The U.S. labor force participation rate dropped sharply in the first half of 2026. Except for 2021-22, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the labor market, June's rate reached its lowest level since 1976. What factors drove this decline? https://bit.ly/4pX9HzX #EconSky

As of July 31, the daily trade-weighted U.S. dollar index was measuring 112.9 (January 2006=100). See this index and more data from the @federalreserve Foreign Exchange Rates - H.10 release in FRED: https://bit.ly/4w8q3XV #EconSky

Analysis: “Disconnected” young adults who aren't working or in school are more likely to spend time on caregiving responsibilities and household activities than their peers - https://bit.ly/3SWkVIF

More than three-quarters of the country’s agricultural loans are held by U.S. community banks: https://bit.ly/3S6iLWC

The word “disconnected” suggests withdrawn or inactive. But the American Time Use Survey offers a more nuanced story of how disconnected young adults—18- to 24-year-olds who are neither employed nor enrolled in school—spend their time https://bit.ly/3RH1zGX #EconSky

When executives discuss productivity on earnings calls, AI is increasingly top of mind. How bullish are U.S. firms on AI's expected impact? https://bit.ly/4h3dqti #EconSky

From Texas light sweet crude oil, to kerosene, to jet fuel, to airfares: Check the FRED Blog’s step-by-step discussion of airlines’ cost pass-through since the U.S.-Iran conflict began https://bit.ly/4fwO4mp #EconSky

What are CEOs at U.S. companies telling investors about the expected productivity gains from AI? A new analysis of approximately 490,000 earnings call transcripts from nearly 5,200 publicly traded firms examines this question: https://bit.ly/3TLJ8S8 #EconSky

U.S. commercial paper outstanding grew to $1.4 trillion in the week ending July 29, an increase of $5.54 billion from a week earlier, per @federalreserve data. Commercial paper comprises short-term, promissory notes issued mostly by corporations https://bit.ly/4hrt4iv #EconSky

The Employment Cost Index — a broad measure of U.S. labor costs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — rose 0.9% (seasonally adjusted) in the second quarter of 2026. For the 12 months ending June 2026, the overall index was up 3.4% (not seasonally adjusted) https://bit.ly/4fBxpNa #EconSky

The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased at an annual rate of 3.7% from a year ago in June, down from May's 4.1%. Excluding food and energy costs, the “core PCE” price level dipped to 3.3% on an annual basis https://bit.ly/4fR6rSa #EconSky

How are young adults who aren't working or in school spending their time? A new analysis uses survey data to explore this question https://bit.ly/4wJ2CF7 #EconSky

How are AI’s productivity effects being discussed in C-suites across the U.S.? A new analysis frames an answer using executives’ own words https://bit.ly/45yqNus #EconSky

In the week ending July 25, seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits—those filed for the first time after a job loss—increased by 9,000, to 197,000. The four-week moving average declined for the fifth week in a row, by 5,000 to 202,750 https://bit.ly/4wAlyqa #EconSky

In September 1996, data analysts thought labor productivity growth averaged just 0.9% from 1989 to 1995. In February 2000, data revisions raised it to 1.4%. With more revisions, it currently stands at 1.5%. Visit the FRED Blog for the full story https://bit.ly/4vX976H #EconSky

The nation’s personal saving rate dipped to 2.7% in June, down from May’s 2.8%. The personal saving rate is the percentage of people’s disposable income they save instead of spend, per the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. For more, see FRED: https://bit.ly/4x6En3V #EconSky

Average fixed mortgage rates ticked up in the week ending July 30, to 6.7% for the 30-year and 6.0% for the 15-year https://bit.ly/44UOgpB #EconSky

Advance estimate from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026 https://bit.ly/4xhBFsJ #EconSky

The Bill of Rights was established in 1791. That’s the same year of the oldest U.S. data in FRED. Visit the FRED Blog for the latest details on the oldest data https://bit.ly/4yPnf4o #EconSky

Do you spend gift money more freely than your paycheck? Mental accounting is likely the reason. Explore this phenomenon and how it shapes our financial decisions https://bit.ly/4a3ZLhq #EconSky

Weekly spot prices for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude oil rose to $88.58 and $96.12 per barrel, respectively, in the week ending July 24. For more, see FRED: https://bit.ly/4ftpQJV #EconSky

St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index fell to -0.83 in the week ending July 24 from the prior week's -0.70. (0=normal financial market conditions, with a value below 0 suggesting below-average stress.) https://bit.ly/4fCbeIh #EconSky

The St. Louis Fed serves the Eighth Federal Reserve District. Our Regional Economy hub offers data and analysis for this vibrant area of the U.S. https://bit.ly/4fCgCtz #EconSky

In May, U.S. home prices as measured by the S&P/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index rose a seasonally adjusted 1.1% year over year, up from 0.9% in April. The 20- and 10-city composite indexes posted 1.6% and 2.4% annual gains, respectively https://bit.ly/4pIY2oj #EconSky

In the week ending July 27, average U.S. diesel prices per gallon increased by 18 cents, to $5.31. Average gas prices per gallon rose by 10 cents, to $4.10 https://bit.ly/4yZJWDg #EconSky

NEW: FRED has added 137 data series about the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the U.S. https://bit.ly/3To0fcH #EconSky

As of July 24, the daily trade-weighted U.S. dollar index was measuring 114.1 (January 2006=100). See this index and more data from the @federalreserve Foreign Exchange Rates - H.10 release in FRED: https://bit.ly/4yGvEHg #EconSky

In the 1990s, software, personal computers and the internet were expected to raise labor productivity, but the data didn’t show much growth. At least not at first. Read the story and track the data at the FRED Blog https://bit.ly/4vX976H #EconSky

How can agricultural employment predict the point of economic takeoff? https://bit.ly/4fWe0rD #EconSky

Commercial and industrial loans at all U.S. commercial banks increased $14.0 billion in the week ending July 15, to $2.89 trillion https://bit.ly/4fDFDEL #EconSky