The Microcap Minute Macro

The US economy in six numbers

America's report card, in plain English.

These six numbers decide what things cost, whether jobs are growing, and what the government owes. We read them every morning from the US government's own published data, and explain each one the way we would to a friend.

Updated once daily, after US government data is published.

How fast are prices rising?

3.5%

Prices are 3.5% higher than a year ago (June 2026), on the CPICPI is the Consumer Price Index, the government's official measure of how much everyday prices changed., the government's main price measure. CoreCore inflation leaves out food and fuel, because their prices jump around a lot and can hide the real trend. inflation, which leaves out food and fuel, is 2.6%.

Why you care: when prices rise faster than pay, the money in your pocket buys a little less each month.

last 12 months
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · data as of June 2026

Is America hiring?

23,000 jobs lost
in July 2026

The unemployment rate, the share of workers who cannot find a job, is 4.1%, down from 4.2% a month earlier.

Why you care: more hiring means more paychecks, and more people with money to spend.

monthly jobs added, last 12 months
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · data as of July 2026

How much does America owe?

$39.9 trillion

That is about $116,600 for every person in America.

Why you care: the government pays interest on this debt with tax money, before it pays for anything else.

month-end totals, last 12 months
Source: U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data · data as of 2026-08-07

How much cash does the government have?

$961.7 billion

That is the government's checking account balance, roughly. Officials call it the TGATGA is the Treasury General Account, the bank account the U.S. government pays its bills from..

Why you care: when this account runs low, Washington must borrow more or slow down payments.

daily balance, last 30 days
Source: U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data · data as of 2026-08-07

What does America pay to borrow?

4.72%
a year, to borrow for ten years

Two-year money costs 4.25%. When the ten-year cost is higher, lenders expect growth and prices to keep rising.

The government actually pays 3.44% on average on the debt it already has (July 2026).

Why you care: this rate sets the tone for mortgages, car loans, and every other borrowing cost.

recent ten-year yield, daily
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury · data as of 2026-08-10

What did Washington publish this week?

621 documents

95 final rules, 46 proposed rules, and 470 notices in the past week.

Why you care: this is where new rules appear first, before they become news.

The 15 worth reading are listed below ↓

Source: U.S. Federal Register · data as of 2026-08-11

The filings worth reading this week

Picked mechanically, no judgement calls: presidential documents first, then documents the government itself flags as significant, then the newest final and proposed rules. Summaries are written in plain English from the filing text (AI-assisted, Sarvam); the linked official record is the authoritative version.

  1. Presidential documentEnding Birth Tourism

    United States citizenship is among the greatest inheritances the Nation can bestow.

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-11 · official record ↗
  2. Presidential documentContinuing To Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship

    The privilege of United States citizenship remains a priceless and profound gift.

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-11 · official record ↗
  3. Presidential documentNational Purple Heart Day, 2026

    On National Purple Heart Day, we honor the immeasurable sacrifices of every valiant service member wounded or killed in combat in defense of our Nation and we reaffirm our eternal gratitude for their unrivaled heroism.

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-11 · official record ↗
  4. Presidential documentAdjusting Imports of Polysilicon and Its Derivatives Into the United States

    1. Polysilicon is the base material underpinning the security of America's semiconductor and solar-power supply chains.

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-11 · official record ↗
  5. Presidential documentContinuation of U.S. Drug Interdiction Assistance to the Government of Colombia

    The President says the US will keep helping Colombia stop drug planes in their airspace because it's important for security. Colombia must have safety rules to protect people when they intercept these planes.

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-10 · official record ↗
  6. Presidential documentEstablishing the President's Military Spouse Commission

    Military spouses are intrinsically linked to the good order, readiness, and retention of our military. Their support and contributions to our Armed Forces are crucial to mission success.

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-06 · official record ↗
  7. Presidential documentContinuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Advancement by Countries of ...

    Notice of August 3, 2026--Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Advancement by Countries of Concern in Sensitive Technologies and Products Critical for the Military, Intelligence, Surveillance, or Cyber-Enabled ...

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-05 · official record ↗
  8. Presidential documentTo Facilitate Positive Adjustment to Competition From Imports of Quartz Surface Products

    1. On May 18, 2026, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) transmitted to the President a report (ITC Report) on its investigation under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act) (19 U.S.C.

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-05 · official record ↗
  9. Presidential documentAuthorizing Cameron County, Texas, To Own, Operate, and Maintain the Brownsville and ...

    By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America (the "President"), I hereby grant permission, subject to the conditions set forth herein, to Cameron County, Texas (the "permittee"), to own, operate, and ...

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-04 · official record ↗
  10. Presidential documentPresidential Determination Pursuant to Section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 ...

    Presidential Determination No. 2026-19 of July 30, 2026--Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Recoverable Critical Minerals and Materials

    Executive Office of the President · 2026-08-04 · official record ↗
  11. Flagged significantSubstances Generally Recognized as Safe

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is proposing to require the submission of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) notices for the use of a human or animal food substance purported to be GRAS under the conditions of its intended ...

    Health and Human Services Department · 2026-08-11 · official record ↗
  12. Flagged significantHUD's Implementation of the Fair Housing Act's Disparate Impact Standard; Amendments to ...

    HUD published a notice of proposed rulemaking in January of 2026 that proposed to remove HUD's disparate-impact regulations and leave interpretation of disparate-impact liability under the Fair Housing Act to the courts.

    Housing and Urban Development Department · 2026-08-10 · official record ↗
  13. Flagged significantAccessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft and Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air ...

    The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) is extending its previously announced enforcement discretion for four provisions of the final rule on "Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using ...

    Transportation Department · 2026-08-04 · official record ↗
  14. Final ruleNRC Modernization: Rulemaking Procedure, Federal Advisory Committee Act Alignment ...

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations by streamlining procedural provisions related to information withholding and post-promulgation comment periods; aligning the NRC's regulations with Committee ...

    Nuclear Regulatory Commission · 2026-08-11 · official record ↗
  15. Final ruleReforms to 13 CFR 124.103 To Remove SBA's 8(a) Program's Rebuttable Presumption of Social ...

    The U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA" or "Agency") amends its regulations to align the Section 8(a) Business Development Program (8(a) BD program) with constitutional requirements and the law.

    Small Business Administration · 2026-08-11 · official record ↗