Drew DeSilver

New economic figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development showed an increase in public spending among developed countries during the global financial crisis, but a survey of European nations indicated publics were now looking to ratchet it down.

Participation in the federal food stamp program soared following the 2008-09 financial crisis. Our chart of the week, from the Wall Street Journal, shows how the participation rate differed by state.

Although China's trade ties with and economic influence on its Asian and Pacific Rim neighbors are greater than ever, that's doesn't automatically translate into warmer feelings toward the People's Republic among publics in the region.

About eight-in-ten Americans think rising prices are a "very" or "moderately" big problem.

August is prime season for buying back-to-school gear. But how much all that shopping adds to the economy is unclear.

As back-to-school time approaches, statistics show that projected enrollment is on the rise again after slipping a bit in recent years.

In the 2000s, poverty rose more in Republican congressional districts than in Democratic districts, though it's still more prevalent in Democratic districts.

High on Congress’ long to-do list is deciding what to do about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two giant government-run companies that dominate the nation’s mortgage market (together they accounted for 78% of all mortgage-backed securities issued in the first quarter of this year). Which is another way of saying, Congress has to decide […]

Unemployment continues to be lower among whites than other groups, but job growth is slower compared with blacks and Hispanics -- one reason, perhaps, why whites are the most pessimistic about the economy.

The first read on each quarter's GDP growth is eagerly anticipated by economists, forecasters and pundits of all stripes. But those numbers are almost certain to be revised; their true value lies in what they say about the U.S. economy's overall direction.