Jan 28 U.S. economy shrank 3.5 percent in 2020 after growing 4 percent last quarter By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press Stuck in the grip of a viral pandemic, the U.S. economy grew at a 4 percent annual rate in the final three months of 2020 and shrank last year by the largest amount in 74 years. Continue reading
Oct 29 Watch 6:57 How the pandemic has shifted U.S. labor from services to goods The last major economic report before Election Day indicates a 7.4 percent growth rate in economic output during the year’s third quarter. It’s a sharp rebound from the record plunge of the previous quarter, and the fastest pace since World… Continue watching
Oct 29 U.S. economy grew at 33 percent rate in third quarter, but recovery is incomplete By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The U.S. economy grew at a sizzling 33.1% annual rate in the July-September quarter — by far the largest quarterly gain on record — rebounding from an epic plunge in the spring, when the eruption of the coronavirus closed businesses… Continue reading
Oct 27 Watch 6:01 Program putting artists to work during pandemic takes leaf from the past By Jared Bowen, GBH The arts have been devastated by the pandemic, with consumer spending in the sector dropping significantly this year. Now, a pilot program in the mountains of western Massachusetts is looking to ideas from the past to ensure artists’ futures. Special… Continue watching
Oct 20 Watch 6:49 Without more federal aid, U.S. economy could take years to recover from pandemic The coronavirus relief package Congress and the White House are negotiating over has a dual purpose of easing financial hardship for the unemployed and putting more money into the hands of consumers to keep the economy running. What happens when… Continue watching
Oct 13 Social security checks to increase modestly in 2021 despite COVID-19 economic fallout By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Social Security recipients will get a modest 1.3% cost-of living-increase in 2021, but that might be small comfort amid worries about the coronavirus and its consequences for older people. Continue reading
Oct 08 U.S. layoffs remain elevated as 840,000 seek jobless aid By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to a still-high 840,000, evidence that job cuts remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession. Continue reading
Oct 06 Fed Chair Powell says lack of further stimulus ‘would lead to a weak recovery’ By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Strong financial support from the government and the Federal Reserve have spurred a solid recovery from the pandemic recession, but the rebound may falter without further aid, Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned Tuesday. Continue reading
Sep 10 Money for $300 unemployment boost to run out after 6 weeks By Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press The program was created last month by President Donald Trump to replace a more generous $600-a-week supplement that had been authorized by Congress but expired. Continue reading
Sep 09 Watch 7:18 How will Woodward’s Trump revelations affect American voters? With Election Day now less than two months away, how will revelations that President Trump intentionally misled Americans about coronavirus risk affect voter intent? The Washington Post’s Gary Abernathy and Kansas-based journalist Sarah Smarsh, author of “Heartland,” join Judy Woodruff… Continue watching