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What Is the Current Account?

The current account is a country's trade balance, plus net income and direct payments from its government, businesses and individuals to and from their foreign counterparts. It is part of the country's balance of payments. Find out the specific components of the current account.

What Is the Financial Account?

The financial account is changes in ownership of international assets. It's an important part of the country's balance of payments. Find out the specific components of the financial account.

What Is the Capital Account?

The capital account measures non-produced, non-financial transactions, such as transfers in drilling rights. It also measures some capital transfers, such as international insurance payments. It's an important part of a country's balance of payments. Find out the specific components of the capital account.

China's Premier Wen Jiabao

As Premier of China, Wen Jiabao is one of the world's most powerful leaders. Find out more about his background, his priorities and how he affects the U.S. economy.

U.S. Department of Treasury

The US Treasury Department manages Federal Government revenue, collects taxes via the I.R.S., and oversees the public debt. It also prints money and stamps, enforces Federal finance laws and freezes the finances of terrorists. Find out what else this critical government agency does, and how it affects you and the U.S. economy.

Treasury Yields

What exactly are U.S. Treasury yields and how yields are determined. Understand the relationship between Treasury bond prices and Treasury yields. Find out how Treasury yields affect mortgage interest rates, and the U.S. housing market.

Mexico's Economy

Mexico's economy is larger than that of Canada, Spain or South Korea. It's the same size as Saudi Arabia, but exports just 25% of the oil. Mexico's economy is dependent on the U.S., which is both a help and a hindrance.

U.S. Trade Deficit by Country

Find out the U.S. trade deficit by country.

Germany's Economy

Facts about Germany's economy and GDP, the largest in Europe. Find out its impact on the EU and the U.S.

U.S. Trade Deficit with China

The US trade deficit with China is the largest in the world, and a symptom of global economic imbalance. Find out why there a deficit, and what is being done to correct it.

The U.S. Trade Deficit

The U.S. trade deficit in 2011 was just under $560 billion. It was driven by imports of oil, consumer products and automobiles. The top four trading partners are Canada, China, Mexico and Japan.

How Much Does NASA Cost

How much does NASA cost? What's the impact of the NASA budget on the U.S. economy.

FY 2013 Discretionary U.S. Federal Budget

An easy-to-understand summary of the U.S. Federal Budget's discretionary spending programs, including Defense, Education, Housing and Urban Development, State Department, Health and Human Services and NASA. How it affects the U.S. Economy.

FY 2012 U.S. Federal Budget

An easy-to-understand summary of the U.S. Government's Federal budget for FY 2012. Includes income and taxes, as well as spending highlights. This includes discretionary, including military spending, and mandatory, including Social Security, Medicare and Economic Stimulus spending. Discusses the budget deficit and impact on economic growth.

Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index

The Personal Consumption Price Index (PCE Index) measures the price changes of what U.S. households buy each month. Find out how this measure of inflation is different from the Consumer Price Index (CPI), why it's usually lower, and why the core PCI is preferred by the Federal Reserve to measure underlying inflation trends.

Iceland Goes Bankrupt - Is the U.S. Next?

The financial crisis in Iceland in 2008 led to its bankruptcy. Find out why the same could not happen in the U.S.

Real GDP

What is real GDP? Find out the difference between real and nominal GDP. Learn how to calculate real GDP.

Unemployment Rate

Explains what the national unemployment rate is, why it is important, and how it affects the U.S. economy. Explains how the unemployment rate affects you.

What Is GDP?

Defines GDP and describes how Gross Domestic Product acts as the most important economic indicator of the US economy. Most important, explains how GDP affects you.

A Primer on Interest Rates and How They Are Determined

Basic primer on interest rates, including Fed funds rate, Treasury Bonds, mortgage interest rates and the rates on revolving and non-revolving interest rates. Explains how different interest rates are determined. Discusses future interest rate trends, and the impact of an inverted yield curve.