ECONOMY

Local Governments Across America Say They're Desperate For Federal Help

3:59pm December 16, 2020

by Jim Zarroli

The National League of Cities says local governments have seen their revenue plunge 21% on average since the beginning of the pandemic. Cities and towns say they desperately need federal help.

Shoppers walk through Macy's in New York on Black Friday last month. Retail sales declined 1.1% in November, according to the Commerce Department.

U.S. Retail Spending Declined The Most Since Historic Plunge In April

3:59pm December 16, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Retail sales dipped 1.1% in November compared with a month earlier as new coronavirus surges restricted outings to stores and especially restaurants.

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President Trump speaks in April about the Paycheck Protection Program. From left are Jovita Carranza, head of the Small Business Administration; Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin; and adviser Ivanka Trump.

Scores Of Private Charitable Foundations Got Paycheck Protection Program Money

12:51pm December 16, 2020

by Sacha Pfeiffer

At least 120 foundations collectively received more than $7.5 million from the program that was set up to help small businesses during the pandemic. Critics say they didn't need a taxpayer subsidy.

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Bernie Sanders On Coronavirus Relief Bill

3:52pm December 15, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont about his concerns regarding the bipartisan pandemic relief legislation.

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The Backcountry Boom

6:30am December 15, 2020

by Greg Rosalsky

In mountains across America, skiers and snowboarders are ditching ski lifts and heading into the backcountry. We talked with a pioneer of backcountry snowboarding about how we got here.

Lawmakers Split Over Liability Protections In Pandemic Relief Bill Negotiations

3:48pm December 14, 2020

by Scott Horsley

A standoff over pandemic-related liability protections for businesses has emerged as one of the biggest sticking points holding up the much-needed coronavirus relief bill.

Economy

Commercial Real Estate Vacancies Rising During Pandemic

7:59am December 12, 2020

by Adrian Ma

Commercial real estate is sitting empty in much of the country. That's bad news for landlords, and for the rest of the economy.

Abigail Disney presentation on the TED MainStage, as part of TED2020: Uncharted.

Economy

Abigail Disney: How Can Corporations Treat Their Lowest-Paid Employees Better?

9:17am December 11, 2020

by NPR/TED Staff

At large corporations like Disney, many employees can barely get by. Filmmaker and Disney descendant Abigail Disney says that's unacceptable. She calls on Disney and others to put people over profit.

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Tammy Lally: What Is The Personal Toll Of A Financial Crisis?

8:59am December 11, 2020

by NPR/TED Staff

Acquiring debt and buying on credit has been the American way since the 1920s. Financial advisor Tammy Lally describes the toll that consumerism and money-shame had on her family in the early 2000s.

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Elizabeth White: How Have This Century's Financial Crises Affected Older Adults?

8:59am December 11, 2020

by NPR/TED Staff

At age 55, Elizabeth White lost her job--and her entire safety net--in the 2008 recession. Her story isn't uncommon. White says, now more older adults are pushed out of their jobs and into poverty.

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