Economists long have thought that the economy is at “full employment” at a rate of around five percent. Below that, employers would be forced to pay higher wages to attract and retain workers, which in turn would compel them to raise prices, sparking inflation. The theoretical trade-off between unemployment and inflation is what is known as the Phillips Curve.
However, while the current unemployment rate is extremely low at 3.6 percent, inflation remains below the Federal Reserve’s two percent target. Wages have risen, but below expectations. For this reason, some suggest that the Phillips Curve no longer applies.
Nov 08 2019
Economic Update — November 8, 2019
Nov 01 2019
Economic Update — November 1, 2019
Nov 01 2019
Non-Farm Payrolls
Oct 25 2019
Economic Update — October 25, 2019
Oct 23 2019
State Economic Snapshots – October
Oct 21 2019
Guns and Suicide
The problem is getting worse. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the age-adjusted rate of suicide in the United States rose by about 30 percent in the last two decades, with increases for almost every age group. The suicide rate has increased every year for the past decade.