Economy & Inflation

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

Why Restaurant Prices Keep Rising Even When Customer Traffic Is Weak

Restaurant menu prices can rise even when customer traffic is soft because food, labor, insurance and other costs remain elevated. Here’s how the economics work.

Posted by Casey Lester October 29, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

GDP Per Capita Explained: What It Measures—and What It Misses

GDP per capita divides economic output by population. Learn what the measure can tell you about economies and why it is not the same as household income or well-being.

Posted by Casey Lester October 25, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

Real GDP vs. Nominal GDP: What Inflation Changes in the Growth Numbers

Nominal GDP uses current prices; real GDP adjusts for price changes. Learn why the distinction matters when measuring economic growth.

Posted by Casey Lester October 23, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

Productivity Explained

Labor productivity measures output per hour worked. Learn why productivity matters for wages, inflation, profits, and living standards—and why one quarter should not be overinterpreted.

Posted by Casey Lester October 21, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

Core vs. Headline Inflation

Headline inflation includes the full consumer basket; core inflation excludes food and energy. Learn why economists use both and why neither measure replaces household budgeting.

Posted by Casey Lester October 18, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

Consumer Spending Explained

Consumer spending, or PCE, measures goods and services purchased by or on behalf of U.S. residents. Learn how BEA measures spending and why economists watch it.

Posted by Casey Lester October 15, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

Disinflation vs. Deflation

Disinflation means inflation is slowing while prices are still rising; deflation means the overall price level is falling. Learn why the distinction matters for households and the economy.

Posted by Casey Lester October 11, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

GDP vs. GDI: Two Ways to Measure the U.S. Economy

GDP measures economic activity from the spending and production side; GDI measures the incomes generated by that production. In theory they are equal, but real-world estimates differ.

Posted by Casey Lester October 8, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

What Causes a Recession?

Recessions are broad declines in economic activity, not simply two negative GDP quarters. Learn how the NBER dates recessions and what forces can cause downturns.

Posted by Casey Lester October 6, 2026

Posted inEconomy & Inflation

What GDP Measures

GDP measures the value of final goods and services produced within the United States. Learn the spending components, real vs. nominal GDP, revisions, and what GDP leaves out.

Posted by Casey Lester October 1, 2026