
U.S. Economy
The U.S. economy is one of the most important aspects of American society. Not only does it affect citizens on a daily basis, but it is also a pivotal element in determining U.S. politics and government. This guide serves as a brief outline of the U.S. economy, beginning with the basic history of economic policy and then covering present-day federal economic organizations, private economic think tanks, sources for economic news and economic indicators.
History of Economic Thought
To understand current economic policies and economic news, take a look at the history of economic ... read more »
Government Economic Organizations
The inner workings of U.S. government organizations provide insight into the basic principles of ... read more »
Economic Think Tanks
Think tanks unaffiliated with the government can serve as good sources of nonpartisan economic ... read more »
News About the Economy
These sources offer the most readable, immediate economic news. If you want to find out what ... read more »
Economic Indicators
Economic indicators measure the economy based on how it is projected to perform. As a result, they reflect how the economy is perceived at any given point and are a great source of straight data.
Dulcinea's Insight
- For a concise definition of economic indicators and other economic terms, visit Investopedia, an online encyclopedia of financial terms and information.
- Economists at the Federal Trade Commission frequently present lectures detailing the state of the U.S. economy. Click on the title of any presentation that interests you for full PDF texts of these reports.
- Staying abreast of global economic developments is also important. More often than not, the international economy influences American markets. Track international indicators using, or refer to the Financial Times, suggested in the previous section.
Dulcinea's Picks
The U.S. Census Bureau
publishes Economic Indicators, a look at elements of the U.S. economy. Review economic issues from the 1950s onward to see how the current economic state compares. Find discussions of issues such as “Housing Vacancies and Homeownership” and “Quarterly Financial Report-Retail Trade.” Download charts, PDFs and spreadsheets detailing the figures within each topic.
The White House
Web site hosts the “Economic Statistics Briefing Room,” which offers “access to current Federal economic indicators.” Choose any of the hyperlinked issues on the homepage for charts detailing the economic change (growth or loss) of major issues month by month.
GPO Access (the U. S. Government Printing Office)
allows you to search a wide range of economic indicators, dating back to 1995. Select the issue that interests you from the main search box, or browse by year or month. Reports are downloadable as plain text or PDF files.