FISCAL BLOG

Despite lawmakers’ claims, analysts anticipate that a large portion of the spending called for by the infrastructure package will need to be deficit financed.

With our economy in recovery, the national debt rising unsustainably, the country still grappling with a devastating pandemic, and lawmakers pursing significant new legislation, America faces many critical questions for its future. To shed light on the best way forward, two top economists participated in a panel discussion as part of the latest edition of the Peterson Foundation Economic Forum.

Average income among households in the lowest fifth of the income distribution was $21,000, while income for households in the highest fifth averaged $291,000.

There were 531,000 jobs added in October, as the unemployment rate declined for the fourth consecutive month. However, the unemployment rate remains high, especially for non-white workers. Get the facts here.

The economy continued to grow in the third quarter of 2021, but at a slightly slower pace than previous quarters due to the delta variant of COVID-19.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, is a key piece of the social safety net and is aiding in the economy recovery process due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sharp rise in student debt has sparked debate among policymakers on whether, and how, to address it.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate are discussing a range of policies under what’s known as reconciliation. To their credit, they have pledged to offset the cost of the legislation, so that the bill won’t add to the country’s already unsustainable debt and deficits.

Several federal programs that are governed by trust funds are facing serious funding shortfalls. As a result, such trust funds, including the retirement portion of Social Security, Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Highway Trust Fund, are projected to be exhausted in the near future.

Housing insecurity is an ongoing issue for millions of American families. COVID-19 and its economic impact exacerbated an existing shortage of affordable housing that far predated the pandemic.