Guides

In-depth explainers built on our public-data dashboards — what the numbers mean, the turning points, and the questions people actually ask.

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US Mortgage Rate

A clear guide to U.S. mortgage rates since 1990 — the record 1981 high, the 2021 low, the 2022-23 surge, the 30- vs 15-year gap, and what today's rate means for affordability.

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Gasoline vs Crude Oil

Pump prices mostly follow crude oil. See how U.S. gasoline tracks crude since 1995, why they don't move in lockstep, and what the spread — taxes, refining and margins — really pays for.

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Grocery Inflation

U.S. grocery prices have climbed sharply since 2020 — but unevenly. See which categories rose most, from cereals and produce to dairy and beverages, using CPI data since 2005.

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US GDP Growth

U.S. economic growth comes in waves. See real GDP growth quarter by quarter since 1980 — the 1982, 1990, 2001, 2008 and 2020 recessions, the recoveries, and what the latest reading means.

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Home Prices vs Wages

Since 2006 U.S. home prices and wages have both roughly doubled — but prices crashed, then surged past their bubble peak. Combined with higher mortgage rates, affordability is near multi-decade lows.

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Atmospheric CO₂

Atmospheric CO₂ has climbed from 315 ppm in 1958 to over 430 ppm today — the highest in at least 800,000 years. A clear guide to the Keeling Curve: the relentless rise, the annual zigzag, and why 280 ppm is the number that matters.

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US Temperature History

The average temperature across the Lower 48 has risen since record-keeping began in 1895, with the warmest years nearly all recent. See the long warming trend, which states warmed the most, and what the record reveals.

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US Traffic Deaths

After decades of progress, U.S. road deaths jumped sharply around 2020 — even as the pandemic cut driving. A clear guide to the surge, which states are most dangerous per capita, and what's behind the numbers.

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Inflation vs. Wages

When inflation outruns wage growth, your paycheck buys less even as the number on it rises. See U.S. inflation vs. wage growth since 2007 — the 2022 spike, the real-wage squeeze, and where the two stand now.

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US Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009 — and inflation keeps eroding it. See its nominal vs. inflation-adjusted history since 1960, the 1968 purchasing-power peak, and how much real value it has lost.

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Job Openings vs. Unemployment

When job openings outnumber unemployed workers, the labor market is 'tight' — good for workers, a headache for the Fed. See U.S. job openings vs. unemployment since 2001 and the historic 2022 worker shortage.

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Electricity Prices by State

Residential electricity costs more than three times as much in the priciest states as in the cheapest. See the U.S. map of electricity prices by state, the long climb in the national average, and what drives the gap.

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US Rent Inflation

U.S. rents have more than doubled since 2000, and the pace varies sharply by region and metro. See rent inflation by Census region and major city, the post-2021 surge, and why rent drives overall inflation.

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US Renewable Energy

Renewables now generate about a quarter of U.S. electricity, up from under 8% in 2001. See how wind and solar exploded from almost nothing while hydropower stayed flat, and where the grid is heading.

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US Overdose Deaths

U.S. drug overdose deaths climbed for years to a peak above 110,000, driven by fentanyl — then began a sharp, hopeful decline. See the national trend, the state-by-state map, and what's behind both.

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Population Growth by State

America's population is shifting south and west. See 10-year population growth for every state on a map and ranking, the national total since 1990, and why some states are shrinking.

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US Life Expectancy

U.S. life expectancy at birth rose from 47 years in 1900 to nearly 79 — then fell during the pandemic. See the long-run trend, the state-by-state gap of nearly a decade, and what drives it.

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Fed Funds Rate

The federal funds rate is the Fed's main lever on the economy. See its full history since 1954 — the 20% Volcker peak, the near-zero years after 2008 and 2020, and the rapid 2022–23 hikes.

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US Sea Level Rise

Sea level isn't rising the same everywhere — New York's is up over 30 cm since 1950 while Seattle's has fallen. See decades of tide-gauge data and why land motion makes the difference.

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Median Income by State

Median household income ranges from about $56,000 in the lowest state to nearly $114,000 in the highest. See the U.S. map of income by state, the ranking, and what drives the gap.

