Track the US Kill Line in real time
The US Kill Line is a data-driven economic stress index computed from real public datasets (CPI, unemployment, wages, rates).
If you’ve heard of the ALICE Threshold (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), this is a similar “survival line” idea—made trackable with drivers and scenarios.
Data sources behind the US Kill Line: BLS, Census, FRED, BEA. Not financial advice.
Fill a few numbers to instantly see your zone. For more accuracy, open the full calculator to tune more inputs.
Tip: switch scenarios to see what hurts you most.
Zone
Red zone
Runway (days): 94 days
Resilience (HP)
36/100
Optional: add debt for a more accurate essential outflow.
Result
Estimated buffer needed: $42,040
Distance to the line: -$27,040
Top risk driver: Medical out-of-pocket
Want more accuracy? Adjust insurance, unemployment months, medical bill, and rent shock in the full calculator.
Open full calculator
What is the US Kill Line?
The US Kill Line is a single score designed to summarize household economic pressure. It blends inflation, labor conditions, and rate pressure into a consistent, trackable line. If you’re familiar with the ALICE Threshold, think of this as a complementary, scenario-driven view that updates with macro drivers.
Real economic data
Compute the US Kill Line from CPI inflation, unemployment, wage growth, and interest rates—sourced from public datasets.
Transparent drivers
Break down what moves the US Kill Line score: prices, jobs, wages, and rates—so it stays explainable.
Compare periods
Compare the US Kill Line across months/years and see which components changed the most.
Export & share
Export charts and share a stable link so teams can discuss the result with the same context.
In the News
Latest coverage & primary sources
A curated set of links related to US Kill Line—plus primary datasets used for analysis. Neutral tone, no sensationalism.
The Employment Situation — January 2026
BLS reported nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130,000 in January, and unemployment stayed at 4.3%.
Household Debt and Credit — Q4 2025 (press release)
Quarterly snapshot of household debt balances and delinquency trends across loan types.
Employment Cost Index — Q4 2025
Tracks wage and benefit costs across industries—helpful for real wage pressure.
CPI release — January 2026 (published Feb 13)
BLS reported CPI rose 0.2% month over month and 2.4% year over year in January 2026.
Job Openings and Labor Turnover — December 2025
Job openings, hires, and quits—signals of labor demand and churn.
PPI release — January 2026 (rescheduled to Feb 27)
BLS announced the January PPI release was postponed by one week due to the federal shutdown.
Timeline
JOLTS release for December 2025
Job openings, hires, and quits provide labor-demand context for household risk.
ECI Q4 2025 release
Wage and benefit cost growth helps interpret real wage pressure.
NY Fed household debt snapshot
Quarterly debt and delinquency trends add credit-stress context.
Jobs report for January 2026
Payrolls rose by 130,000 and unemployment stayed at 4.3%, anchoring job-risk assumptions.
CPI and real earnings release (published)
CPI: +0.2% MoM, +2.4% YoY. Real average hourly earnings: +0.3% MoM, +1.2% YoY.
PPI release for January 2026 (rescheduled)
BLS postponed PPI by one week due to the federal shutdown.
Links are provided for context and education. Dates follow official release calendars and may be revised. US Kill Line is informational and not financial advice.
On X
US Kill Line community pulse
A curated set of posts discussing the US Kill Line, cost-of-living pressure, and practical resilience tactics.
BLS: Involuntary part-time workers decreased by 453,000 in January 2026, a key underemployment signal for household stress.
BLS: Real average hourly earnings rose 0.3% in January 2026, but essential-cost pressure is still uneven across households.
BLS: Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 130,000 in January 2026; job quality still matters alongside headline growth.
BEA: Starting February 2026, personal income and outlays statistics are released on the same day and time as GDP estimates.
BEA: The weekly release schedule is updated, making it easier to track upcoming macro data dates.
New York Fed: February Empire State Manufacturing Survey shows business activity increased modestly in New York State.
Federal Reserve: Weekly H.8 data on assets and liabilities of U.S. commercial banks is now available.
The Conference Board: January consumer confidence dropped 9.7 points to 84.5, with declines in both current conditions and expectations.
We link out to external posts and do not embed third-party widgets on the homepage.
Macro Snapshot
Live signals behind the line
A quick view of inflation, unemployment, and rate pressure—useful context for the US Kill Line.
Updated: 2026-02-23
These signals provide context and are not financial advice.
US Kill Line features
Everything you need to calculate, explain, and track the US Kill Line from real economic data.
Real data inputs
Use CPI inflation, unemployment, wage growth, and rate data to compute the score on a consistent timeline.
Transparent methodology
See the formula components and how each driver contributes to the final score.
Driver breakdown charts
Understand what moved the line: prices, jobs, wages, or rates—supported by clear visuals.
Compare periods
Compare across months/years and spot regime shifts with side-by-side views.
Exports and sharing
Export charts for reports and share a stable link to a US Kill Line snapshot.
Alerts (optional)
Set thresholds and get notified when the line crosses key levels.
Methodology & FAQ
Quick answers about the US Kill Line calculator, data sources, and how to interpret results. Questions? Email support@uskillline.com.
Run the US Kill Line Calculator
Enter your income, liquid assets, fixed costs, and a stress scenario to estimate your buffer, zone, and distance to the US Kill Line (education only).