ECONOMY

Michelle Lee, who has worked for Safeway for 32 years, wishes customers would be more patient about shortages. "They can't understand why they keep coming back and we don't have" items such as toilet paper, she says.

Economy

Grocery Worker Has Never Seen Shelves Being Emptied Like This

9:22pm May 07, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

Michelle Lee, a Safeway cashier, wishes customers would be more patient about shortages. "They can't understand why they keep coming back and we don't have" items such as toilet paper, she says.

Economy

CARES Act Oversight: How It Works And Why It Is Necessary

4:17pm May 07, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Bharat Ramamurti, a member of Congressional Oversight Commission. He is appointed to oversee federal funds to help out big businesses affected by the coronavirus.

The Unemployment Number Keeps Rising Across The Nation

4:08pm May 07, 2020

The latest weekly state unemployment figures have been published on Thursday — more than three more million people are out of work.

Coronavirus Update: States Are Trying To Ensure Safe Reopening

4:08pm May 07, 2020

As parts of the country reopen, states are looking to ramp up testing. NPR's health policy, economics and White House correspondents discuss whether states are doing enough to open up safely.

Tom Colicchio is a James Beard Award-winning chef and the lead judge on Bravo's Top Chef. Restaurants are "cultural centers" that provide a semblance of normalcy and connection in trying times, he says.

Table For None: Tom Colicchio Explains What Restaurants Need To Survive

3:07pm May 07, 2020

by Terry Gross

The Top Chef judge is focused on keeping his industry afloat during the pandemic. "We're really looking at saving every restaurant, because we think that every restaurant needs to be there," he says.

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Carolyn Mendel, a General Mills plant manager in Wellston, Ohio, says she has compared notes on workplace safety with a rival frozen food maker nearby.

At The Frozen Pizza Factory That Never Closed: Social Distancing In A Tent

1:38pm May 07, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Carolyn Mendel oversees a team of about 1,000 people at a factory in Ohio that makes Totino's Pizza. A tent for employee breaks is among the safeguards added to protect the workers.

Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus has become the first department store to declare bankruptcy during the coronavirus pandemic.

Neiman Marcus Bankruptcy Is 1st By A Department Store During Coronavirus Crisis

1:20pm May 07, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

The luxury chain known for its extravagant Christmas Book catalog had been losing money before the pandemic. The move follows J.Crew's bankruptcy filing on Monday, foreboding potentially more to come.

A pedestrian walks past a sign in a shop window in Boston on April 28. The coronavirus crisis has shut down much of economy, leaving millions out of work.

Economy

3.2 Million More Are Out Of Work As Jobless Claims Keep Piling Up

9:06am May 07, 2020

by Jim Zarroli

Another 3.2 million people filed for benefits, bringing the total number of jobs lost during the pandemic to 33.5 million. The government is expected to report a huge jump in unemployment Friday.

Economy

Data Sharpen Focus On How Many Workers Lost Jobs To COVID-19

8:47am May 07, 2020

by Jim Zarroli

The number of people who have filed first-time claims for unemployment is updated Thursday. And on Friday, the government releases the April unemployment report.

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Economy

Passengers Face New Reality As Airlines Adapt To Pandemic Restrictions

7:43am May 07, 2020

by David Schaper

The new reality of social distancing conflicts with tightly packed airplanes. For now, airlines are blocking out middle seats and taking other measures. What happens when more travelers come back?

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