Index, 1948 = 100
A wider gap = workers produce more than they are paid for
Source: 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (OPHNFB, COMPRNFB)
What changed in 1971?
On August 15, 1971, the US dollar stopped being convertible to gold. Explore the data: hover over or tap any chart, and every chart on the screen follows you to the same date.
Wages & Productivity
Workers produce more every year. Their pay used to keep up.
Index, 2017 = 100
Higher = a larger share of income goes to workers
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (PRS85006173)
Percent of gross domestic income
Higher = wages make up more of the economy's income
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis via FRED (W270RE1A156NBEA)
Index, 1979 = 100
A wider gap = growth is not reaching the typical worker
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (A939RX0Q048SBEA, LES1252881600Q)
Index, 1947 = 100 (after inflation)
A wider gap = growth is not reaching typical incomes
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis via FRED (A939RX0Q048SBEA) and U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Income Table P-2
Percent of married couples with at least one earner
Higher = more couples in that situation
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (chart published by the Tax Foundation, 2010). Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Brazilian reais, at the prices of the latest month
Higher = the minimum wage buys more
Source: 
IPEA (series GAC12_SALMINRE12): nominal minimum wage adjusted for inflation
Inequality
How income and wealth are shared across Americans.
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 1 = maximum inequality)
Higher = income is shared less equally
Source: U.S. Census Bureau via FRED (GINIALLRF, GINIALLRH)
Percent of national income, before taxes
Higher = a larger share of all income goes to the richest
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world), via Our World in Data (CC BY)
Percent of all personal wealth
Higher = the richest 1% own a larger share of all wealth
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world), via Our World in Data (CC BY)
Income after inflation, index 1973 = 100
A wider spread = incomes at the top grew faster than at the bottom
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Income Table F-1
Personal income of Black Americans as a percent of White Americans' income
Closer to 100% = a smaller gap between Black and White incomes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Income Table P-4 ("White" and "Black" until 2001; "White alone" and "Black alone" from 2002)
Percent of all personal wealth
Higher = wealth is shared less equally
Source: 
World Inequality Database (WID.world), via Our World in Data (CC BY)
Inflation & the Dollar
What a dollar buys, and how fast prices rise.
US dollars (1950 = $1.00)
Lower = each dollar buys less
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (CPIAUCSL)
Percent increase in consumer prices since 1913
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (CPIAUCNS)
Index, 1967 = 100
Higher = the same things cost more
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, based on historical statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Index, August 1971 = 100
800 = eight times the price of August 1971
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (CPIUFDSL, CUSR0000SAF113, CUSR0000SEHF01)
U.S. dollars per can
Higher = the same can costs more dollars
Source: Political Calculations, from grocery ads in U.S. newspapers and online, 1897–2023. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
British pounds (1955 = £1.00)
Lower = a pound buys less
Source: OECD via FRED (GBRCPIALLMINMEI); data through March 2025
Canadian dollars (1914 = C$1.00)
Lower = a dollar buys less
Source: 
OECD via FRED (CANCPIALLMINMEI); data through March 2025
Housing
The price of a home, in dollars and in hours of work.
US dollars
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and HUD via FRED (MSPUS)
Hours of work at the federal minimum wage
Higher = a house costs more hours of work
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, HUD and Department of Labor via FRED (ASPUS, FEDMINNFRWG)
Years of income
Higher = a house costs more years of a typical family's income
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and HUD via FRED (ASPUS) and U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Income Table F-7
Index, 1620 = 100 (adjusted for inflation)
Higher = homes or rents cost more, after inflation
Source: 
Matthijs Korevaar (data); chart by Valuabl. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Index, 2010 = 100
Higher = homes cost more (before or after inflation)
Source: Bank for International Settlements via FRED (QGBN628BIS, QGBR628BIS)
Index, 2010 = 100
Higher = homes cost more (before or after inflation)
Source: Bank for International Settlements via FRED (QCAN628BIS, QCAR628BIS)
Debt & Government
How the US government borrows, spends, regulates and votes.
