ECONOMY

The Federal Reserve has helped push interest rates to record lows, which allows millions to consider refinancing. But a new fee from Fannie and Freddie could introduce an obstacle, critics say.

Want To Refinance Your Home Loan With Record Low Rates? Get Ready For A Hefty Fee

5:20pm August 14, 2020

by Chris Arnold

Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will start charging an extra upfront fee in September ... as much as $1,500 for a $300,000 loan. Lenders are upset and blame the Trump administration.

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Jay Clayton, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, testifies during a hearing on Capitol Hill in May 2019. At his 2017 confirmation hearing, Clayton pledged "zero room for bad actors in our capital markets," but enforcement of insider tradin

Under Trump, SEC Enforcement Of Insider Trading Dropped To Lowest Point In Decades

5:00pm August 14, 2020

by Tom Dreisbach

Kodak and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., are facing high-profile insider trading investigations, but data show the Securities and Exchange Commission pursued far fewer insider trading cases last year.

A pedestrian walks by Saks Fifth Avenue as New York City continues relaxing more restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Midsummer Shopping In Recovery Mode: July Retail Sales Rise 1.2%

9:07am August 14, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

People particularly stocked up on electronics and appliances, took more trips with stops at gas stations, and cautiously went out to eat as more stores and restaurants reopened.

A sign advertises hiring of temporary workers at a Pier 1 store that's going out of business in Coral Gables, Fla. Last week, initial unemployment claims broke a 20-week streak of being above 1 million.

Economy

New Jobless Claims Dip Below 1 Million For 1st Time Since March

4:16pm August 13, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Initial unemployment claims had been above 1 million for 20 straight weeks. The total receiving unemployment also dipped, to 28.3 million, as of July 25.

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Trump Executive Orders On Unemployment See States Footing Part Of The Bill

7:28am August 13, 2020

by Paul Braun

Louisiana and other states are struggling to keep unemployment state funds afloat, now the Trump administration wants them to contribute more money to federal benefits.

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Employers are supposed to stop withholding the payroll tax on Sept. 1. But companies need guidance from the IRS on exactly who is eligible to have their taxes suspended and how to keep track so those taxes can eventually be repaid.

Payroll Tax Delay To Boost Take-Home Pay, But Don't Spend It Yet

10:57am August 12, 2020

by Scott Horsley

President Trump has directed the Treasury Department to stop collecting payroll taxes this fall in an effort to boost workers' paychecks. But the move is temporary, and could spark headaches in 2021.

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Economy

U.S. Sees Housing Boom Amid Economic Crisis

5:48am August 12, 2020

Most of the U.S. economy is in decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but home sales are skyrocketing at a record pace. NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money discusses the boom.

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House Majority Leader On Coronavirus Relief Bill

7:51pm August 11, 2020

by Kelsey Snell

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., about negotiations over coronavirus relief bill and President Trump's executive actions over the weekend.

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How are you doing financially as the coronavirus economy drags on into fall? We're listening.

Tell Your Story: How Are You Coping In The Coronavirus Economy?

4:39pm August 11, 2020

It's been about five months since our economy ground to a halt. How has the pandemic affected your job, your finances and your family?

White House Economic Adviser On Relief During The Pandemic

4:24pm August 11, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Joseph Lavorgna, chief economist of the White House's National Economic Council, about economic relief during the coronavirus pandemic and the priorities going forward.

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