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US Obesity Rate

About a third of U.S. adults have obesity, up sharply since 2011 — and the rate ranges from around 25% in the leanest state to roughly 40% in the heaviest. See the state map, the ranking, and the national trend.

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Social Security COLA

Social Security benefits rise each year with inflation through the COLA. See every annual cost-of-living adjustment since 1975 — the 14.3% peak, the 8.7% 2023 raise, and the years with no increase at all.

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Vehicle Miles Traveled

Americans drive about 280 billion miles a month — more than triple the 1970 level. See the long climb, the 2008 plateau, the COVID collapse and recovery, and why driving peaks every summer.

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Crop Prices

Global prices for corn, wheat, and soybeans have roughly doubled since 1995, with violent spikes in 2008, 2012, and 2022. See three decades of crop prices and what makes them so volatile.

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US Consumer Debt

Americans now owe more than $5 trillion in consumer credit — credit cards, auto loans, and student loans (not counting mortgages). See the long climb, the split by type, and what drives it.

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Credit Card Rates

The average credit card APR has climbed above 21% — the highest on record. See how card rates have moved since 1995, why they spiked after 2022, and why they're so high even when other rates are low.

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Used Car Prices

Used car prices exploded in 2021 — rising more than 40% in a year amid a chip shortage — then partly reversed. See three decades of used-car prices and what made them so wild.

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Poverty Rate by State

About 1 in 8 Americans lives below the poverty line, but the rate ranges from around 7% in the lowest state to nearly 19% in the highest. See the U.S. poverty map, the ranking, and what drives the gap.

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Natural Gas Prices

Natural gas is one of the most volatile commodities — wholesale prices have swung from over $13 to under $2 since 1997. See the Henry Hub and residential price history, and why the shale boom changed everything.

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Personal Saving Rate

Americans saved a record third of their income in 2020 — then the rate collapsed. See the personal saving rate since 1960, the pandemic spike, the long-run decline, and why a low saving rate matters.

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Earthquakes by Magnitude

The planet logs thousands of magnitude-4.5+ earthquakes a year, but only a handful of great ones. See the magnitude distribution, the monthly count, and the strongest recent quakes — and why the scale is deceiving.

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Hurricane History

The Atlantic averages about 12 named storms a year, but the record seasons of 2005 and 2020 produced 31 each. See more than a century of hurricane data, the rising trend, and why counting storms is trickier than it looks.

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Unemployment by State

The U.S. unemployment rate spiked to nearly 15% in 2020, then fell to historic lows — but it varies widely by state. See the national trend, the state map, and what drives the differences.

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Electricity Generation Mix

In 2001 coal made half of U.S. electricity; today it's under a fifth, displaced by natural gas, wind, and solar. See how the U.S. power grid's fuel mix has transformed over two decades.

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US Tornadoes

The U.S. records around a thousand tornadoes a year — more than any country on Earth. See which states get the most, the rising annual count, and why 'Tornado Alley' is shifting.

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New Car Prices

New vehicle prices were remarkably flat for years — then jumped about 20% after 2020 amid the chip shortage. See three decades of new-car prices and what changed.

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Egg Prices

Egg prices rocketed past $6 a dozen in early 2025 — triple their normal level — before crashing back down. See three decades of egg prices and how bird flu drove the wild swings.

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EV Charging Stations

Public EV charging stations have exploded from a few hundred in 2010 to tens of thousands today, with a quarter-million plugs nationwide. See the growth, the state map, and where charging is concentrated.

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US Diabetes Rate

More than 1 in 10 American adults has diagnosed diabetes, but the rate ranges from around 7% to over 15% by state. See the U.S. diabetes map, the ranking, and why it clusters in the South.

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Homeownership Rate

The U.S. homeownership rate peaked near 69% during the housing bubble, crashed after 2008, and has since partly recovered. See six decades of the trend and the wide gap between states.

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US Drought Monitor

At times more than half the U.S. has been in drought at once. See 25 years of the U.S. Drought Monitor, the severity scale, and the Western megadrought that gripped the country.

