Economy

Awak Awak started mountain biking when the pandemic forced the restaurant where he worked to shut down.

The Pandemic Pushed People Outside And Now, Some Companies Hope They Stay There

11:43am March 25, 2021

by Frank Morris

Millions of people headed outside for recreation during the pandemic, sparking a banner year for many outdoor gear companies. Now, those companies hope to lock in their newly expanded markets.

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H&M logos are covered by red cloth at a closed store Thursday in Urumqi in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

China Retaliates Against Clothing Brands After Western Sanctions

10:34am March 25, 2021

by Emily Feng

Clothing companies H&M, Nike and Adidas face boycotts for their refusal to use cotton from China's Xinjiang region.

Economy

Unemployment Claims Fall To Lowest Level Since Pandemic's Start

10:19am March 25, 2021

Claims are still high by historical standards, but it's a sign of slow healing from the worst crisis since the Great Depression. Fed Chair Jerome Powell reflected on that earlier Thursday with NPR.

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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifies during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Dec. 2, 2020. In an interview with NPR on Thursday, Powell compared the central bank's response to the pandemic to the rescue of British and allied forces

Jerome Powell: Economy Is Better Thanks To 'Dunkirk'-Like Rescue By Fed, Congress

9:32am March 25, 2021

by Scott Horsley

The Federal Reserve chairman tells NPR that the U.S. economy is on a clear path to recovery thanks to the Fed's rescue plan and the stimulus passed by Congress.

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Economy

A Year After Pandemic, Fed Will Pull Back On Emergency Economic Support

7:22am March 25, 2021

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell about the economic recovery. One year ago, the Fed was creating trillions of dollars to help avoid economic collapse.

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Awkward job interviews are the worst, amirite?

How To Make Job Interviews Less Horrible

4:55pm March 23, 2021

by Greg Rosalsky

A new book takes on an overlooked flaw in human judgment that can affect an organization's ability to make sound decisions about hiring and more.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a House committee hearing on Sept. 23, 2020 in Washington, D.C. Powell, along with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, is set to appear before the House again on Tuesday to discuss relief aid and the state of the econ

Fed Chair Touts 'Much Improved' Economy 1 Year After Stocks Hit Pandemic-Era Low

9:59am March 23, 2021

by Scott Horsley

Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will tell Congress the economy is recovering but that more needs to be done to get to pre-pandemic levels

A record low number of homes for sale is pushing up prices and making it harder for first-time buyers to afford homeownership.

Out Of Whack: Lack of Homes For Sale Sends Prices Surging, Frustrates Buyers

3:56pm March 22, 2021

by Chris Arnold

Sales of existing homes fell 6.6% in February from the month before. Meanwhile, prices are up 16% over the past year, giving homeowners about $2 trillion more in equity and widening the wealth gap.

California reported a significant surge in unemployment claims this year for independent contractors, accounting for more than a quarter of all such claims nationally and raising concerns about widespread fraud. Above, a runner passes the office of Califo

Fraudsters Still Claim Unemployment Relief, As Feds Pump Billions More Into System

10:37am March 22, 2021

by Martin Kaste

Almost a year after identity thieves made off with tens of billions of dollars in COVID-19 unemployment relief, the system remains vulnerable. And scammers are coming to light now during tax time.

Amin Nasser, president and chief executive officer of Saudi Aramco, speaks during the fourth edition of the Future Investment Initiative conference at the Ritz-Carlton hotel on Jan. 27, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Oil Giant Aramco Reports 44% Profit Slump In 2020 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

7:03pm March 21, 2021

by Alex Leff

Saudi Arabia's state-backed oil company earned $49 billion last year as the pandemic slashed fuel demand around the globe, in what its CEO called "one of the most challenging years in history."