How the Unemployment Rate Is Measured

The unemployment rate is a key indicator of the health of a country’s labor market. It describes the underutilization of a nation’s workforce and helps to set monetary policy, guide government spending, and inform investors about the future of the economy.

But there are several different ways to measure joblessness. The official statistics, known as U-3, focus on out-of-work Americans who have actively looked for jobs in the past four weeks. The more comprehensive statistic, U-5, adds to that by including discouraged workers, who have stopped looking because they believe no work is available for them. Another measure, U-6, adds people who are employed part time but would prefer full-time work to the mix.

In addition, individual countries may define who is out of the workforce differently. For example, in some European countries, individuals who choose not to work due to childcare responsibilities or illness are not counted as unemployed. In the United States, individuals who have dropped out of school are not considered unemployed.

Despite these complications, there is one statistic that cuts through all of this confusion and provides an accurate picture of joblessness: the comprehensive jobless rate. This metric, which EPI is introducing in this article, incorporates all of the official statistics to provide a clear and comprehensive measure of joblessness. It is also more comparable to the unemployment rates of other countries, making it a useful benchmark for international comparisons. This more complete picture of joblessness also allows us to see that the current economy is not nearly as bleak as many pundits have warned, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

World News

World news is news that is not specific to a particular country or area. The term is usually applied to international news, although in journalism, it may refer to any news that does not involve direct involvement of the nation’s government or institutions.

Often, the tabloids’ stories are lighthearted or even humorous. For example, one story from the Weekly World News stated that an alien named P’Lod had been known to fraternize with many prominent female politicians, and another alleged that the creature had stolen the Presidential race car of Hillary Clinton. The paper also frequently reported on strange cryptids, including real-life catwomen, Bigfoot, frog babies, and half-alligator half-human hybrids.

When the newspaper has correspondents based abroad, the reporters file stories to their home offices via wire services (originally called news agencies or newswires). These organizations also provide other media outlets with hard news and feature articles on a bulk basis. In the United States, major news agencies also provide their content to television stations through the use of satellite technology.

The ABC news program World News Now is an overnight news program that mixes general and offbeat news with occasional features such as an accordion-playing anchor for the World News Polka or video footage of dancing camels to signify “Hump Day.” When a regular anchor leaves, a ceremony is sometimes held during the last broadcast, with cardboard cutouts of the former anchor being placed in the studio rafters. Occasionally, viewers’ e-mails are read on the air and the anchors respond humorously to them.

What Is a Special Report?

A special report is a type of financial statement that deviates from the standard format of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Special reporting helps meet information needs while maintaining professional standards and clarity. Examples of special reports include a customized report on the utilization of grant funding, or a financial presentation prepared to comply with contractual agreements or regulatory provisions.

A research report is a written document that presents the results and findings of a systematic investigation. Depending on the target audience, a research report can be either popular or technical in nature. Ideally, it should be easy to read and understand even for those without prior knowledge of the field in question. It is also expected to exclude irrelevant information and use only relevant jargons and terminologies.

In the introduction section of a research report, the researcher outlines the purpose and aims of the systematic investigation. It also highlights existing research knowledge that is relevant to the study as well as areas of inquiry that remain to be explored.

Special Report is an American political commentary show hosted by Bret Baier and previously by Brit Hume until his retirement in December 2008. The show broadcasts from CNN’s New York City studios, and on occasion, from the network’s Washington D.C. studios when breaking news events occur. During the show, tickers and graphics are modified to emphasize breaking news stories. In addition to covering politics in the United States, Special Report has covered a wide variety of international events as they unfold.

Startup Funding

Startup funding is the capital used to establish a company and fuel growth. A startup can raise funds in a number of ways, including product presales, strategic partnerships, and crowdfunding.

To secure startup funding, entrepreneurs need to craft a clear business plan that outlines goals and objectives, as well as potential pitfalls and obstacles. It’s also important to create a budget that includes key financial metrics, such as income and expenses, cash flow, and emergency funds. Aligning the budget with the business plan ensures that the startup is using resources effectively and demonstrating financial responsibility to investors.

