The economy,
in human terms.
The October CPI rose 0.4% from September, but BLS could not report many year-over-year changes because it had no October 2025 survey data. The gap changes what this month’s figures can answer.
GROWTH & THE WORKING ECONOMYNational GDP measures production across the country, while state accounts show that growth can vary by place. Neither figure directly measures a household’s wages, costs, or access to nearby work.
BEA said smaller Strategic Petroleum Reserve sales raised recorded federal consumption in the third quarter relative to the second, but had no direct net effect on GDP. This was an accounting result, not a new spending program.
Freelance design combines creative production with client development, deadlines, and business expenses. Occupational and IRS descriptions clarify those pressures without showing that every freelancer faces the same demand or tax situation.
Clear explanations for an economy that rarely feels simple.
Explore the explainers ↗The spending decisions that shape everyday life.
Small firms, investment, and the people building businesses.
How economic change reaches families and communities.
The work behind art, design, culture, and local renewal.
