The economy,
in plain numbers.
Prices, jobs, interest rates and markets: the key US numbers, updated as new figures come out.
Prices
Inflation
3.7%
September 2026
+0.3 pts since August 2026
Higher than 76% of readings in the last 10 years
Gas price
$4.33/gal
Week of Oct 12, 2026
-0.5% since Week of Oct 5, 2026
Higher than 97% of readings in the last 10 years
30-year mortgage rate
7.40%
Week of Oct 15, 2026
No change since Week of Oct 8, 2026
Higher than 98% of readings in the last 10 years
Jobs
Unemployment
4.2%
September 2026
+0.1 pts since August 2026
Close to its typical level of the last 10 years
Jobless claims
199K
Week of Oct 10, 2026
+0.5% since Week of Oct 3, 2026
Lower than 97% of readings in the last 10 years
Recession signal (Sahm rule)
0.00 pts
September 2026
+0.07 pts since August 2026
Lower than 61% of readings in the last 10 years
Below the Sahm rule threshold of 0.5
Interest rates
Fed interest rate
4.00%
Oct 16, 2026
No change since Oct 15, 2026
Higher than 70% of readings in the last 10 years
10-year Treasury yield
5.10%
Oct 15, 2026
-0.09 pts since Oct 14, 2026
Higher than 99% of readings in the last 10 years
Yield curve (10Y minus 2Y)
+0.35 pts
Oct 16, 2026
+0.02 pts since Oct 15, 2026
Close to its typical level of the last 10 years
Normal: long-term yields are above short-term yields
Growth
Markets
US stocks (S&P 500)
7,659
Oct 16, 2026
-1.1% since Oct 15, 2026
Higher than 98% of readings in the last 10 years
Market volatility (VIX)
16.5
Oct 15, 2026
-2.4% since Oct 14, 2026
Close to its typical level of the last 10 years
Market volatility is low
US dollar index
101.8
Oct 16, 2026
-0.2% since Oct 15, 2026
Higher than 72% of readings in the last 10 years
Oil price (WTI)
$101.91/bbl
Oct 14, 2026
+$1.05/bbl since Oct 13, 2026
Higher than 96% of readings in the last 10 years