With short-term certificates of deposit (CDs) yielding practically nothing, a troubled junk bond market, and fluctuating stock prices, appealing long-term investment opportunities are scarce. It has become extremely difficult to find large companies with…
The deadline for filing income tax returns is less than a few weeks away. In addition to income taxes, Americans pay property and general sales taxes as well, which also account for a significant…
Within the nation’s robust and diverse economy, each state stands out in certain trades and industries. Texas has established itself as the country’s largest oil producer, California the largest agricultural producer, and Georgia one…
In many countries, politicians frequently make more than the average citizen. This is especially true of countries’ leaders. While the size of a president’s or prime minister’s paycheck varies considerably between countries, world leaders…
An enormous amount of time and money is spent keeping Americans healthy. Governments at all levels and individuals invest many resources on anything from medical expenses to the costs of insurance, health research, nutritional…
Over half of all taxes collected by the IRS — $3.1 trillion in fiscal 2014 — comes from income taxes. Like the federal government, state and local governments also rely heavily on income taxes.…
The U.S. housing market has been in steady recovery since the housing crisis, and increasing numbers of investors are trying their hand at home flipping: the purchase, renovation, and subsequent sale of a property…
Coming up this weekend is Selection Sunday, when the NCAA selection committee will choose which teams are worthy of playing in the Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament — also known as March Madness. While…
The technology and health sectors are two of the most vibrant, highly innovative, and ultra competitive industries in the U.S. economy. To maintain relevance, companies in these industries require highly skilled and often highly…
As U.S. employment continues to improve in the years after the recession, Americans are more likely to have disposable income to spend on clothes and goods. Retail sales in the United States rose for…
The U.S. unemployment rate hit 4.8% in December, down from 5.4% the year before. Job market improvements across the country point to a broad recovery from the Great Recession. The recovery, however, is anything…
A typical American born today can expect to live 78.8 years. While the U.S. life expectancy is better than in many parts of the world, it is three to five years shorter than the…
America’s well-being remains generally unchanged from 2014. Some significant changes, however, have occurred over the past eight years. Nearly across the board, Americans are more likely to have health insurance, exercise more, and are…
The U.S. job market is expected to grow by about 7% over the next decade. At that rate, roughly 10 million more Americans will be employed by 2024. However, these new jobs are not likely…
The Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina nomination contests provided a snapshot of voter sentiment in four distinct geographic pockets of the country. Now, the battle moves on to the 12 states that…
