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.
Nation Apr 01 America’s Safety Net “America’s Safety Net,” a series from the PBS NewsHour, is focused on the complex web of programs meant to help Americans in need. View the series here.
Nation Mar 11 How a complicated benefits system lets some fall through the safety net Amid many of the debates around entitlements and benefits, one thing is often lost to the public: Many people who qualify for help struggle to get and keep their benefits because it can be difficult to navigate the system. Economics…
Economy Mar 08 Why many Americans feel unhappy about the economy despite indicators of improvement Friday’s latest jobs report is proof again of a labor market that has been resilient and often stronger than expected. But according to numerous polls, many Americans don’t feel the economy is strong overall or helping them or their families.
Nation Dec 21 The historic struggle between workers and the technology that could put them out of a job The last year has seen headlines of hope and outright fear around the rapid development of artificial intelligence. It creates questions about whether the innovations can lead to broad gains for everyone or just a select few. Economics correspondent Paul…