Data studies
Money & markets, by the numbers
Original reference studies built on primary data — long histories, interactive charts, and the full tables, free to read and share for non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0 with credit. Updated as new data lands.
- Mortgage rates 6.95%30-yr fixed today
Historical Mortgage Rates, 1971–Today
Every year of US fixed mortgage rates — the 30-yr and 15-yr averages, the 18.63% all-time high and 2.65% record low, with an interactive chart by year and decade.
Read the study → - Inflation 2.95%inflation in 2024
Historical US Inflation Rate, 1960–Today
Annual US inflation, year by year — the 13.55% peak of 1980, the rare -0.36% deflation of 2009, what your money is worth over time, and a page for every notable year.
Read the study → - Value of a dollar $10.61$1 from 1960, today
Value of a Dollar by Year, 1960–2024
What a dollar from every year since 1960 is worth in 2024 money, when prices doubled, and what the federal minimum wage was really worth.
Read the study → - Unemployment 4.2%unemployment, 2025
Historical US Unemployment Rate, 1991–Today
The US unemployment rate year by year — the 9.63% peak of 2010, the 3.64% low of 2023, the Misery Index, and a page for every notable year.
Read the study → - GDP $30.77TUS GDP, 2025
US GDP by Year, 1960–Today
The size and growth of the US economy year by year — from $30.77T today back to 1960, the 7.24% boom of 1984, the -2.58% contraction of 2009, and GDP per person.
Read the study → - Treasury yields 4.94%10-year yield today
US Treasury Yield Curve, 2010–Today
The government's borrowing cost from 3 months to 30 years — today's 4.94% 10-year, the great 2022–2024 inversion (deepest in four decades at -1.06), the recession signal it sends, charted by month and by year.
Read the study → - Fed interest rate 4%Fed rate today
Federal Reserve Interest Rate, 2009–Today
The Fed's benchmark month by month — from the 0.25% near-zero years to the 5.5% peak of 2023, the fastest hiking cycle in decades, a UK/Europe comparison, and a page for every key year.
Read the study → - Minimum wage $7.25federal minimum
Minimum Wage by State
Every state's minimum wage versus the federal $7.25 floor — unchanged since 2009 — with District of Columbia highest at $18.4, and a page for every state.
Read the study → - Take-home pay $1,161a month at $7.25
Living on Minimum Wage
What a full-time minimum wage job leaves after federal taxes in every state, the hours of work behind a $100 purchase, and the mortgage it supports.
Read the study → - Sales tax 5.02%average state rate
Sales Tax by State
Every state's sales-tax rate ranked, from the highest at 7.25% to the 5 states with none, plus the real combined rate in each state's biggest cities.
Read the study → - Income tax 10–37%seven brackets
2026 Tax Brackets
The IRS’s 2026 federal income tax brackets for every filing status, how the rates apply to your income, capital gains rates and a quick tax estimate.
Read the study → - Standard deduction $16,100single, 2026
Standard Deduction by Year
The 2026 standard deduction for every filing status, the extra amounts at 65, the new $6,000 senior deduction, and every year since 2018.
Read the study → - Retirement accounts $24,500401(k) limit, 2026
401(k), IRA and HSA Contribution Limits
How much you can save in 401(k)s, IRAs and HSAs in 2026 and 2027, with the catch-ups for 50+ and 60–63, and the limits by year.
Read the study → - Social Security 2.8%COLA, 2026
Social Security COLA by Year
When the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is announced, how it’s calculated, what the latest raise did to checks, and every COLA since 2001.
Read the study → - Poverty guidelines $15,9601 person, 2026
2026 Federal Poverty Level
The HHS poverty guidelines for every household size, Alaska and Hawaii, the 138%, 200% and 400% lines programs use, and a calculator.
Read the study →
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