GOP Congress takes over amid public pessimism about an end to divisions
The new GOP-controlled Congress takes office at a time when the American public sees partisan rifts in the country getting worse.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
The new GOP-controlled Congress takes office at a time when the American public sees partisan rifts in the country getting worse.
An unusually active lame duck session enabled the 113th Congress to avoid its predecessor’s record for legislative unproductivity.
Sales at many retailers spike during the year-end holiday season, but holiday sales overall are a bit less significant than they were two decades ago.
Lame duck congressional sessions have become more common in recent years, but their actual legislative productivity has varied considerably.
President Obama’s executive action to protect millions of unauthorized immigrants from deportation is an act that both follows and departs from precedents set by his predecessors.
The restaurant and food service industry is the single biggest employer of near-minimum workers, employing 3.75 million near-minimum workers, about 18% of the total.
Last year an estimated 20.6 million people — 30% of all hourly, non-self-employed workers aged 18 and older in the U.S. — earned above the applicable minimum wage in their state but less than the proposed $10.10/hour minimum.
If history is any guide, well under half of eligible voters will come out to vote in Tuesday’s midterms.
Most eligible voters — typically 8-in-ten or more — live in House districts with little or no real competition between candidates and parties.
Consumer confidence is rising in the U.S., reflecting its continued modest growth. But confidence has taken a tumble in Europe, which is still struggling to achieve significant, sustainable growth.