Economics in the News – June 15-21, 2026
Economics impacts our lives every day. Below are some of the top storylines from this past week related to economics.
o For many people, the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to accommodate for workers to balance work and life priorities through working in a remote setting. For parents, it’s provided the opportunity to raise their kids without having to pay expensive daycare fees. Even still, 26 percent of parents are working remotely at least several days of the week.
It's been beneficial for many younger couples, who have said they wouldn’t have otherwise had children. However, employers have increasingly cut back on benefits and support for working parents. Mothers in the workforce with young and teenage kids at home is higher than it was pre-pandemic. Many are working out of necessity for the household in order for the household to keep up with rising expenses. Others are working because they want to and are investing in careers they care about. [The New York Times]
o Toy Story 5 made its highly anticipated debut in theaters, and it is estimated to have sold $312 million in tickets worldwide throughout its first four days on the big screen. The Disney-Pixar film was expected to generate $160 million in ticket sales in North America, making it the largest release of the year. The film is said to have cost $250 million to produce, with another $100 million going toward marketing.
Toy Story 5 is the latest in a rebound season for Hollywood filmmakers, as the summer season has brought an estimated revenue of $1.85 billion in ticket sales. That marks a year-over-year increase of 16 percent and the best start to the summer season since 2019. Other movies that have done well this year include the Michael Jackson biopic called “Michael,” “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” [The New York Times]
o Wealthier classes of Americans are beginning to feel uneasy about the economy. Roughly 40 percent of Americans who call themselves middle-to-upper middle class are unsure whether they have the savings to retire comfortably, while roughly 86 percent of upper class and upper-middle class Americans are nervous that their children will not have the same luxuries in life that they enjoyed.
Middle- and working-class Americans have felt the economic strain for some time, but the pessimism among the Americans doing the best financially is heightened and worrisome. More Americans are unsure that a four-year college degree provide the benefits that are worth the hefty price tag, as roughly 56 percent of middle-class survey participants believe it is not. Another fear is the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and that it will displace them from the workplace at white collar jobs. [The Wall Street Journal]
o The US war in Iran has put a strain on farmers – some of President Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters. Soybean farmers have been hit especially hard, becoming some of the most impacted workers of Trump’s trade wars. Trump’s decision to raise tariffs to their highest levels since the 1930s caused China to purchase American soybeans in Brazil instead of the US.
As a result, sales of soybeans dropped to $3 billion – a drop of more than $15 billion from its 2022 peak. Lower sales prices and higher input costs have led to more farmers borrowing money, and loans in excess of $100,000 face an average interest rate of seven percent. In addition, tariffs on steel and aluminum mean that farming equipment such as tractors, combines and harvesters are significantly higher. [The Washington Post]
o The Chicago White Sox are giving their fans a reason to cheer other than results on the field. The White Sox put together three consecutive 100-loss seasons, including a 121-loss season in 2024 that marked the most losses for a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in the game’s history.
That has led to the White Sox providing fans with one of the best values in professional sports. Tickets are a reasonable cost, especially to take a family to the game. The White Sox are focusing more on the experience of going to the game, rather than the game itself. Quality food with reasonable prices is one of the perks. The team is also at the top of MLB in terms of giveaway items, including t-shirts and throwback jerseys. And this year’s team is showing more promise on the field too, squarely in the mix for a postseason spot in mid-June. [Bloomberg]
