America's economic picture has changed dramatically over the past 80-plus years -- weathering wars, economic booms and busts, globalization, and great advances in technology and industry. These changes have impacted everything from the unemployment rate to the percentage of Americans with a college education. In this section, we present a variety of data to illustrate these changes.
The timeline: Use the menu on the left or scroll through the page to explore each data set. Bold lines on the timeline signify Inauguration years.
America's economic picture has changed dramatically over the past 80-plus years -- weathering wars, economic booms and busts, globalization, and great advances in technology and industry. These changes have impacted everything from the unemployment rate to the percentage of Americans with a college education. In this section, we present a variety of data to illustrate these changes.
The timeline: Use the menu on the left or scroll through the page to explore each data set. Bold lines on the timeline signify Inauguration years.
U.S. Population
The population of the United States has nearly tripled since 1940. The U.S. Census Bureau projected that the population reached 315,091,138 on January 1, 2013.
The population of the United States has nearly tripled since 1940. The U.S. Census Bureau projected that the population reached 315,091,138 on January 1, 2013.
Unemployment Rate
The average annual U.S. unemployment rate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics includes all eligible civilian workers over the age of 16 who are actively looking for work.
The average annual U.S. unemployment rate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics includes all eligible civilian workers over the age of 16 who are actively looking for work.
Minimum Wage
The Fair Labor Act introduced a federal minimum wage for some U.S. workers in 1938, and was later expanded to cover more working Americans. This data from the U.S. Department of Labor is not adjusted for inflation.
The Fair Labor Act introduced a federal minimum wage for some U.S. workers in 1938, and was later expanded to cover more working Americans. This data from the U.S. Department of Labor is not adjusted for inflation.
Higher Education
This chart identifies the percentage of the U.S. population over the age of 25 that completed four years or more of college. This data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau.
This chart identifies the percentage of the U.S. population over the age of 25 that completed four years or more of college. This data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Gross Domestic Product
The GDP data below was gathered from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. gross domestic product, as shown, measured in billions of dollars. (2012 data will be released later this month.)
The GDP data below was gathered from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. gross domestic product, as shown, measured in billions of dollars. (2012 data will be released later this month.)