US dollars (trillions)
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Historical Debt Outstanding (FiscalData)
Percent of GDP
Above 100% = the debt is larger than one year of the whole economy's output
Source: U.S. Office of Management and Budget and Federal Reserve via FRED (GFDEGDQ188S, FYGFGDQ188S)
Percent of GDP
Below zero = the government spends more than it collects
Source: U.S. Office of Management and Budget via FRED (FYFSGDA188S)
Percent of GDP
When spending is above revenue, the gap is the deficit
Source: U.S. Office of Management and Budget via FRED (FYFRGDA188S, FYONGDA188S)
Total pages
Higher = more federal rules in force
Source: George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center, based on the Office of the Federal Register
Per two-year Congress
Higher = more attempts to end filibusters
Source: U.S. Senate, Cloture Motions
DW-NOMINATE score (positive = more conservative, negative = more liberal)
Further from zero = the party is further from the center
Source: Voteview (Lewis, Poole, Rosenthal and others), UCLA
Billions of US dollars (constant 2024 dollars)
Higher = more aid given in total since 1960
Source: Stephen Semler, based on USAID, the Congressional Research Service, P.L. 118-47 and P.L. 118-50. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
% of people naming each topic
Higher = more people name this as the country's top problem
Source: Gallup polls, smoothed lines from an academic study. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Coleman-Liau index (approximate school grade level)
Higher = longer words and sentences, harder to read
Source: Kansas State University, analysis of political speeches. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Percent of GDP
Higher = debt is large compared with the size of the economy
Source: Bank of England, “A millennium of macroeconomic data” (consolidated UK national debt, 1700–2016); IMF via FRED (GGGDTAGBA188N, 1980–2024). The two series measure debt differently
Gold, Currencies & Crises
Gold reserves, currency crashes and financial crises around the world.
Thousand metric tons
Higher = more gold held by the government
Source: World Gold Council (chart published by DollarDaze.org). Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Percent of countries in the sample (up to 70 countries)
Higher = more countries in crisis at the same time
Source: Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, Global Crises Data (Harvard Business School)
Number of countries (out of 70)
Higher = more countries with a banking crisis in that year
Source: Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, Global Crises Data (Harvard Business School)
Billions of U.S. dollars
Lines = dollars held abroad; gold = value of U.S. gold at the official price
Source: Federal Reserve (chart by Voima). Gold converted from tonnes at the official $35 per ounce. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Value in gold (1900 = 100; mark: 1948 = 100)
Lower = the currency buys less gold
Source: 
U.S. Global Investors, with data from Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, ICE Benchmark Administration, Metals Focus and World Gold Council. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
US dollars per 1 pound
Higher = one pound buys more dollars
Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System via FRED (EXUSUK)
US dollars per 1 Canadian dollar
Higher = one Canadian dollar buys more US dollars
Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System via FRED (EXCAUS, inverted)
Reais (today’s currency) per 1 US dollar, logarithmic scale
Higher = more reais are needed to buy 1 dollar
Source: World Bank (PA.NUS.FCRF), official exchange rate, annual average, based on IMF data. Earlier currencies are converted to today’s real
Money, Rates & Markets
The money supply, interest rates and stock valuations.
US dollars (trillions)
Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System via FRED (M2SL)
Percent per year
Higher = borrowing money costs more
Source: NBER Macrohistory (New York commercial paper, until 1933) and 3-month Treasury bills (from 1934) via FRED; long-term rate from Robert Shiller and 10-year Treasury yields (FRED)
Percent per year
Higher = governments pay more interest to borrow
Source: 
OECD via FRED (IRLTLT01USM156N and equivalents)
Price divided by earnings
Higher = stocks are more expensive relative to company profits
Source: Robert Shiller, Yale University (via datasets/s-and-p-500); data available through 2023
S&P 500 index level divided by average hourly earnings
Higher = stocks cost more hours of a typical worker's pay
Source: Robert Shiller (S&P 500) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (AHETPI)
US dollars (trillions), logarithmic scale
Each step up on the axis = ten times more
Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System via FRED (USGSEC)
Index, 1977 = 100
Higher = more contracts traded or more goods produced, compared with 1977
Source: Futures volume: Futures Trading Association (approximate values digitized from a published chart). Industrial production: Federal Reserve (FRED: INDPRO), annual average
% of the total market value
Higher = a bigger share of the stock market
Source: 
Reserve Bank of Australia (ASX; Refinitiv Datastream). Annual averages. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Savings & Trade
How much Americans save, and the balance of trade with the world.
