ECONOMY

News Brief: Christopher Krebs, Pentagon Shake-Up, COVID-19 Jobless Benefits

7:53am November 18, 2020

President Trump fires the nation's election security czar. A recent shake-up in Pentagon senior leadership raises many questions. Up to 12 million Americans could lose jobless benefits after Dec. 25.

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Judy Shelton appears before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee in February. President Trump's nominee to the Federal Reserve has said she supports the gold standard and has questioned the mission of the central bank.

Senate Blocks President Trump's Controversial Nominee To The Federal Reserve Board

7:18pm November 17, 2020

The 47-50 vote came as Sens. Mitt Romney and Susan Collins sided with Democratic senators to preserve a filibuster of Judy Shelton's confirmation. Two other Republicans missed the vote.

People wait in line outside for their turn to enter the JD Sports store in New York City on Nov. 5.

Shoppers Snap Up Electronics, Aren't Splurging Elsewhere

12:03pm November 17, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Shoppers kept buying electronics and home improvement supplies, but sales overall rose only 0.3% in October.

Are There Too Many Political Appointees?

6:30am November 17, 2020

by Greg Rosalsky

There are so many appointees the government publishes a book to help keep track of them and that might not be enough.

Judy Shelton testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee during a February hearing on her nomination to the Federal Reserve's board of governors. A slim majority in the Senate is expected to confirm Shelton this week.

Controversial Fed Nominee Set To Prevail In Senate Confirmation Vote This Week

5:15pm November 16, 2020

by Scott Horsley

The Senate is expected to vote this week on the controversial nomination of Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve's governing board. She appears to have support from a slim majority of senators.

Biden And Harris Address The U.S. Economy And Lay Out Their Plans For Recovery

4:41pm November 16, 2020

by Asma Khalid

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris met with business and labor leaders on Monday before addressing their approach to managing the economy.

Paulson: U.S. And China Compete For Technological, Innovative Superiority

6:11am November 16, 2020

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson about the U.S. and China, and the pressure on the incoming Biden administration to tackle the economic issues between the two.

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A woman sits in a theater in Irvine, Calif., waiting for a movie to start, on Sept. 8. A COVID-19 vaccine could unleash pent-up spending from households that have mostly avoided activities like going to the gym during the coronavirus pandemic.

Vaccine Could Unlock Trillions In Spending, Leading To 'Biden Boom'

7:22am November 13, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Pent-up demand from households that have been cooped up over the last eight months could drive a spending boom in the spring, providing a big boost to the economy.

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News Brief: Bolton's Message To Republicans, Biden's Economy, COVID-19 Vaccine

5:01am November 13, 2020

John Bolton urges Republicans to accept a Biden presidency. Biden could see a boom in the economy with the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine. And, poorer countries might not receive a vaccine until 2023.

Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, sold millions of dollars' worth of company stock on Monday as part of a preset plan. But NPR found irregularities about when the CEO entered into that plan.

Pfizer CEO Sold Millions In Stock After Coronavirus Vaccine News, Raising Questions

8:32pm November 11, 2020

by Tom Dreisbach

Pfizer's CEO sold $5.6 million worth of stock on Monday. The company says the stock sale was made as part of a preset plan. But NPR found irregularities about when the CEO entered into that plan.

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