Politics Oct 31 The potential economic impact of Trump’s mass deportation promise Immigration is a key issue of this campaign. Vice President Harris says if elected, she will pass a bipartisan bill strengthening border security. Former President Trump promises a much larger crackdown including mass deportations. Paul Solman examines the potential economic…
Education Oct 14 How colleges are reaching out to often overlooked students from rural areas Students in rural communities graduate from high school above the national average. But when it comes to applying to college or getting their degree, those students' rates of attendance and completion are well below their peers in urban and suburban…
Politics Sep 19 Economists explain hidden downfalls of ending taxes on tips Tax cuts and credits have been a popular theme during this campaign. Both candidates have also proposed several tax breaks and have not always explained how to pay for them. That's true of one idea former President Trump and Vice…
Politics Aug 13 How Trump’s wish for more Federal Reserve control could impact economy if he’s reelected Former President Donald Trump says he wants a more direct role in how the Federal Reserve sets interest rates and suggested he could break with traditional policies when it comes to the Fed’s independence. Geoff Bennett discussed what Trump could…
Nation Aug 12 A look at the Social Security funding gap and ways to fix it Seventy million Americans receive Social Security benefits. But the program is paying out more than it’s taking in. Economics Correspondent Paul Solman looks at whether or not that financing gap spells doom and what can be done.
Nation Jul 09 Tween skincare obsession fuels industry boom and raises concerns Ask many pre-teens what’s at the top of their wish list and there’s a good chance the answer will be skincare. Special correspondent and Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell reports on the growth and some of the concerns around this…
Nation Jun 17 The many ways new weight loss drugs could transform the economy Last year, Americans spent over $50 billion on weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Their popularity, and their price, are having effects throughout the economy. PBS News Hour special correspondent and Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell reports.
Nation May 17 What’s behind the historic stock market highs and how it relates to the overall economy This has been a big week for the stock market. The Dow Jones, the much broader S&P 500 and the NASDAQ all reached record highs with the Dow crossing the 40,000 threshold for the first time. The markets have rallied…
Economy May 15 Inflation cools but rising prices still dominate Americans’ view of economy Inflation cooled somewhat in April, according to new numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The consumer price index rose at an annual rate of 3.4 percent, in line with expectations. But overall, inflation hasn't yet come down quite to…
Nation Apr 18 The benefits of a 4-day workweek, according to employers Nearly one-third of large U.S. firms are exploring new schedules like the four-day workweek. Economics correspondent Paul Solman takes a look at what happened at some companies that tried out a four-day, 32-hour week at the same pay.