Notes
Working notes on money data — what the figures mean, where they come from and how to read them. The numbers themselves live on the country pages and rankings.
- Fiscal Deficit by Country: How to Read and Compare It
Compare fiscal deficits by country: what the number means, where the official data lives, and how to read deficit, debt and primary balance together.
2026-10-23
- Migration Inflows by Country: Where the Data Comes From
How to read migration inflows by country: official sources, key 2024 figures for the OECD, US and EU, and the definitional traps that make rankings misleading.
2026-10-22
- Debt-to-Income Ratios: How Lenders Calculate and Judge Yours
How debt-to-income ratios work for a U.S. mortgage: the formula, front-end vs. back-end DTI, limits by loan type, a worked example and ways to lower yours.
2026-10-21
- FDI Inflows by Country: 2025 Data and How to Read It
See FDI inflows by country for 2025 from UNCTAD and OECD, why the rankings differ, and how to compare countries using GDP share, stock and data sources.
2026-10-20
- Unemployment vs Inflation: How the Two Really Relate
Unemployment and inflation tend to move in opposite directions in the short run, but the link has weakened. See the Phillips curve, recent data and how to compare.
2026-10-19
- Inflation Seasonality: 0.2–0.4 Percentage Points Can Mimic a Trend
Residual seasonality can make inflation spikes look like trends. Check seasonal factors, data vintages, and components in FiatMap’s official country series.
2026-10-16
- Energy Prices: Don’t Mix Household and Industrial Rates by Country
Compare household and industrial electricity prices by country with IEA, Eurostat, and regulator data, then check figures on Fiatmap’s interactive map.
2026-10-15
- Mortgage Stress Tests for Analysts: Compare Countries, Not Loans
See how analysts calibrate mortgage stress tests across countries, apply BIS, IMF, and EBA frameworks, and link adverse scenarios to policy action.
2026-10-14
- Global Bank Lending Rates: 5 Checks for Fair Country Comparisons
Compare global bank lending rates with care: see why country figures differ, follow a practical checklist, and find World Bank, IMF, and Fiatmap data tools.
2026-10-13
- Rates vs. House Prices: Why Owners Stay Put as Rates Rise
Explore how mortgage rates affect house prices through affordability, supply, and owners staying put; use country data and tools to test payment scenarios.
2026-10-12
- Current Account by Country: Why GDP Shares Change the Picture
Compare current account balances by country in dollars and as a share of GDP. Find official data and use Fiatmap to speed comparisons.
2026-10-11
- Median Rent by Country: Avoid the City vs. National Average Trap
Compare median rents across countries without confusing city and national figures. Learn how dates, home sizes, and rent definitions shape affordability.
2026-10-10
- Test U.S. Wage Purchasing Power Against 3.4% Inflation
See how inflation changes wage purchasing power, calculate real pay, compare salaries with PPP, and assess tax and mortgage costs using official statistics.
2026-10-09
- Rent to Income Ratio: 5 Steps to Compare Countries Fairly
Compare rent to income ratios across countries with consistent measures, five calculation steps, and statistics from UN-Habitat, OECD, and Eurostat.
2026-10-08
- 0–20% + 3.8% NIIT: Estimate 2026 Capital Gains on U.S. Property
Estimate your 2026 capital gains tax on U.S. property with step by step calculations, a worksheet, and sample examples. Covers the IRS forms: Form 8949,...
2026-10-07
- Build a Household Price Index to Track Inflation and Living Costs
Learn why headline inflation may not match your bills. Build a household price index, use country level data, and check local rates with Fiatmap.
2026-10-06
- Spot vs Forward Rate: Test Funding vs Forecast With 128 Countries
Discover why forward prices reflect interest gaps, funding, and liquidity rather than forecasts. Try Fiatmap's 128 country rate maps to test any currency...
2026-10-05
- Two Month Test: Compare Expat Cost of Living With PPPs and Live Rents
Compare expat cost of living correctly: pair PPPs with live city rent samples and run a two month tracked budget before you move.
2026-10-04
- 128+ Countries Where GDP Misleads, GNI Shows Resident Income
Learn how GDP and GNI differ, why net primary income changes the headline, and when to quote each. Find World Bank GNI data for 128+ economies.
2026-10-03
- Verify Lender Math: Mortgage Payment Formula, Hand, Excel & Global Rates
Learn the mortgage payment formula, verify a lender's monthly figure by hand and in Excel, and compare costs using global rate data.
2026-10-02
- Investors: Size Inflation Hedging Assets by Horizon and Country
Research backed global advice to size inflation hedging assets by horizon and country, using central bank and IMF studies plus Fiatmap's 128 country data.
2026-10-01
- 26 Central Banks on Inflation Targeting Regimes and Fiatmap Data
How 26 central banks run inflation targeting regimes. BIS and IMF frameworks meet Fiatmap country data to compare targets and horizons.
2026-09-30
- Reproducible REER for Researchers: 7 Steps, 5 Data Sources
Create a reproducible REER series: a 7 step checklist, five canonical sources (BIS, ECB, IMF, World Bank, FRED) and Fiatmap data options.
2026-09-29
- Spot Inflation Signals: PPI vs CPI for Analysts, Compare 128 Countries
Learn how PPI and CPI differ, what divergences mean for markets, and how analysts use Fiatmap to compare inflation across 128 countries.
2026-09-28
- 12–18 Month Lag: Inflation and Interest Rates Hinge on Expectations
A policy-centered explainer on how inflation and interest rates interact, why effects usually show after 12–18 months, and how expectations and loan types...
2026-09-27
- You Don't Need 20%: Down Payment Requirements Range from 0% to 25%
Why 20% is not required. See program minimums from 0% (VA/USDA) to 3–3.5% (conventional/FHA) and 10–25% for jumbo, plus tools to model your real monthly cost.
