Aug 07 U.S. added 1.8 million jobs in July, a sign that hiring has weakened By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Many employers have been reluctant or unable to hire, with about two-thirds of the nation having paused or reversed reopening plans early last month. Continue reading
Aug 06 Watch 7:43 During economic collapse, business owners with criminal records are haunted by their past By Paul Solman, Sam Lane American businesses suffering through the pandemic’s economic fallout have received hundreds of billions of dollars in federal loans since the Paycheck Protection Program opened this spring. But accessing that funding was challenging for business owners with criminal records. Economics correspondent… Continue watching
Aug 06 Laid-off workers endure loss of $600 aid calling it a ‘nightmare’ By Sarah Skidmore Sell, Paul Wiseman, Associated Press Even if Congress does reach a deal, the extra unemployment amount is likely to be less than $600. By the time the money starts flowing, it could be too late for many Americans who are already in dire straits. Continue reading
Aug 06 WATCH: Pelosi and Schumer urge continued unemployment assistance By Associated Press At a news conference Thursday morning, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., staked out a firm position to extend financial assistance to unemployed Americans. Continue reading
Aug 06 1.2 million seek jobless aid after $600 federal checks end By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 1.2 million laid-off Americans applied for state unemployment benefits last week, evidence that the coronavirus keeps forcing companies to slash jobs just as a critical $600 weekly federal jobless payment has expired. The Labor Department’s report… Continue reading
Aug 02 Watch 5:23 America’s COVID-19 economy struggles as cases climb By PBS NewsHour As the emergency $600-per-week unemployment benefit expired on July 31, officials expressed optimism for another relief package. The bill, being negotiated right now, would be the fifth since the pandemic hit and likely the last before the November elections. Diane… Continue watching
Jul 31 Rent and other monthly anxieties deepen as aid falls off By Russ Bynum, Associated Press The coronavirus pandemic is entering a new month, meaning Americans struggling amid the economic fallout once again have to worry about paying their rent. Many who lost jobs months ago are already behind on payments. Continue reading
Jul 30 Watch 8:10 How long we can expect the U.S. economic catastrophe to endure The coronavirus pandemic leveled the U.S. economy in the second quarter of the year, leading to the worst collapse since the Great Depression. Gross domestic product fell by more than 9 percent between April and June. While some parts of… Continue watching
Jul 30 Record economic plunge, bleak jobs numbers reveal virus toll By Martin Crutsinger, Paul Wiseman, Associated Press The coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy plunging by a record-shattering 32.9% annual rate last quarter. It is still inflicting damage across the country, squeezing already struggling businesses and forcing a wave of layoffs that shows no sign of abating. Continue reading
Jul 28 Watch 10:30 Should Congress extend the additional $600 per week in unemployment? The emergency unemployment benefits millions of Americans have been receiving are proving to be a major dividing point for lawmakers working on a coronavirus relief package. Should the extra $600 per week be extended through the end of 2020, or… Continue watching