Business

Economy

Minimum Wage Goes Up In 18 States On New Year's Day

7:56am January 01, 2018

by Joel Rose

Those hikes in the minimum wage range from just four cents in Alaska, to a full dollar in Maine. Advocates argue that's good for low-wage workers, but skeptics say it will cost jobs.

Queue Listen Now

Economists are seeing good times ahead in 2018, thanks to an upbeat business cycle.

Economy

Economists Are Saying We Will Have A Happy — Really Happy — New Year

5:03am January 01, 2018

by Marilyn Geewax

Economists and market analysts are optimistic about the outlook for the new year. Most are predicting continued job growth, rising stock prices and healthy profits. But slow wage growth could hurt.

Apple Issues Apology After Admitting To Slowing Down Older iPhones

4:49pm December 29, 2017

Apple is doing damage control after iPhone owners expressed outrage when the company admitted to intentionally slowing down older phones to preserve battery life. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Will Oremus, who is covering the story for Slate, now that Apple has put out an unsigned apology.

The Potential Impact Of Increasing The Minimum Wage

4:49pm December 29, 2017

by Joel Rose

People who work for the minimum wage in 18 states are getting a raise on Jan. 1. From Alaska to Maine, increases range from 4 cents to a dollar.

Queue Listen Now

Economy

The 50-Year Newspaper

3:30pm December 29, 2017

Daily news coverage gives us a lopsided view of the world. What would the top stories be if we only got a news update once every 50 years?

Episode 815: The Rest of the Story 2017

2:09pm December 29, 2017

Each year, we take a cue from radio legend Paul Harvey and bring you "The Rest of the Story." We check in on some of the episodes that we've done in the past year, and tell you what's changed.

Replacing batteries will speed up phones, Apple says. Here, an iPhone is seen being repaired in a shop in New York.

National

Apple Apologizes For Slowdowns, Lops $50 Off Battery Replacement Cost

1:27pm December 29, 2017

by Bill Chappell

"We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize," the company said in announcing a plan to help customers speed up their older iPhones.

The URB-E electric folding bicycle is displayed Nov. 28 inside the Technology Pavilion at the 2017 LA Auto Show.

New Wave Of Electric 2-Wheelers Hits U.S. City Streets

11:55am December 29, 2017

by Sonari Glinton

As battery technology improves and cities get denser, some West Coast companies are targeting millennial and Gen X consumers by producing cheaper and greener mopeds, scooters and e-bikes.

Queue Listen Now

Protesters rally outside a restaurant in St. Louis on Feb. 13. The service industry employs the largest percentage of minimum wage workers.

On New Year's Day, Many Low-Wage Workers Will Celebrate With A Raise

9:09am December 29, 2017

by Emily Sullivan

The federal minimum wage is stuck at $7.25 per hour. But many states have pushed wage floors higher over the years. Now, 18 states and 20 localities will raise their minimum wage on Jan. 1.

Economy

Homeowners Debate Whether To Prepay 2018 Property Taxes

8:15am December 29, 2017

The IRS said Wednesday that homeowners shouldn't prepay next year's property taxes — leaving many of them in legal limbo. David Greene talks to David Harrison of The Wall Street Journal.

Queue Listen Now