2026-09-26
- Compare Cost of Living Across 128 Countries and Test Affordability
Compare price level benchmarks, current CPI and local rent across 128 countries. Run a personal affordability test using Fiatmap's official data and...
2026-09-26
- 10% Currency Depreciation Adds ~3pp to Inflation: Check Country Data
A 10% currency depreciation typically adds roughly 3 percentage points to CPI within a year. Learn when pass-through is larger and how to judge...
2026-09-24
- Plug $300,000 at 6.5% to See Mortgage Amortization with Fiatmap
Understand mortgage amortization with a calculator ready $300,000 at 6.5% example. Use Fiatmap to compare rates and test payment scenarios.
2026-09-24
- Expect 6.2–6.5%: U.S. 2026 Mortgage Rate Forecast and What to Do
Data first 2026 mortgage outlook: baseline 6.2–6.5%, downside ~5.9%, upside >6.8%. Use Fiatmap tools and get lock or float guidance.
2026-09-23
- Use PPPs, AIC and PLIs to Compare GDP and Cost of Living
Skip raw GDP. Compare living standards with PPP adjusted GDP per capita, AIC, and price level indexes. Run three checks, verify Fiatmap.
2026-09-21
- 3,000 Households: Read the Consumer Confidence Index Before You Buy
How the Consumer Confidence Index uses a 3,000 household survey, why monthly swings can mislead, and how to check context with Fiatmap.
2026-09-20
- Export Dependency by Country: Download CSV, Reproduce with Fiatmap
Compare export dependency by country using World Bank, UNCTAD, and OECD sources. Download the CSV, reproduce the rankings, and embed Fiatmap visualizations.
2026-09-19
- Use Debt to GDP, Not Trillions: U.S. Deficit vs Debt Explained
Learn the simple difference between a budget deficit and national debt. Read U.S. headlines using debt-to-GDP and net interest, with links to primary data.
2026-09-18
- Investors: Use Fiatmap Data to Pick International Real Estate
Data first playbook for investors. Use Fiatmap data on 128 countries to run mortgage, inflation, and macro checks before investing in international real...
2026-09-17
- 2.30% Example: Inflation Breakevens Explained for Investors
Practitioner explainer of inflation breakevens with the subtraction formula, a 2.30% worked example, notes on risk and liquidity premia, and where to find...
2026-09-16
- Euro Area Wage Indexation: Verify Rules With IMF and ECB Data
Which euro area governments automatically index wages and why it matters. See IMF and ECB findings, country rules, and how to verify formulas with...
2026-09-15
- Top 10 Foreign Reserves by Country, Reconciled and Downloadable
Reconciled, data-first Top 10 of countries' foreign reserves using IMF COFER, World Bank and central bank figures. Includes currency composition,...
2026-09-14
- 2.1% vs 3.4%: Why U.S. Inflation Adjusted Home Prices Are Flat
FHFA Q2 2026 shows nominal prices +2.1% YoY versus July CPI 3.4%, leaving inflation adjusted U.S. home prices essentially flat. Rebuild the charts with...
2026-09-13
- Monetary Policy Transmission for Economists: Models, ID, Global Data
How central bank rate moves ripple through markets into spending and inflation. Model evidence, 12–24 month lags, and cross country data.
2026-09-12
- 6–24 Months: When an Open Mortgage Beats a Closed One in Canada
Decide which mortgage costs less in Canada. Compare open rate premiums to IRD or three months' interest and model your break even with Fiatmap.
2026-09-11
- Gini Data for 128 Countries: Reproducible Reference for Researchers
Download harmonized Gini series for 128 countries. Compare income versus consumption, apply region-specific corrections, and reproduce citation ready...
2026-09-11
- When 6% Nominal Still Loses: Real Interest Rates With Fiatmap Data
Learn how to calculate real interest rates, spot when nominal yields still lose to inflation, and use Fiatmap's free CSV/JSON data and maps to compare...
2026-09-10
- Compare Core and Headline Inflation Using Your Country's Data
Learn what headline and core inflation each reveal, when to watch which number, and how to compare them with your country's official data on Fiatmap.
2026-09-09
- Compute NEER and REER Using Free CPI and Exchange Rate CSVs
Calculate NEER and REER, choose weights and base years, and build REER with free CPI and exchange rate CSVs for hands on policy and classroom analysis.
2026-09-07
- Calculate Your Loan to Value Ratio: 80% Rule and Worked Example
Calculate your loan to value ratio with a clear worked example, learn the 80% PMI breakpoint, and run scenario comparisons across 128 countries.
2026-09-06
- 2.7% vs 3% Risk: Inflation Outlook 2026 for Analysts
Consolidates IMF, Fed, CBO, and SPF forecasts into a probability-aware inflation outlook for 2026, with scenario-tested portfolio moves and Fiatmap data...
2026-09-05
- Practice Balance of Payments with Data from 128 Countries for Students
Student friendly explainer of the balance of payments with a worked example and a hands on exercise using Fiatmap data from 128 countries.
2026-09-04
- 3 Months' Interest vs IRD: Mortgage Prepayment Penalty Can Cost $4,875
See how mortgage prepayment penalties are calculated. Compare IRD versus months of interest and model your own payoff with market rate data before...
2026-09-04
- Fiatmap Examples Make Interest Rate Parity Practical for Investors
Formulas and one year examples explain covered and uncovered parity. Use Fiatmap data and a DIY checklist to run the calculation yourself.
2026-09-03
- 5 Steps Homebuyers Should Use to Compare APR and Interest Rate
Know when APR or the interest rate matters. Use a 5-step checklist to compare offers, calculate point break-even, and test quotes against market data.
2026-09-03