Marketplace Morning Report Population growth in the U.S. is slowing
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Mar 26, 2026 Carla Javier, Marketplace reporter who covered the pawn shop economy on-site. Nancy Marshall-Genzer, Marketplace reporter who breaks down Census Bureau population estimates. They discuss slowing U.S. population growth, sharp metro declines along the U.S.-Mexico border, shifting domestic migration toward Sun Belt cities, and the surge in pawn shop activity as people borrow more.
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Nationwide Population Growth Is Slowing
- U.S. population growth slowed sharply from July 2024 to July 2025 according to Census estimates.
- Metro growth fell from ~1% to ~0.5% driven largely by a big drop in net international migration, hitting 310 of 387 metros.
Border Cities Face Big Declines
- Border metros saw dramatic population declines in places like Laredo, Yuma, and El Centro.
- Census data show immigration fell in nine out of 10 U.S. counties, reflecting large regional variation at the border.
Falling Immigration Weakens Workforce Replacement
- The main driver of slower growth was a large decrease in net international migration.
- That matters because the U.S. relies on immigrants for young workers and Social Security contributions amid falling birth rates and retiring baby boomers.