Commentary

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 5 hours ago

Black unemployment is rising at the fastest clip since 2020. At 7.5%, it’s once again twice the rate for White Americans, erasing the progress made in narrowing the gap over the last three years. https://buff.ly/JpKJ8Sm

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 7 hours ago

Wealthy consumers account for a growing share of US spending, highlighting the lopsided strength of the economy. Consumers in the top 10% income distribution accounted for 49.2% of total spending in the second quarter, up from 48.5% in the first, according to Moody’s. That’s the highest level in figures going back to 1989. https://buff.ly/bAVAKbM

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 7 hours ago

U.S. retail and food services sales for August 2025 were $732.0 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent (+/-0.4 percent) from the previous month. August 2025: +0.6 % Change July 2025 (r): +0.6 % Change

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 10 hours ago

Many international travelers say they're put off by tariffs, the Trump administration's anti-foreigner rhetoric and aggressive immigration enforcement, leading to a tourism slump that's dragging on local economies. https://buff.ly/vBvammS

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 12 hours ago

U.S. total business end-of-month inventories for July 2025 were $2,666.7 billion, up 0.2 percent (+/- 0.1 percent) from last month. U.S. total business sales were $1,948.2 billion, up 1.0 percent (+/- 0.2 percent) from last month. July 2025: +0.2 % Change in Inventories June 2025 (r): +0.2 % Change in Inventories

WWU Center for Economic and Business Research️ 14 hours ago

US faces shortfall of 5.3M college-educated workers by 2032. Nursing, teaching and engineering would experience the largest gaps, per a study from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. https://buff.ly/2f8cCu2