Percent (of disposable income / of national income)
Higher = a larger share of income is saved
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis via FRED (PSAVERT, W207RC1Q156SBEA)
Percent of GDP
Below zero = the US imports more than it exports
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis via FRED (NETEXP, GDP)
Energy
The price of oil and how much energy the world uses.
US dollars per barrel (West Texas Intermediate)
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (WTISPLC, CPIAUCSL)
Kilowatt-hours per person per year
Each colored band is one source; the top edge is the total
Source: Our World in Data, based on Vaclav Smil and the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy (CC BY)
Kilowatt-hours per person per year
Higher = each American uses more energy
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (chart published in an essay on the "Henry Adams curve"). Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Index, 1960 = 100
A wider gap = the economy produces more with each unit of energy
Source: 
Aggregate of the G7 countries (published chart based on World Bank and OECD data). Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Food & Agriculture
What Americans eat, and the farms that feed them.
Pounds per person per year (boneless)
Higher = more of that meat in the American diet
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System
Pounds per person per year (dry weight)
Higher = more of that sweetener in the American diet
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System
Million metric tons per year
Each colored band is one crop; the top edge is the total
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), via Our World in Data (CC BY)
Millions of head
Higher = more beef cows on American farms and ranches
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Family & Youth
Marriage, children and the lives of young Americans.
Age in years
Higher = people marry for the first time at an older age
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Table MS-2. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Divorced people per 100 married people
Higher = more people in that age group are divorced
Source: Institute for Family Studies (Wendy Wang), with U.S. Census Bureau data. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Percent of all births
Higher = a larger share of babies is born to unmarried mothers
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics (published chart, 1930–2008). Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Thousands of families below the poverty line
Higher = more families with children are below the poverty line
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Poverty Table 4
Average number of children per woman
About 2.1 = the level at which a population replaces itself
Source: United Nations World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (CC BY)
Percent living with at least one parent
Higher = more young adults live with their parents
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data
Percent with obesity
Higher = a larger share of children has obesity
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, NHANES (Health E-Stat)
Percent rating the goal "essential" or "very important"
Higher = more freshmen consider that goal important
Source: UCLA Higher Education Research Institute, CIRP Freshman Survey. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Society & Culture
Health, prisons, immigration, education and even language.
Percent of GDP
Higher = health care takes a larger share of the economy
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis via FRED (DHLCRC1A027NBEA, GDPA)
Prisoners in state and federal prisons per 100,000 residents
Higher = a larger share of the population is in prison
Source: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1925–2012. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Percent of the total population
Higher = a larger share of residents were born in another country
Source: Migration Policy Institute, tabulation of U.S. Census Bureau data
Percent of the total population
Higher = a larger share of residents were born in another country
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 1871–2021 (2011: National Household Survey). Definition changed in 1981; the series breaks between 1981 and 1986
Percent change since 1970
Above zero = higher than in 1970
Source: Andrew J. Coulson, Cato Institute, with data from NCES and NAEP Long-Term Trend. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Lawyers for every 1,000 residents
Higher = more lawyers relative to the population
Source: American Bar Association and U.S. Census Bureau (published chart, 1850–2010). Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Degrees per year
Higher = more physics doctorates awarded
Source: American Institute of Physics, Statistical Research Center. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Occurrences per million phrases of the same length
Higher = the phrase appears more often in books
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer, English corpus (3-year smoothing)
% growth since 1970
Higher = more growth since 1970
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics; NCHS; Himmelstein/Woolhandler analysis of the Current Population Survey. Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Robberies per 100,000 people
Higher = more robberies for the size of the population
Source: 
Historical criminology study ("Robbery rates per 100,000 population for five European countries"). Approximate values digitized from a published chart
Number per decade
Higher = more shootings or more deaths in the decade
Source: Katsiyannis, Whitford & Ennis (2018), Journal of Child and Family Studies. Values from the table printed in the original chart; the 2010s only go to early 2018
HHI concentration index
Higher = laureates come from fewer institutions
Source: Academic study, "Institutional concentration of Nobel laureates from 1950". Approximate values digitized from a published chart