We believe in complete transparency. Here's exactly how we calculate each metric and where the data comes from.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Current Population Survey, median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers.
Real (inflation-adjusted) median weekly earnings are calculated by dividing nominal earnings by the Consumer Price Index. We then compute the year-over-year percent change.
Real Wage = Nominal Wage ÷ (CPI ÷ 100)
YoY Change = ((Current - Prior Year) ÷ Prior Year) × 100Quarterly, typically within 7 days of BLS release.
This measures cash wages only, not total compensation (benefits, retirement contributions). It also reflects full-time workers, not part-time or gig workers.
BLS Consumer Price Index sub-indexes for shelter, food at home, energy, transportation services, and medical care.
We calculate a weighted average of year-over-year price changes for essential categories. Weights are based on typical household budget allocations:
Monthly, typically within 7 days of CPI release (around the 10th of each month).
Weights are approximate and may not match every household's spending. Regional variation is not captured in national data.
Federal Reserve Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED), conducted annually.
Annual, typically released in May following the survey year.
Self-reported survey data. The $400 threshold is somewhat arbitrary but has been used consistently since 2013, allowing for comparison over time.
University of Michigan Survey of Consumers, accessed via FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data). Series: UMCSENT.
The Index of Consumer Sentiment is based on five core questions about personal finances and business conditions. The index is calibrated so that 100 represents the 1966 baseline.
Monthly, with preliminary reading mid-month and final reading at month end.
Measures subjective feelings, not objective conditions. Can be influenced by media coverage and political views.
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data). Series: SAHMREALTIME. Based on BLS unemployment data.
The Sahm Rule indicator is the difference between the 3-month moving average of the unemployment rate and its lowest point in the prior 12 months. A value of 0.50 or higher has historically signaled the start of a recession.
Sahm = 3-month avg unemployment - 12-month low unemploymentMonthly, following BLS employment situation release.
Created by economist Claudia Sahm as an early warning signal. The 2024 breach of 0.50 was unusual in that it did not lead to a declared recession, possibly due to unique post-pandemic labor market conditions.
Federal Reserve Board. Household Debt Service Ratio (DSR). Series: TDSP via FRED.
The debt service ratio is an estimate of the ratio of debt payments (mortgage and consumer debt) to disposable personal income. It represents the share of after-tax income required for debt payments.
Quarterly, released with a one-quarter lag.
Does not include rent payments, which are a major expense for non-homeowners. Low interest rates can reduce debt service even as total debt rises.
Data is fetched automatically from official government APIs (BLS, FRED) and stored in version-controlled JSON files. When live data is unavailable, we display the most recent cached values with a clear warning.
All calculations are performed using open-source code. Our data pipeline runs automated tests to ensure accuracy and data integrity.
If you use data or visualizations from People's Economy Hub, please cite as:
People's Economy Hub. [Metric Name]. Retrieved [Date] from https://peopleseconomyhub.github.ioWe regularly review our methodology and data sources to ensure accuracy. If you identify any errors or have questions about our calculations, please open an issue on GitHub(opens in new tab).