Data & financial journalist covering global economics and policy
In 2025, the U.S. economy didn’t simply cool or rebound but changed in ways that were visible in the data itself.
A shutdown distorted inflation, tariffs reset global trade, U.S. debt buyers quietly swapped places, and food prices surged. I pick five charts that captured how policy and politics reshaped the American economy in 2025.
IMF projections show U.S. government debt climbing faster than most G7 peers, surpassing the group’s average in 2025 and reaching about 143% of GDP by 2030—second only to Japan.
In June 2025, foreign official institutions drove a $80 billion net inflow into U.S. Treasuries, with the U.K. recording the largest one-month increase among major holders.
U.S. trade deficit shrank to $60.2B in June 2025, the lowest since Sept. 2023, driven by falling imports and rising tariff uncertainty.