Understanding the current economy situation in the United States is important for investors, businesses, and individuals. Knowing how the US economy is performing can help you make the right decisions when it comes to investing, spending, or budgeting. The last few years have seen a significant improvement in the US economy as employment rates have improved and consumer confidence has increased. But what exactly is driving this growth? 

A brief overview of the US economy can be gleaned from the six figures below. Economists rely on them to determine the state of the economy because they measure the early factors that influence growth.

The unemployment rate has remained low throughout 2022. The unemployment rate was 3.7% in November 2022.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, real GDP, which is frequently used as a gauge of the economy as a whole, increased by 2.9%. Prior to that, GDP had decreased by 1.6% and 0.6%, respectively, in the first and second quarters, but had increased by 3.2% in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, orders for durable goods like machinery and equipment increased by 0.5 percent, while orders for nondurable goods like pharmaceuticals, food, and lodging increased by 1.5 percent.

The Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee raised interest rates by 50 basis points in December 2022, with a goal range of 4.25 percent to 4.50%.

Between November and December, the Consumer Price Index decreased by 0.1 percent. Over the past year, prices on all items increased by 6.5 percent, the smallest increase since October 2021.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both experienced significant declines in January 2022, and both indexes were low and erratic into March before regaining ground in April. Overall, the stock market experienced growth during the previous year.

The S&P 500 entered a bear market in June, falling 20% below its most recent peak. The index had regained some of that ground by September, but it was still significantly below its peak.

Talking about the jobs and unemployment, In the monthly jobs report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics examines how many workers businesses added to their payroll. In November 2022, the economy added 263,000 jobs as employers continued to hire steadily.8 Farmworkers are not included because farming is seasonal.

Manufacturing employment is a crucial indicator. When businesses begin cutting back on their workforces, it's possible that the economy is entering a recession.

The manufacturing sector lost 1.3 million jobs in April 2020, which hurt the economy. Since then, manufacturing employment has steadily increased and is now slightly higher than it was before the pandemic.

In November 2022, the unemployment rate was 3.7%, which was close to the 3.5% rate before the pandemic. Since March, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 3.5 and 3.7 percent. In addition, as of December 2022, the target range for the fed funds rate was between 4.25 percent and 4.50%. In total, there were six million people without jobs.

The Fed funds rate's target range should remain at a level that is compatible with an average inflation rate of 2% over the long term in an economy that is doing well. Businesses and consumers will see lower interest rates as a result of this.

Inflation is the major contribution factor which reflects the US Economy. In December 2022.5, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed an inflation rate of 6.5 percent year over year. Inflation is the rate at which prices rise. When inflation is low, it means that there isn't enough demand to make prices go up. When inflation is high, you will pay more for the same goods and services you bought last month or last year.