Economy

Should The Rising Federal Deficit Be Considered In Pandemic Relief Talks?

8:03am October 19, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Millions of unemployed Americans are still waiting for help from the federal government, but pandemic relief efforts have stalled. Republicans point to a ballooning federal deficit.

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Hundreds of unemployed Kentucky residents wait in long lines outside the Kentucky Career Center in Frankfort for help with their unemployment claims on June 19. New research shows savings built up by the jobless are starting to run out.

Economy

'I'm Still Unemployed': Millions In Dire Situation As Savings Start To Run Out

5:08pm October 17, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Many unemployed Americans have been tapping into their savings to pay bills. But those savings are going fast, and hopes for a new round of pandemic relief before the election are fading.

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What's The Impact of Bars Shutting Down on Innovations and New Ideas?

4:59pm October 16, 2020

There's a long history of bars playing a vital role in innovation and economic growth. NPR discusses what may happen now that the coronavirus pandemic has shut down so many of them.

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Pandemic Forces More Women To Leave The Workforce

4:07pm October 16, 2020

by Brianna Scott

More than 800,000 American women dropped out of the labor force last month — a significantly larger number than men. For many, the move didn't happen by choice.

Pandemic Thins Out Savings Of Unemployed Americans

4:07pm October 16, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Many unemployed Americans have had to tap into their savings to pay bills. Hopes for a new pandemic relief bill before the election are fading, and those savings for many are largely exhausted.

Shoppers stroll through the newly reopened Westfield Santa Anita mall in Arcadia, Calif., on Oct. 7.

Shoppers Came Back To Department Stores In September, Lifting Retail Sales

3:36pm October 16, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

U.S. retail spending grew 1.9% last month, delivering a slight boost of confidence amid a recent spate of signs that the economic recovery has lost momentum from the pandemic's toll.

The government shortfall for the fiscal year that just ended is far greater than was seen during the height of the Great Recession. The national debt now exceeds the size of the U.S. economy.

$3.1 Trillion: Pandemic Spending Drives The Federal Budget Deficit To A Record

3:18pm October 16, 2020

by Jim Zarroli

The government shortfall for the fiscal year that just ended was more than triple that of 2019. The national debt of $21 trillion now exceeds the size of the U.S. economy.

High Point Market Returns With Pandemic Precautions

9:33am October 16, 2020

by Paul Garber

The High Point Market is back with a new look for the fall.

Compare President Trump's and Democratic nominee Joe Biden's policy positions.

From Health Care To The Economy: Where Trump And Biden Stand

8:16am October 16, 2020

by Elena Moore

NPR Politics has pulled out the major party presidential candidates' plans on key issues facing the country. Read our guide to their policies.

Economy

Poverty Levels In Minority Communities On The Rise

7:33am October 16, 2020

Rachel Martin talks with economist William Spriggs about the rise in poverty levels, especially among minority communities in the U.S., due to the lack of new coronavirus stimulus.

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