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Education by State

The share of adults with a bachelor's degree ranges from around 22% to over 45% by state. See the U.S. map of college attainment, the ranking, and why degrees cluster geographically.

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US Airfare History

For most of the past 30 years airfares rose slower than inflation, making flying cheaper in real terms — until the 2022 fare spike caught them up. See the airfare history, the spike, and why fares swing so much.

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US Crude Oil Production

U.S. oil production fell for 40 years — then the shale boom doubled it to a world record above 13 million barrels a day. See the full history and which states pump the most.

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The Decline of Coal

Coal generated half of U.S. electricity in 2001; today it's under a fifth, overtaken by natural gas around 2015. See the collapse of coal power and what replaced it.

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US Birth Rate

The U.S. birth rate has fallen from 30 births per 1,000 people in 1909 to about 12 today, with fertility now below the replacement level. See the long decline and the baby-boom bump.

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Cancer Death Rate

The cancer death rate varies by about 50% across states, from around 120 per 100,000 to about 180. See the U.S. cancer-mortality map, the ranking, and why the burden is so uneven.

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Gas Prices by Region

Gasoline can cost two dollars more per gallon in California than in Texas. See decades of regional gas prices and why the gap between the most and least expensive states is so wide.

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Heart Disease by State

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., but the death rate varies almost two-fold across states. See the heart-disease mortality map, the ranking, and what drives the gap.

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Migration by State

Every year hundreds of thousands of Americans move between states — and the flow runs strongly toward the South and West. See which states gain and lose the most people, and why.

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Global CO₂ Emissions

China is now the world’s biggest carbon emitter by far. See global carbon emissions by country since 1900, when China overtook the U.S., and the per-person twist.

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Solar Power by State

U.S. solar generation has multiplied hundreds of times since 2010. See which states lead — and why sunny Florida trails cloudy New Jersey — on the solar map and ranking.

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US Housing Starts

New housing starts peaked above 2 million in 2006, crashed below 500,000 in 2009, and still haven't fully recovered. See six decades of homebuilding and the shortage it left behind.

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Wind Power by State

U.S. wind generation has multiplied many times over since 2010, led overwhelmingly by Texas and the Great Plains. See the growth, the state map, and why the middle of the country dominates.

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Nuclear Power by State

Nuclear power quietly supplies about a fifth of U.S. electricity and is its largest carbon-free source — yet output has barely changed in 20 years. See which states rely on nuclear.

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Leading Causes of Death

Heart disease and cancer cause nearly half of all U.S. deaths, but accidents and Alzheimer's are rising fast. See the leading causes of death and how they've changed over time.

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Near-Earth Asteroids

Hundreds of asteroids pass near Earth every year, and dozens slip inside the Moon's orbit. See a live snapshot of close approaches, the nearest passes, and why scientists aren't losing sleep.

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US Population Pyramid

America's population pyramid is turning into a pillar as the country ages. Nearly a quarter of Americans are now 60 or older. See the U.S. age structure and what the graying of America means.

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Personal Income Growth

U.S. personal income has grown more than five-fold since 1990 on paper — but after inflation, real income per person is up far less. See the gap between nominal and real income growth.

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Transit Ridership

Public transit ridership cratered 91% in April 2020 and still hasn't fully recovered. See the dramatic collapse, the slow climb back, and why transit is stuck below its pre-pandemic peak.

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US Commute Times

The average U.S. commute is about 27 minutes each way — but in the New York metro it's 36, while small towns clock in under 15. See the metros with the longest and shortest commutes.

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US Infant Mortality

In 1915, nearly 1 in 10 American babies died before their first birthday. Today it's about 1 in 170 — a 90%+ decline. See the century-long collapse in infant mortality and why the U.S. still lags peers.

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Global Temperature Anomaly

Earth is now more than 1°C warmer than the 20th-century average, with the warmest years all recent. See 175 years of global temperature data and what the 1.5°C threshold means.

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Global Food Prices

Global food commodity prices have nearly tripled since 1992, with violent spikes in 2008, 2011, and a record high in 2022. See three decades of world food prices and what drives them.

