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Economy content
The Rising Returns to R&D: Ideas Are Not Getting...
Despite concerns that “ideas are getting harder to find,” this paper finds that R&D has actually become more productive over the last four decades. Using U.S. Census data from 1976…
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Impact Investing and Worker Outcomes
This paper investigates how impact investing—where private capital pursues social goals alongside profits—affects worker outcomes. Using extensive U.S. Census data, it finds that firms backed by impact investors are more…
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Women’s History Month: 2025 Women-Owned Employer...
In celebration of Women’s History Month 2025, new data highlights the vital role of women-owned businesses in the U.S. economy. Out of 5.9 million employer businesses nationwide, 1.3 million are…
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Measure the Unmeasurable: Demonstrating the...
Quantifying the value of science infrastructure is no easy task, but it’s essential for shaping smart investments. RTI’s work with neutron scattering facilities showcases how federal research infrastructure fuels innovation…
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Gross Domestic Product (Second Estimate),...
The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 1.3% in the first quarter of 2025, according to the second estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This marks a…
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Executive Order 14267: Reducing Anti-Competitive...
The President has launched a sweeping directive to eliminate federal regulations that stifle competition and entrench monopolies. Executive Order 14267 mandates a comprehensive agency review to identify rules that block…
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Executive Order 14255: Establishing the United...
Executive Order 14255 establishes the United States Investment Accelerator to streamline large-scale investment—domestic and foreign—by cutting through regulatory red tape. Housed within the Department of Commerce, the Accelerator will support…
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The State Hamilton Index: Most States Underperform...
The 2025 State Hamilton Index reveals that most U.S. states are underperforming in advanced industries such as biotech, electronics, and aerospace, with only four states—Washington, Virginia, Indiana, and Michigan—outpacing the…
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Commuter Rail: Most Systems Struggling to Recover...
Nearly five years after the pandemic began, most U.S. commuter rail systems are still struggling to regain pre-COVID ridership levels, despite restoring or exceeding service levels. While some systems have…
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Congressional Budget Justification: Department of...
The FY 2025 Congressional Budget Justification for the Department of State and USAID outlines a $58.8 billion request to advance diplomacy, development, and national security efforts worldwide. Key priorities include…
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Gross Domestic Product: 1st Quarter 2025
In the first quarter of 2025, real U.S. GDP declined by 0.3%, reversing the 2.4% growth from the previous quarter. This contraction was mainly due to a sharp rise in…
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The Use of Real Time Spending Sources for Economic...
This study from the Bureau of Economic Analysis explores the potential of using credit and debit card transaction data to improve real-time consumer spending estimates. By integrating multiple commercial datasets,…
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Commerce Launches Section 232 Investigation on...
The Department of Commerce has launched a Section 232 investigation into how imports of processed critical minerals and their derivatives impact U.S. national security. With China currently dominating global processing…
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Economy Slowed in 4Q: 2024 Despite Strong Consumer...
Despite resilient consumer spending and record-high household net worth, the U.S. economy showed signs of cooling in the final quarter of 2024. Real GDP growth slowed to 2.3%, down from…
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Quarterly Report on Bank Trading and Derivatives...
This report provides a comprehensive overview of U.S. banks’ trading and derivatives activity for the fourth quarter of 2024. It highlights a 10.6% decline in trading revenue from the prior…
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