Economy

Surge In Coronavirus Cases Could Short-Circuit Economic Recovery

6:08am July 07, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Restaurants, retail shops, and other service industries are starting to bounce back from the deep recession. But those gains could be jeopardized by a rise in new coronavirus infections.

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Bars Struggle After Being Forced To Close Again During Pandemic

6:08am July 07, 2020

by Kirk Siegler

After allowing bars to reopen, some states and counties are forcing them to close after COVID-19 cases surge. Bar owners are struggling to balance safety and health risks with economic realities.

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"We don't have a whole lot of options that don't involve risking our lives," says New Orleans resident Lauren Van Netta, who has asthma and other health issues.

'We Need Help': People At Higher Coronavirus Risk Fear Losing Federal Unemployment

4:15pm July 06, 2020

by Chris Arnold

An extra $600 a week in federal unemployment runs out at the end of July — even for people with underlying health conditions who are at much greater risk if they contract COVID-19.

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It wasn't easy in early March to get a test in the U.S. confirming you had the coronavirus — scarce availability of tests meant patients had to meet strict criteria linked to a narrow set of symptoms and particular travel history.

Early Coronavirus Testing Restrictions Led To Some Big ER Bills

3:40pm July 06, 2020

by Julie Appleby

People with COVID-19 symptoms in March and April were often billed for expensive scans and bloodwork because they didn't qualify back then for a confirmatory coronavirus test. Some are crying foul.

How The Recession Has Benefited The Richest Of The Rich

8:13am July 06, 2020

by Jim Zarroli

While much of the country is mired in economic hardship, a small group has emerged richer. They've benefited from a buoyant stock market and tax code changes that have favored the wealthy.

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Newark Mayor On Guaranteed Income To Alleviate Income Inequality

5:40pm July 05, 2020

NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark, N.J., about a pilot program in his city that will provide cash payments to families in an effort to remedy economic inequality.

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Health Justice Lawyer Argues For Nationwide Eviction Moratorium

5:25pm July 05, 2020

NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with law professor Emily Benfer about what local and federal officials need to do to avoid a housing crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Economy

June Job Increase Threatened By Recent COVID-19 Surge

7:53am July 05, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Millions of Americans went back to work last month as the economy re-opened. But the job gains could be jeopardized by a new surge in coronavirus infections.

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The Latest Economic And Health Effects Of Pandemic

5:22pm July 04, 2020

COVID-19 cases are surging in several states. In some places, officials are urging people to stay home and enjoy July 4th celebrations, like fireworks, from their houses.

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A couple has lunch under plexiglass protection designed by Christophe Gernigon at the H.A.N.D restaurant, on May 27, 2020, in Paris, as France eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business As Usual During The Pandemic, This Time Through Plexiglass

4:03pm July 03, 2020

by Sacha Pfeiffer

Demand for plexiglass has skyrocketed due to the coronavirus as businesses worldwide install protective barriers.