Davie, Surry and Randolph counties improve in state's economic tier rankings
Davie, Surry, and Randolph were among the four counties that improved their rankings under the latest North Carolina Department of Commerce’s economic tier system.
Economy
How the U.S. economy fared this year — and what could lie ahead
NPR's Michel Martin talks to David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center at the Brookings Institution, about how the U.S. economy performed this year — and what could be expected for 2024.
Soaring utility bills push some low-income Californians to the financial brink
Californians face another electricity rate hike, in part to pay for PG&E to bury power lines to prevent wildfires. As climate change raises energy costs, low-income residents struggle to pay bills.
A visit to Xi Jinping's model village in rural China
Mao Zedong built China's Communist revolution on the back of the country's impoverished peasants, and now Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants a new economic revolution to take root in the countryside.
A forecast of what this winter's heating bills will look like
People in much of the country should enjoy lower heating bills this winter. But many families are still struggling with the cost of staying warm.
Why corporate bankruptcies were up in 2023 despite the improving economy
Hundreds of debt-saddled companies filed for bankruptcy this year, as the era of easy money caught up to corporations. High interest rates mean banks aren't extending lifelines.
The $7,500 tax credit for electric cars will see big changes in 2024. What to know
The electric vehicle tax credit will be easier to get next year — but fewer models could qualify, as the government imposes stricter eligibility requirements.
Holiday spending is up, another good sign for the economy
Data show consumer spending from November 1 through Christmas Eve rose 3.1% year over year — a figure in line with the decade leading up to the pandemic and another positive sign for the economy.
These 5 charts show how life got pricier, but also cheaper, in 2023
Inflation eased this year, and wages are now climbing faster than prices. Americans are still spending, even if they have to borrow money to do so.
From Swiftie beads and Barbie to Beyonce, girls ran the world economy in 2023
Girl spending was one of the most powerful economic forces in 2023. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concerts boosted local and national economies. World leaders begged Taylor Swift to come and perform.