Economic Conditions

As concern about federal spending rises among both Democrats and Republicans, here's a primer on the national debt of the United States.

Americans now see reducing the budget deficit as a higher priority for the president and Congress to address than in recent years. But strengthening the economy continues to be the public’s top policy priority.

Additionally, about half of lower-income parents (52%) say they have not had enough money for food or their rent or mortgage.

As Election Day approaches, here’s a look at voters’ issue priorities, based mainly on a Pew Research Center survey conducted Oct. 10-16.

While the economy remains the dominant issue in this fall’s midterm elections, the issue of abortion has increased markedly in importance. More voters continue to view their midterm vote as an expression of opposition to Joe Biden than support for him. But across both parties, more voters now say Biden is not much of a factor in their vote.

Joe Biden’s political standing is at the lowest point of his presidency. Yet Biden is hardly the only focal point of the public’s political discontent: Americans express unfavorable views of both major parties and a range of leading Republican and Democratic political figures, including Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump.

Last summer, businesses trying to come back from the COVID-19 pandemic hired nearly a million more teens than in the summer of 2020.

In nearly all of the 44 advanced economies we analyzed, consumer prices have risen substantially since pre-pandemic times.

Seven-in-ten Americans view inflation as a very big problem for the country, followed by the affordability of health care and violent crime.

Nearly one-in-five middle-income families report receiving unemployment benefits in 2020.