United States — key indicators
CPI Inflation (YoY)
3.1%
Source: BLS
Median hourly wage
$34.20
+2.1% YoY — real decline
National debt
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US Treasury Fiscal Data API
Fed funds rate
4.25%
Federal Reserve
Purchasing power — the honest gap
Annual growth rates — United States
Real wages negative
Every row that exceeds wage growth represents a category where the average American is losing ground — regardless of what their paycheck shows.
Bottom income quintile experienced a real purchasing power decline of approximately 2.3% — more than double the median impact.
Monthly cost of basic needs — Cape Coral, FL
Local estimate
What it actually costs to live — two adults, one vehicle, no extraordinary expenses. Before savings, debt service, or emergencies.
Total basic needs
$4,140/mo
Lee County median gross income: ~$5,800/mo. After tax surplus before debt, childcare, or savings: ~$761/mo.
Global snapshot — debt and governance
United States
Debt-to-GDP
132%
High risk
China
Debt-to-GDP
79%
Watch
Japan
Debt-to-GDP
264%
High risk
United Kingdom
Debt-to-GDP
101%
High risk
France
Debt-to-GDP
111%
High risk
Italy
Debt-to-GDP
140%
High risk
Germany
Debt-to-GDP
65%
Watch
India
Debt-to-GDP
81%
Watch
Governance efficiency — outcomes per dollar spent
Education attainment, health outcomes, infrastructure quality, and poverty reduction — combined per $1 of public spending. Source: NW Composite / OECD / World Bank.
Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook, World Bank Poverty & Inequality Platform, BLS, Federal Reserve, national statistical agencies. Governance efficiency is a NeuraWeb composite. All underlying data is public domain. NeuraWeb does not editorialize on policy — the numbers speak.