From stubbornly high living costs to a softer labor market, economists say these are the forces that will shape the year ahead.

Most adults (68 percent) now say economic conditions are getting worse, compared with 29 percent who think they’re improving, according to Gallup. That gap has widened since the beginning of 2025.

Discover how the economy impacts employability and explore essential skills that enhance job prospects, from technical to soft skills, for career success.

President Donald Trump says he expects to nominate a new Federal Reserve chair this month. When that happens, Trump will have run out of excuses: This will officially become his economy, for better or worse.

The economy in 2025 was filled with contradictions, as growth was healthy while hiring slowed, inflation stayed elevated and unemployment rose.

The U.S. economy chugs into the new year in stronger shape than many forecasters had expected. But Americans remain wary about the high cost of living.

The White House has been quite eager to tout that data because U.S. markets appear to be up—a fair bit. Aides often crow about new market highs. And Trump often claims that the United States is “the hottest country anywhere in the world,” and that all foreign leaders admit it.

Learn how economies are formed and grow. Discover the roles of productivity, specialization, and financial markets in driving economic development.

By some measures, China's economy is looking resilient, with strong exports and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.