Economy

Hiring slowed in April, but economists say the job market is still solid

4:53pm May 03, 2024

by Scott Horsley

U.S. employers added 175,000 jobs in April. That's the smallest number in six months. A gradual cooling of the job market may help to ease concerns about inflation.

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Economy

Hiring slowed in April. The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs

9:42am May 03, 2024

April's job growth was down from the previous month, according to a new Labor Department report. The unemployment rate rose slightly, from 3.8% to 3.9%, but remains low by historical standards.

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Iowa recently became the fourth Republican-led state to ban spending public money on basic income programs that do not have a work requirement.

After a boom in cash aid to tackle poverty, some states are now banning it

5:13am May 03, 2024

by Jennifer Ludden

Four states so far have passed laws prohibiting the use of public money for no-strings cash aid. Advocates for basic income say the backlash is being fueled by a conservative think tank.

Luis Escarraman spent $139 when he picked up some vitamin C and a few items of clothing for himself and his daughter. "I need to work extra to get what I used to have before," he told NPR.

Voters in this 'boomerang' county say they're nostalgic for the Trump economy

11:08am May 02, 2024

by Asma Khalid

Voters in Northampton County, Pa., say they remember having more money when Donald Trump was in office. But when it comes time to cast their ballots this year, other issues are at play too.

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Economy

High tariffs are keeping affordable Chinese-made EVs out of the U.S. for now

5:15am May 02, 2024

by Camila Domonoske

U.S. policymakers from both parties have proposed higher trade barriers, or even bans, to keep the vehicles out more permanently.

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Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell and his colleagues voted to hold interest rates steady at a 23-year high on Wednesday. The central bank is trying to curb stubborn inflation.

Fed keeps interest rates at 23-year high

5:50pm May 01, 2024

by Scott Horsley

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, as inflation remained stubbornly above the Fed's 2% target. Investors now think it could be September or later before rates start to fall.

Getting inflation below the Fed's 2% goal is taking longer than expected

5:39pm May 01, 2024

by Scott Horsley

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, and investors now think borrowing costs could stay higher for months to come. Inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed's 2% target.

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Rhaina Cohen and her husband live in a row house with another couple and their two children in Washington, D.C. Cohen says they wanted to share a home with people who they were excited to live with — and who they could depend on. From left to right: Cohen, her husband, her housemate's child and her housemate.

What is 'communal living' and is it right for me?

7:44am May 01, 2024

by Sam Leeds

People who've lived in co-ops, communes, group houses and 'intentional communities' share four questions you should ask yourself before taking the leap.

Economy

The Federal Reserve is weighing what to do about interest rates

7:22am May 01, 2024

by horsley

The U.S. economy has been sending some mixed signals lately. Consumers say they're less confident, but they keep spending more money. It's a lot for the Federal Reserve to puzzle over.

Restaurant prices rose 4.2% over the last year. But Americans continue to dine out regularly.

Wages, employment, inflation are up, causing headaches for the Fed

4:27pm April 30, 2024

by Scott Horsley

The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady this week — and possibly for months to come — as policymakers try to sort through mixed signals about the U.S. economy.