Five Numbers Worth Knowing This Week — Mar 13, 2026
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Mar 13, 2026
Core CPI Comes in Hot Again — Third Straight Miss
February's Consumer Price Index showed core inflation at 2.9% year-over-year, ahead of the 2.7% consensus, driven by shelter costs and services. It's the third consecutive month core CPI has beaten estimates, and together with January's data, it's essentially erased the disinflationary progress of late 2025. Markets immediately repriced rate-cut expectations lower.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics — Consumer Price Index, February 2026
U.S. National Debt Crosses $36.2 Trillion
The U.S. national debt crossed $36.2 trillion this week, adding more than $2 trillion in just over a year. At current interest rates, the federal government now pays over $1 trillion annually just in interest — more than it spends on Medicare. The CBO projects the debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 107% by 2029, surpassing the post-WWII record.
Source: U.S. Treasury — Debt to the Penny
Americans Living Paycheck to Paycheck — Even at $100K+
A new PYMNTS survey found that 62% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck — including 36% of those earning over $100,000 annually. High housing costs, student debt, and lifestyle inflation are cited as the primary culprits. The data suggests the paycheck-to-paycheck problem is no longer just a low-income issue.
Source: PYMNTS — New Reality Check: The Paycheck-to-Paycheck Report
Global AI Investment on Track to Hit $2.1 Trillion by 2030
A new report from IDC projects global AI-related investment — hardware, software, and services — will reach $2.1 trillion by 2030, growing at roughly 29% annually. The U.S. accounts for about 40% of that spending, with China a distant but growing second. For context, $2.1 trillion is roughly the size of Italy's entire GDP.
Source: International Data Corporation — Worldwide AI Spending Guide, 2026
Four in Ten Gen Z Workers Say They'd Quit Over Return-to-Office Mandates
A new Resume Builder survey of 1,000 Gen Z workers found that 42% would leave their jobs rather than comply with a five-day in-office requirement. That's notably higher than Millennials (31%) or Gen X (22%). As major employers continue pushing RTO policies, the talent calculus is becoming more complicated — especially in tight labor markets for skilled roles.
Source: Resume Builder — Gen Z Return-to-Office Survey, 2026