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Reports & Issue Briefs

This fact sheet provides a snapshot of the current economic state of millennials in the United States. It includes measures on the generation’s economic well-being, including key trends in homeownership, student debt, and entrepreneurship. Together, these measures help paint a portrait of millennials and their economic prospects for the future.
Most American workers have not been benefiting from the economic growth of the last several decades. Wages for the average worker have barely budged in almost four decades, meanwhile wages for the highest earners have grown substantially, according to new research from nonpartisan organizations.
Although the U.S. economy overall continues its expansion following the Great Recession and associated financial crisis, the recovery can look very different from state to state. The lion’s share of economic gains are not only concentrated at the top of the income and wealth distribution, but also in a small share of regions. While some parts of the country have surged ahead, millions of Americans in urban and rural communities are still waiting for their wages to start rising again and struggling to make ends meet.
Although the U.S. economy overall continues its expansion following the Great Recession and associated financial crisis, the recovery can look very different from state to state. The lion’s share of economic gains are not only concentrated at the top of the income and wealth distribution, but also in a small share of regions. While some parts of the country have surged ahead, millions of Americans in urban and rural communities are still waiting for their wages to start rising again and struggling to make ends meet.
The Senate will soon take up consideration of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S.2155), which leaves out key consumer reforms and would weaken important protections that ensure Americans are treated fairly in financial markets. Here are 10 ways consumers are left behind:
This fact sheet provides a snapshot of the current economic state of the black community in the United States, including employment, earnings and wealth data, among other key indicators. Together, these measures help paint a portrait of some of the challenges facing black America and its economic prospects for the future.
American workers are facing a crisis: the inability to retire with dignity after a life of hard work. After years of supporting families and contributing to society, American workers are confronting a nearly empty retirement nest egg. Half of all American families near retirement have $12,000 or less in formal retirement savings.1 Not only do far too many workers earn too little to adequately save for retirement, but many more also lack access to good retirement saving plans. Many other factors, including the 2007 financial crisis and slow wage growth, have exacerbated the problem.2
Since February 5, 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has kept millions of workers from losing their jobs, but we can do more. FMLA covers less than 60 percent of the workforce, and it only guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, which millions of Americans cannot afford to take.
The Trump administration wants better infrastructure, but doesn’t want to pay for it. Instead, the administration’s long-awaited plan is expected to shift responsibility for infrastructure onto the private sector and cash-strapped state and local governments.
The volume of commerce crossing our borders has more than tripled in the last 25 years and United States freight shipments are expected to increase by 41 percent by 2040, placing a growing demand on America’s freight rail system and the 30 rail ports of entry (POEs) along our borders. As Congress considers border policies and solutions in the coming months, investment in border infrastructure to ensure our rail POEs can operate at full capacity is an important part of the conversation.