As the Federal Reserve signals a pause on rate hikes amid stubborn inflation and slowing growth, families and businesses are bracing for a new reality. Our correspondents break down the forces shaping your finances in 2025.
Elena Carmichael
Chief Economics Correspondent
"The decisions made in the next 90 days will define a decade of economic possibilities. We're not in a recession — yet — but we're at a crossroads unlike any since 2008."
A historic compromise proposes clear rules for facial recognition and algorithmic accountability. Key provisions you need to understand.
Data from five states shows the strongest output in three years, fueled by a surge in battery technology investments. What's driving the boom?
Our correspondent, the only Western journalist in the region, reports on the fragile peace and the towns rebuilding their lives.
Diplomatic cables and seabed maps reveal a quiet scramble for control of the data networks that power $30 trillion in trade annually. The deep-dive context you won't find elsewhere.
Read the full analysis →Beyond the markets, the pause on cuts means mortgage renewals, car loans, and small-business credit all move. We interviewed 12 households to see the real impact.
Read the full analysis →Efficacy, side effects, and who should wait. A clear-eyed look at the peer-reviewed studies behind the headlines and the debate over the booster schedule.
Read the full analysis →Dr. Amelia Hart
Former Federal Reserve Economist
Politicians are arguing over price caps and zoning codes, but the true barrier to homeownership for the millennial generation is the yield curve. Until we address the cost of capital, a whole decade of Americans will be locked out. There's a path forward, and it's simpler than you think.
Read Full ColumnWitness the race to transplant heat-resistant coral, shot over six weeks by award-winning photographer Lian Cho.
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CFO, Meridian Capital Partners
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Senior Editor, Public Radio KXFM
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David Okafor
University Lecturer, Political Science
How a struggling awards gala became the arbiter of taste, and the controversies it survived.
Two startups and one national lab just hit major milestones. Here's who's winning the trillion-dollar prize.
A surprising historical material is being tested to replace steel in remote gas fields, and it's actually working.
A breakthrough study in Nature identifies a protein that could lead to non-opioid painkillers for millions.
From automatic registration to redistricting reform, our full breakdown of the provisions in the latest compromise.
How a newly promoted club with the smallest budget in the league is beating giants with data and grit.