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  • report

    The American Middle Class Is Losing Ground

    After more than four decades of serving as the nation’s economic majority, the U.S. middle class is now matched in size by those in the economic tiers above and below it.

  • short reads
    56% of Americans Are High-Income

    How Americans compare with the global middle class

    On a global scale, the vast majority of Americans are either upper-middle income or high income. And many Americans who are classified as “poor” by the U.S. government would be middle income globally.

  • report

    Free Trade Agreements Seen as Good for U.S., But Concerns Persist

    As Congress considers a major new trade pact with Asia, there is broad public agreement that international free trade agreements are good for the United States. But fewer Americans express positive views of the impact of trade deals on their personal finances.

  • feature

    Family Support in Graying Societies

    America is turning gray, with the share of people ages 65 and older expected to rise more than 50% by 2050 – a trend that may burden more families. But Germany and Italy are already there, with a fifth of their population in that age range.

  • report

    The Politics of Financial Insecurity

    While the least financially secure Americans are more likely to back Democrats, that support is undercut by low political participation. Those who are financially insecure are far more likely to opt out of the political system altogether.

  • short reads

    When it comes to happiness, money matters

    The different direction of economic fortunes since the Great Recession has had a major impact on life satisfaction in countries around the world.

  • report

    The Changing Profile of Student Borrowers

    In 2012, a record 69% of the nation’s new college graduates had taken out student loans to finance their education. Graduates from more affluent families are much more likely to borrow today than 20 years ago.

  • short reads
    federal minimum wage over time

    Who makes minimum wage?

    Perhaps surprisingly, not very many people earn minimum wage, and they make up a smaller share of the workforce than they used to.

  • report

    Latino Jobs Growth Driven by U.S. Born

    For the first time in nearly two decades, immigrants do not account for the majority of Hispanic workers in the United States. And most of the job gains made by Hispanics during the economic recovery have gone to U.S.-born workers.