Business

Measurement Tool Used In New Tax Bill Will Impact Deductions And Brackets

by Jim Zarroli

The government tracks prices on consumer goods — eggs, shoes, gasoline, etc. But when prices rise, people often make substitutions, like buying chicken if beef gets expensive. So economists have come up with the notion of "chained inflation" to take substitutions into account. That's the measurement the new tax bill uses, and it makes the consumer price index smaller, with an impact on deductions and brackets.

Holiday Season Seems To Have Helped Struggling Retail Industry

by Uri Berliner

Americans spent freely over the holidays, making it the best Christmas shopping season in years. Sales picked up as the economy continues to recover, with unemployment down and consumer confidence up. Weather and a favorable shopping calendar also boosted the fortunes of retailers.
The United States leads the world in spice consumption, but also in spice imports.

Americans Love Spices. So Why Don't We Grow Them?

by Kristen Hartke

Buying local fruit, vegetables and meat has become increasingly popular in the United States, but we still import most of our spices. Some say homegrown spices are a growth opportunity for farmers.

Facebook, Twitter Issue Policy Changes To Manage Fake News And Hate Speech

Facebook and Twitter update their platforms in order to better manage the amount of misinformation and hate speech that show up on people's news feeds. Kerry Flynn, a reporter at Mashable, speaks with NPR guest host Ray Suarez on what to make of these changes and whether they'll be effective.