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US Wildfires

U.S. wildfires now burn more than twice as many acres a year as in the 1980s, peaking above 10 million acres in 2015. See four decades of wildfire data and why fires are getting bigger.

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US COVID-19 Deaths

More than 1.2 million Americans have died of COVID-19 since 2020, in a series of distinct waves. See the weekly death curve, the state-by-state toll, and how the pandemic unfolded.

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Flight Cancellations

In 2023 U.S. airlines cancelled about 1.3% of flights, but the rate ranged from under 0.7% to nearly 3% by carrier. See which airlines cancel the most and the least, and when cancellations spike.

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Mental Distress by State

The share of adults reporting frequent mental distress ranges from around 13% to over 20% by state. See the U.S. mental-health map, the ranking, and what shapes the geography.

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US Beef Prices

A pound of ground beef has more than quadrupled since 1990, hitting record highs. See three decades of retail and global beef prices and why beef keeps getting more expensive.

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Busiest US Airports

Atlanta has been the world's busiest airport for decades, boarding over 50 million passengers a year. See how the busiest U.S. airports stack up and how the 2020 pandemic gutted air travel.

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Veterans by State

About 16 million Americans are military veterans, but they're spread unevenly — from 11% of adults in Alaska to under 4% in New York. See the veteran population map and ranking.

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US Flu Season

Every winter, flu-like illness spikes — and the 2020-21 season nearly vanished. See 25+ years of U.S. flu activity, the annual rhythm, and how severe a bad flu season can be.

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PM2.5 by State

Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) is three times higher in the most polluted states than the cleanest. See the U.S. PM2.5 map, the ranking, and why the industrial Midwest tops the list.

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Food Insecurity by State

More than 1 in 10 Americans is food insecure, but the rate ranges from around 5% to over 16% by state. See the U.S. food-insecurity map, the ranking, and what drives the gap.

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US Rainfall History

The contiguous U.S. has gotten slightly wetter over 130 years — but the change is uneven, with the East soaking and the Southwest drying. See the rainfall record and the state-by-state shift.

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Energy Use by State

The average person in the highest-energy state uses about six times as much energy as in the lowest. See per-capita energy use by state and why industrial and energy-producing states top the list.

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Ozone by State

Ground-level ozone — the main ingredient in smog — is highest not in big cities but in the sunny, high-altitude Mountain West. See the U.S. ozone map and why elevation and sunshine drive it.

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Rent Burden by City

In the most rent-burdened metros, the typical renter spends nearly 40% of income on rent — well past the 30% affordability line. See which cities are most and least rent-burdened, and why college towns top the list.

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The Solar Cycle

The Sun's activity rises and falls in an 11-year cycle, tracked by counting sunspots for over a century. See the solar cycle, the record-breaking 1958 peak, and why it matters for satellites and power grids.

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Airline vs Amtrak On-Time

About 8 in 10 U.S. flights arrive on time — but lately Amtrak trains have been beating them. See airline vs. rail on-time performance and what makes a trip run late.

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US Meat Production

Americans now produce far more chicken than beef or pork — a complete reversal from decades ago. See U.S. meat production since 1990, where the cattle are, and why chicken won.

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Snowiest US Cities

Syracuse and Buffalo bury under 100+ inches of snow most winters, thanks to lake-effect snow off the Great Lakes. See decades of seasonal snowfall for major U.S. cities and why some get buried.

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US Household Size

The average U.S. household has shrunk from 2.67 people in 1990 to about 2.5 today — while the number of households grows faster than the population. See the trend and what's behind it.

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Western Reservoirs

Lake Powell dropped more than 40 feet during the Western megadrought, threatening water and power for millions. See how the West's biggest reservoirs have fallen since 2015.

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What Americans Eat

Americans now eat far more chicken than beef — a complete flip since the 1970s — while daily calories have climbed by a third. See six decades of U.S. per-person food supply.

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US Corn Yield

Corn yields range from around 120 bushels an acre to over 230 — and the highest aren't in the Corn Belt, but in irrigated Western states. See the U.S. corn-yield map and what drives it.

