Economy

Pilot Program In Virginia City Will Give $500 A Month To Low-Income Families

8:19am August 11, 2021

NPR's Noel King talks to Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson about the city implementing a program this fall to send $500 debit cards to low-income families every month for two years.

Average Wages Are Going Up, And So Are Prices

7:46pm August 10, 2021

by Scott Horsley

Employers have figured out what it takes to find workers in a tight job market: higher wages. Restaurant wages have increased almost 10% over the last year, which could affect menu prices.

Queue Listen Now

Retail Workers Are Quitting At A Record Pace. But Stores Are Rapidly Hiring, Too

4:40pm August 10, 2021

by Alina Selyukh

Retail workers are still quitting at a record rate. But they appear to be going to other retail jobs: Stores are actually hiring on an unprecedented scale, reaching 1.1 million new hires in June.

How 'The Pet Revolution' Unleashed A New Top Dog In America

12:11pm August 10, 2021

by Greg Rosalsky

A new book argues we've seen a fundamental shift in the treatment of pets since 1998.

As Nonprofit Disburses Rent Relief, Leader Says Government Can Make It Easier

4:54pm August 08, 2021

by Sarah McCammon

Lisa Isay, executive director of Bridges Ministries, describes her experiences distributing federal rental assistance in Jefferson County, Ala.

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona answers questions during a White House news briefing on Thursday.

Education Department Announces 'Final Extension' Of Student Loan Payment Freeze

6:34pm August 06, 2021

by Clare Lombardo

At the beginning of the pandemic, federal student loan borrowers were granted a reprieve on their loan payments. The U.S. Education Department says that reprieve will end on Jan. 31.

How BTS Is Adding An Estimated $5 Billion To The South Korean Economy A Year

6:11pm August 06, 2021

by Stacey Vanek Smith

BTS has become a global economic force. The seven-member South Korean boy band is creating jobs, billions in revenue — and even moving the needle on South Korea's GDP.

The U.S. Has Regained Almost 3/4 Of The 22 Million Jobs That Were Lost Last Year

4:27pm August 06, 2021

by Scott Horsley

U.S. employers added 943,000 jobs in July as the unemployment rate fell to 5.4%. Nearly 70% of the new jobs went to women.

News Brief: Fla. Schools Debate Masks, Jobless Data, Belarusian Athlete's Story

3:48pm August 06, 2021

Florida's school districts consider whether to require masks. The latest data on a recovering job market is released Friday. A sprinter from Belarus, who fled the Olympics, is now in Poland.

Restaurants in Miami and across the country are seeing surging demand from customers, but they are still struggling to recruit staff.

Restaurants Are Dangling Vacation And Matching 401(k), But Many Workers Aren't Biting

11:32am August 06, 2021

by Scott Horsley

As the U.S. economy continues to rebound from the pandemic recession, lots of people are going back to work — but not as quickly as many employers would like. Employers added 943,00 jobs in June.