Investors typically provide startup funding in exchange for a percentage of the company’s equity. Venture capitalists, angel investors, and private equity firms are common sources of startup funding.

Startup financing is also available through loan options, such as traditional bank loans and lines of credit. These loans are often structured as a fixed-term with a set interest rate and repayment schedule. These options are often best for startups that need immediate access to capital and don’t want to dilute ownership.

Unexpected financial hurdles can throw off a startup’s trajectory and shorten its runway. To overcome them, a startup needs to be quick and adaptable. This might mean slashing costs, seeking out short-term financing, or shifting the business model to meet changing market demands. It’s also helpful to have a backup plan, such as an emergency fund or credit card, in case of a sudden drop in revenue.

How to Write a News Feature

A news feature combines a hard news article with softer, more magazine-style writing. The result is an article that educates and entertains, while also providing a human touch to hard-hitting issues. It may focus on a person, such as an author, singer or entrepreneur; a group of people; a location, such as a particular town; or a topic, such as homelessness, crime, poverty or injustice. A news feature can also be a spot piece, focusing on a particular aspect of the bigger story; or it can be seasonal or a lifestyle piece (think cooking, fashion and leisure).

A good news feature is well researched. It should include as many facts as possible. For example, if it claims there is a meth epidemic in a town, the article should provide arrest statistics from police and treatment numbers from hospitals and drug counselors. It is also helpful to give a larger-scale perspective, such as how many towns are experiencing the same problem.

If the topic is a personal or business matter, it can be helpful to have the subject read the piece before publication. This allows the subject to review it and ensure that names are spelled correctly and that the information is accurate.

It is important to check for grammatical errors and to use editing tools like Grammarly or Hemingwayapp. It is also a good idea to have the article reviewed by an editor.

How the Real Estate Market Works

The real estate market is a complex network of people and businesses that trade properties, including homes, offices, and industrial sites. The market is influenced by several factors, including economic conditions and interest rates. It’s important for real estate professionals to understand how the market works to make informed decisions about purchasing or selling property.

Real estate is immobile, meaning that once it’s built on, it’s hard to move from one place to another (except for mobile housing units). As a result, real estate markets are often modelled as “stock and flow” markets, where the stock is the existing building inventory and the flow is new development.

Investors buy and sell real estate in order to generate income, such as from rent payments or rental returns. Individuals can invest in real estate by directly buying and holding property or through real estate investment trusts (REITs).

A real estate’s value and demand is influenced by the economy, interest rates, and other external factors. For example, higher interest rates reduce buyers’ buying power by increasing the cost of mortgage loans. On the other hand, lower interest rates expand demand and boost prices. In addition, legislation and government incentives, such as tax deductions or subsidies, can boost demand for a particular type of real estate. This makes it important for investors to be aware of current and past government incentives to identify changes in real estate supply and demand. As a consequence, real estate prices are subject to fluctuations, and the market is a risky investment.

Understanding Interest Rates

Interest rates are a key component of borrowing, spending and saving. They impact the broader economy by encouraging or discouraging consumer spending and business investment, as well as influencing foreign exchange rates and the profitability of savings vehicles like bank accounts and retirement funds.

The term “interest rate” refers to the percentage charged or earned on borrowed money, and it’s typically applied over a specified period, known as the loan or savings term. A higher interest rate means it will cost more to borrow, while a lower one makes it less expensive to do so.

An interest rate is calculated based on many factors, including the borrower’s creditworthiness and the overall economic climate. For example, a lender may examine a borrower’s FICO credit score and other financial documents to determine their “creditworthiness,” or the likelihood of them paying off their debt.

In addition, borrowers can find information about their specific interest rates by checking the fine print of their loan or savings agreement. Often, they are listed as APR (Annual Percentage Rate), or APY (Annual Percentage Yield) to help them compare loans and savings options. APR includes fees and charges for the loan, while APY also takes compounding into account.

