THE STATS

United States · 24 indicators · 1976 → 2026

Fifty years of American life in numbers — work, money, crime, health, and family — every series pulled straight from the agency that publishes it. No vibes, just the data.

50 YearsSince 200010 Years5 Years1 Year
┊ dashed lines mark 1979 Oil shock & inflation peak · 1987 Black Monday crash · 1991 Gulf War recession · 2001 Dot-com bust & 9/11 · 2008 Global financial crisis · 2020 COVID-19 pandemic

Economy & Work

Unemployment Ratepercent, annual average · FRED UNRATE
4.3%2026 thru Jun
−3.4 pts since 1976
7.7% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Labor Force Participationpercent, annual average · FRED CIVPART
61.8%2026 thru Jun
+0.2 pts since 1976
61.6% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Real GDP Growthpercent per year · FRED A191RL1A225NBEA
2.1%2025
−3.3 pts since 1976
5.4% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
CPI Inflationpercent per year · FRED CPIAUCSL
3.3%2026 thru Jun
−2.5 pts since 1976
5.8% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Real Median Household Income2024 dollars · 1984–2024 · FRED MEHOINUSA672N
$83,7302024
+39% since 1984
$60,420 then
Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
New Business Applicationsapplications per year · 2005–2025 · FRED BABATOTALSAUS
5.64M2025
+125% since 2005
2.50M then
Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20

Money & Debt

Revolving Consumer Creditbillions of dollars, year-end · FRED REVOLSL
$1,351B2026 thru May
+8088% since 1976
$17B then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Personal Saving Ratepercent of disposable income · FRED PSAVERT
3.4%2026 thru May
−8.2 pts since 1976
11.6% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Household Debt Service Ratiopercent of disposable income · 2005–2026 · FRED TDSP
11.2%2026 thru Dec
−3.7 pts since 2005
14.9% then
Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Federal Debt to GDPpercent of GDP · FRED GFDEGDQ188S
122.6%2026 thru Dec
+89 pts since 1976
33.5% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
30-Year Mortgage Ratepercent, annual average · FRED MORTGAGE30US
6.34%2026 thru Jul
−2.5 pts since 1976
8.87% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20

Cost of Living

Median Home Sale Pricedollars, annual average · FRED MSPUS
$409,6002026 thru Mar
+826% since 1976
$44,225 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Regular Gasoline Pricedollars per gallon, annual average · 1990–2026 · FRED GASREGW
$3.742026 thru Jul
+188% since 1990
$1.30 then
Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Homeownership Ratepercent of households, annual average · FRED RHORUSQ156N
65.2%2026 thru Mar
+0.5 pts since 1976
64.7% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20

Crime

Violent Crime Rateoffenses per 100,000 people · 1976–2024 · FBI Crime Data Explorer, reported violent crime
363.92024
−22% since 1976
467.8 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Property Crime Rateoffenses per 100,000 people · 1976–2024 · FBI Crime Data Explorer, reported property crime
1,769.02024
−63% since 1976
4,819.5 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20

Health

Life Expectancy at Birthyears at birth, both sexes · 1976–2024 · CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics
79.02024
+6.1 yrs since 1976
72.9 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Suicide Rateage-adjusted deaths per 100,000 · 2000–2024 · CDC/NCHS, age-adjusted
13.72024
+32% since 2000
10.4 then
Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Drug Overdose Deathsage-adjusted deaths per 100,000 · 2000–2024 · CDC/NCHS, age-adjusted
23.12024
+273% since 2000
6.2 then
Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Adult Smoking Ratepercent of adults, current cigarette smokers (crude) · 2000–2024 · CDC National Health Interview Survey
9.9%2024
−13 pts since 2000
23.3% then
Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20

Family & Society

Marriage Ratemarriages per 1,000 population · 1976–2023 · CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System
6.12023
−38% since 1976
9.9 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Divorce Ratedivorces per 1,000 population (reporting states) · 1976–2023 · CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System
2.42023
−52% since 1976
5.0 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Total Fertility Ratebirths per woman (total fertility rate) · 1976–2024 · CDC/NCHS, Births: Final Data
1.602024
−8% since 1976
1.74 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
HappinessCantril ladder score (0-10) · 2006–2025 · World Happiness Report (Gallup World Poll)
6.972025
−0.2 pts since 2006
7.18 then
Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Deep dives
New Businesses → Crime → Credit Card Debt →