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Urban vs Rural America

In 1900 most Americans lived in the countryside; today 80% live in urban areas. See the century-long shift from rural to urban and which states remain the most rural.

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Electricity Prices History

The average U.S. electricity price has more than doubled since the mid-1990s, with an especially sharp rise after 2021. See three decades of electricity prices and what's driving them up.

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US Ag Exports

The U.S. exports roughly $90 billion of farm and livestock products a year, with China, Mexico, and Canada the top buyers. See the trend and where America's agricultural exports go.

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Natural Gas Storage

Each year the U.S. injects natural gas into storage all summer and draws it down all winter. See the seasonal storage cycle, why it drives gas prices, and what a low autumn peak means.

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Milk Production by State

America produces over 220 billion pounds of milk a year — and California, not Wisconsin, leads. See the U.S. milk-production map and why dairy shifted west.

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Fertilizer Prices

Fertilizer prices more than quadrupled since 1990 and spiked violently in 2022 when natural gas soared and the Ukraine war disrupted supply. See the fertilizer price history and why it matters for food.

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Diesel Prices by Region

Diesel fuels the trucks that move the economy — and it costs far more in California than the Midwest. See decades of regional diesel prices and why diesel matters more than you might think.

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US Busiest Ports

A handful of ports handle most of America's container trade, and imports outnumber exports nearly 3 to 1. See the busiest U.S. ports by container volume and what the import gap reveals.

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Fireballs & Bolides

NASA has logged over 1,000 fireballs since 1988 — most tiny, but a few enormous, like the Chelyabinsk blast that injured 1,500 people. See the biggest atmospheric impacts and how often they happen.

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US Farm Income

U.S. farms take in over $500 billion a year from selling crops and livestock, plus tens of billions in government payments. See where farm income comes from and how it swings.

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Heating Oil Prices

Millions of Northeast homes heat with oil, and the price swings hard every winter. See heating-oil price history, why the Northeast depends on it, and how it tracks diesel.

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US Rail Freight

U.S. railroads haul fewer carloads than they did two decades ago, largely because of coal's collapse. See the long decline in rail freight and what's behind it.

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Mississippi River Levels

The Mississippi River swings between devastating floods and historic low-water crises that strand barges. See years of river-level data and why the river's stage matters to the whole country.

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Drought & Food Prices

When drought grips America's farm country, crop prices tend to follow — a link visible in the data. See how U.S. drought and global food prices move together, and why it matters worldwide.

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Propane Prices

Millions of rural homes beyond the natural-gas pipeline heat with propane — and its price swings hard with winter and supply. See propane price history and why it spikes.

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Degree Days

Over 130 years, U.S. heating demand has fallen and cooling demand has risen — a clear fingerprint of a warming climate. See the heating and cooling degree-day record and what it means.

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Groundwater Depletion

Across the West, underground aquifers are being pumped faster than they refill — some dropping over 100 feet since 2000. See the groundwater record and which aquifers are depleting or recovering.

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Power Plant Capacity

Coal capacity has been cut nearly in half since 2008 while solar exploded from almost nothing to over 100 gigawatts. See how America's installed power capacity is being rebuilt.

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Gas Prices vs Miles Driven

Gas prices have quadrupled and crashed repeatedly since 1995, yet Americans keep driving more. See how gas prices and miles driven actually relate — and why driving barely responds to the pump.

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US Air Travel

Air travel fell about 95% in April 2020 — the steepest collapse in aviation history — then clawed all the way back. See how flying crashed and recovered against its 2019 baseline.

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River Streamflow

Streamflow shows how much water is actually moving down a river — and the Colorado has run persistently below average. See flow on three major U.S. rivers and why it matters.

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US Freight Movement

The amount of freight moving across America is a real-time pulse of the economy — it climbs in booms and sags in recessions. See the Freight Transportation Services Index and what it signals.

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Moon Phases

The Moon cycles through eight phases every 29.5 days — and it's not Earth's shadow that causes them. See a live illumination chart and a clear explanation of why the Moon waxes and wanes.