong, or have we just not waited long enough?
“If this recession happens, it will be the most predicted recession — like, ever,” said former Federal Reserve economist Claudia Sahm.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

U.S. equity investors think stocks are too expensive, survey finds

Aug 16, 2023
S&P Global’s investment manager index survey says most sectors are losing favor with investors. What's going on?
Climbing interest rates are pushing investors away from stocks and into bonds, per Gary Schlossberg with the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Why the Fed could eventually cut interest rates again

Aug 15, 2023
Goldman Sachs economists predict rate reductions next year based on declining inflation, which would make high rates unnecessary.
The Federal Reserve has been raising the federal funds rate to bring down inflation. If inflation declines further, high rates might be unnecessary.
Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images