Search Council for Economic Education's full glossary for terms and definitions

U

Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury in relatively small denominations for individual investors. Investors who buy U.S. Savings Bonds in effect make a loan to the government, in return for the government's promise (represented by the bond, a nontransferable debt certificate) to repay the loan with interest. The interest is free from state and local taxation. U.S. Savings Bonds are considered to be risk-free investments, since they are backed by the U.S. government.

The number of people without jobs who are actively seeking work.

The number of unemployed people, expressed as a percentage of the labor force.

The unexpected and unplanned results of a decision or action.

The cost per unit of measurement. A way for consumers to compare the costs of different sizes of the same item.

Impulsive use of money with little or no consideration of alternatives and resulting in unplanned consequences.

Debt without collateral; credit card debt, for example.

A law which establishes a maximum permissible interest rate for a particular type of loan. Loans at rates above the usury ceiling are illegal.

An abstract measure of the satisfaction consumers derive from consuming goods and services.