Short Reads

Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

Gasoline costs more these days, but price spikes have a long history and happen for a host of reasons

Americans are acutely sensitive to gasoline prices, especially when they’re on the rise. But looking just at the recent rise can be misleading.

Republicans continue to see a national political climate more comfortable for Democrats than for GOP

When Republicans take stock of the national climate for political discourse, they see a much more hospitable environment for Democrats.

Younger U.S. adults less likely to see big differences between the parties or to feel well represented by them

Nearly six-in-ten U.S. adults (59%) see a great deal of difference between the two major political parties, up from 55% just two years ago.

U.S. public divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much or too little time in prison

Americans are closely divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much, too little or about the right amount of time in prison.

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Latest Short Reads

America’s public school teachers are far less racially and ethnically diverse than their students

Racial and ethnic minorities accounted for 20% of all public elementary and secondary school teachers in the United States during the 2015-16 school year. That makes teachers considerably less racially and ethnically diverse than their students – as well as the nation as a whole.

Gasoline costs more these days, but price spikes have a long history and happen for a host of reasons

Americans are acutely sensitive to gasoline prices, especially when they’re on the rise. But looking just at the recent rise can be misleading.

Republicans continue to see a national political climate more comfortable for Democrats than for GOP

When Republicans take stock of the national climate for political discourse, they see a much more hospitable environment for Democrats.

Q&A: How Pew Research Center studied gig workers in the U.S.

A recent Center survey focused on gig platform work. Here is more information about how we crafted the survey and what we learned from it.

African immigrants in U.S. more religious than other Black Americans, and more likely to be Catholic

Immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa tend to be more religious than U.S.-born Black adults or immigrants from the Caribbean.

Younger U.S. adults less likely to see big differences between the parties or to feel well represented by them

Nearly six-in-ten U.S. adults (59%) see a great deal of difference between the two major political parties, up from 55% just two years ago.

U.S. public divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much or too little time in prison

Americans are closely divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much, too little or about the right amount of time in prison.

Amid pandemic, international student enrollment at U.S. universities fell 15% in the 2020-21 school year

Fewer than 1 million foreign students enrolled for either online or in-person classes at U.S. universities in the 2020-21 school year.

Inflation has risen around the world, but the U.S. has seen one of the biggest increases

Third-quarter 2021 inflation was higher in nearly all (39) of the 46 nations analyzed than in the pre-pandemic third quarter of 2019.

Republicans and Democrats alike say it’s stressful to talk politics with people who disagree

The share of Americans who say having political conversations with those they disagree with is “stressful and frustrating” has increased.

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Latest Short Reads