In general, it’s important for individuals to understand how interest rates work, so they can make more informed financial decisions. In fact, a better understanding of interest rates can save or lose thousands — or even tens of thousands — over the lifetime of a large loan such as a mortgage.

How to Offer an Exclusive Report to a Journalist

In journalism, “exclusive report” is a term that can mean anything from the first story to an exclusive interview. It usually refers to a story that a media outlet holds off on publishing until it has shared the news with other outlets, meaning that no one else can publish it for a period of time. It’s a big deal because it means that the reporter and the news organization will be in the spotlight as being the first to break the news, earning them prestige and boosting their reputations.

However, offering an exclusive to a reporter or publication comes with its own risks as well. The most obvious is that other journalists will likely find out that you’re giving away a scoop, potentially alienating them when the other stories break. In addition, if the story is not a hugely significant development (e.g., a celebrity or businessperson’s new book), it may not be worth the exclusivity that you’re demanding.

Providing journalists with comprehensive and detailed materials for an exclusive can help streamline the reporting process and improve the likelihood of favorable coverage. This includes high-resolution images, project descriptions, and other supporting documentation that helps them understand the significance of a topic or initiative. It’s important to follow up with reporters appropriately, staying professional and courteous while demonstrating your enthusiasm for working together. Be sure to include an embargo period in your pitch, clearly communicating that the information is off the record until a specific agreement has been made so that there is no confusion about the status of a potential collaboration.

Economic Growth

economic growth

Economic growth is the increase in the value of an economy’s total output. It may be measured by a country’s gross domestic product (GDP), or in terms of a country’s per-capita GDP.

In the long run, economic growth is determined by structural factors such as technological change and factor accumulation. In the short run, a variety of causes lead to ups and downs in economic growth, called a business cycle. These ups and downs can be characterized by changes in aggregate demand. Each component of aggregate demand—consumer spending, investment, government spending, and exports—makes a contribution to economic growth. The size of that contribution is determined by its share of aggregate demand and by its growth rate. Consumer spending is the largest contributor to economic growth, with investments and government spending making smaller contributions. The growth of each of these components can vary significantly from quarter to quarter, making a single business cycle hard to define.

A key ingredient in economic growth is labor productivity. There are a number of ways to raise labor productivity. One way is to grow the labor force, which expands the number of workers in the economy. Another way is to make work more productive, for example, by improving technology. New technologies can allow workers to produce more output with the same stock of capital goods or human resources.

In addition to expanding labor and capital, fostering innovation is essential to economic growth. McKinsey research shows that promoting greater racial economic parity can help create economies and societies with more potential for economic growth.

Corporate Earnings

corporate earnings

Corporate earnings are a crucial measure of a company’s profitability and growth potential. Companies use them to reinvest in their business, pass them onto shareholders as dividend payments, or both. Over time, these surpluses help to drive economic growth and create wealth for investors.

In its simplest form, corporate earnings are top-line revenue minus company expenses. However, there are many different ways to calculate and present earnings results, which can lead to misleading conclusions. For example, one-time events like the sale of a division or asset write-downs can inflate or deflate earnings and make a company seem more profitable than it is. A better way to evaluate earnings growth is to look at adjusted earnings, which excludes these one-time gains and losses. Other important indicators include cash flow and comparable same-store sales for retail and restaurant chains.

Despite their complexity, corporate earnings are the most critical data point that public companies report on a quarterly basis. Investors, analysts and news outlets rely on them to make informed decisions about stocks. They also play a critical role in setting expectations for future economic trends.

The BEA provides corporate profit data to inform Congress, policymakers, and business and community leaders about economic trends in the United States. We publish the data to provide transparency into how American businesses are generating and using profits, as well as their capacity to meet national objectives. The data also supports analysis of the impact of federal tax and spending policies on business, investment, and productivity.