Economy

Economy

A new bill could save retailers from paying a fee when customers use credit cards

8:03am September 18, 2022

Retailers have been complaining that credit card companies have the upper hand - charging them "swipe fees" when customers use cards. A bipartisan bill is in the works that could change that dynamic.

Around the world, people are feeling the push and pull of inflation

4:37pm September 16, 2022

Argentines are partying hard in Buenos Aires' bustling bars, despite inflation. Across the pond, German companies are switching gears in response to high gas prices, as Russia shuts off its supply.

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In happier times, Susan Morrison and her husband Calvin liked to vacation in their motor home. But they've had to park it this year because of the high cost of diesel fuel.

Americans are paying more and getting less as inflation hits home

2:49pm September 16, 2022

by Scott Horsley

Rising inflation has meant fewer restaurant meals, getaways and even doctor visits for many Americans, as nearly 4 in 10 say their family finances have gotten worse in the last year.

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Economy

Unions are changing, but they may have trouble gaining ground in North Carolina

11:26am September 16, 2022

by Paul Garber

Grace Marvell, a 21-year-old biology major at Appalachian State University, wears a black t-shirt with what appears to be the familiar Starbucks logo with an image embedded

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A tentative deal announced Thursday would avert a strike on the nation's freight lines with the potential to throw supply chains into chaos. Above, a CSX freight train travels through Alexandria, Va.

A deal to avert a rail strike is on track, but it won't fix U.S. supply chain issues

10:22am September 16, 2022

by Scott Neuman

Supply chain disruptions have eased since the height of the pandemic, but concern over a potential rail strike, which appears to have been narrowly averted, highlights how that system remains fragile.

The White House is encouraging regulators to exercise more oversight of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.

Economy

The White House calls for more regulations as cryptocurrencies grow more popular

10:13am September 16, 2022

by David Gura

The Biden administration is calling for more oversight as the adoption of cryptocurrencies grows, saying they pose significant risks.

Transportation secretary on averting rail strike that threatened major disruptions

4:44pm September 15, 2022

NPR's Sarah McCammon speaks with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the railroad deal and how this affects labor going forward.

In 1993, Queen Elizabeth II and her heir, then-Prince Charles, reached a deal with the government in which they agreed to voluntarily pay taxes — but to be exempt from an inheritance tax. Mother and son are seen here in 2019 in London.

No, King Charles III won't pay any inheritance tax on his massive gain

2:17pm September 15, 2022

by Bill Chappell

Under a government agreement, King Charles III won't have to pay the U.K.'s standard 40% inheritance tax on the massive wealth he inherits from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at the Amtrak Johnstown Train Station, Sept. 30, 2020, in Johnstown, Pa.

Biden says tentative railway labor deal has been reached, averting a strike

12:47pm September 15, 2022

by Andrea Hsu

President Joe Biden said Thursday a tentative railway labor agreement has been reached, averting a potentially devastating strike before the pivotal midterm elections.

Margaret Davis (left) and Delisa Williams (right) became acquainted when they moved into the Salvation Army Center of Hope shelter, just outside Charlotte, N.C. Both women receive federal benefits, but the monthly amounts aren't high enough for them to be able to rent an apartment.

High rents outpace federal disability payments, leaving many homeless

5:01am September 15, 2022

by Fred Clasen-Kelly

Supplemental Security Income, a federal program meant to be a financial floor for people unable to work, hasn't kept pace with inflation. Many recipients are homeless, unable to save for an apartment.