The data casualties of the federal government shutdown
The government shutdown has squeezed the daily flood of data from federal agencies down to a trickle. Take a look at what data are and are not available.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Key global views about issues and leaders in the spotlight at the 2018 G20 summit
The global economic mood has improved in recent years, yet pessimism remains. Global publics are accepting of trade yet skeptical of its benefits.
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The real value of a $15 minimum wage depends on where you live
Although most Americans back a higher minimum wage, wide disparities in local living costs make finding an appropriate rate difficult.
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Americans, Like Many in Other Advanced Economies, Not Convinced of Trade’s Benefits
People in advanced and emerging economies generally agree that growing trade and business ties with other nations are good for their country, but fewer are convinced such ties lead to more jobs, higher wages or lower prices at home.
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Americans are generally positive about free trade agreements, more critical of tariff increases
Americans’ views of free trade agreements, which turned more negative during the 2016 campaign, are now about as positive as they were prior to the campaign.
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U.S. trade deficits with other countries can vary significantly, depending on how they’re measured
The United States runs a far larger merchandise trade deficit with China than with any other nation. But when the trade deficit is measured in other ways, the U.S. actually has a larger imbalance with countries outside of China.
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Despite talk of ‘trade war’ with China, highest U.S. tariffs are on imports from other Asian countries
The highest U.S. tariffs aren’t on imports from its biggest trading partners, but on products from several developing South Asian nations whose exports are heavily weighted toward clothing, footwear and other products that the U.S. generally taxes highly.
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U.S. tariffs vary a lot, but the highest duties tend to be on imported clothing
Average tariff rates, while useful for comparison, can obscure the wide range of rates imposed on different classes of imports and on specific products.
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U.S. tariffs are among the lowest in the world – and in the nation’s history
The Trump administration’s plans to impose $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports, as well as tariffs recently placed on imported steel and aluminum and on imports of solar panels and washing machines, mark a distinct break from decades of U.S. trade policy, which long has generally favored lower tariffs and fewer restrictions on the movement of goods and services across international borders.
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Remittances from abroad are major economic assets for some developing countries
For five countries – Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Haiti, Tajikistan and Liberia – remittances from citizens abroad are equivalent to at least a quarter of GDP.
