ECONOMY

U.S. factories are thriving thanks to unexpected strong demand for all kinds of goods, but that is also leading to unexpected headaches.

Biden's picks to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Securities and Exchange Commission signaled in a Senate hearing they'd be tougher cops on the beat than their Trump era predecessors

Storage facilities are packed to capacity. But with the impact of the pandemic, a lot of people are failing to make payments. Every month, hundreds of them have their stored items auctioned.

The House early Saturday passed President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Now the measure heads to the Senate.

Senate takes up the COVID-19 relief package. New York Gov. Cuomo promises to comply with an investigation into allegations of workplace harassment. Myanmar marks its most violent day since the coup.

The proposal, which would provide a new round of financial support for workers, families and businesses, will now advance to the Senate.

Backers of the president's ambitious stimulus plan say it will help struggling families and businesses, but critics say it goes too far.

Next week's pay increase would put Costco ahead of much of the industry. CEO W. Craig Jelinek said higher pay reduces turnover and boosts productivity.

Democrats are using the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill to introduce measures they say will reduce poverty. People already at risk for falling behind have seen big setbacks over the past year.

"Black individuals make up about 21% of all renters, but they make up 35% of all defendants on eviction cases," says Peter Hepburn, a researcher for Princeton University's Eviction Lab.

Powell warned it will take time to put millions of jobless Americans back to work, while also downplaying inflation threats.

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center at the Brookings Institution, about Democrats' aim to pass a COVID-19 relief package with a hike in the federal minimum wage.