ECONOMY

Activists Refuse To Pay Rent As New York Struggles With The Coronavirus Outbreak

4:22pm April 30, 2020

by Jim Zarroli

With New York having the largest coronavirus outbreak among U.S. states, activists and community organizers are putting together strikes, refusing to pay rent on May 1.

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Mannequins dressed in wedding gowns and wearing protective face masks in Gaza City in March. With wedding halls closed and public gatherings forbidden to prevent the spread of the virus, many couples have celebrated their marriage in alleyways and apartme

In Gaza, Coronavirus Sparks Wedding Fever

3:09pm April 30, 2020

by Daniel Estrin

With wedding halls closed, Palestinians have saved big money with low-key parties.

How The CARES Act Became A Tax-Break Bonanza For The Rich, Explained

1:26pm April 30, 2020

by Terry Gross

New York Times reporter Jesse Drucker says the economic relief package is full of provisions aimed at big companies and wealthy individuals — some of whom may not have been impacted by the pandemic.

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Line chart showing weekly unemployment claims, with a sharp spike starting in late March

Economy

A Staggering Toll: 30 Million Have Filed For Unemployment

9:55am April 30, 2020

by Scott Horsley

Another 3.8 million people filed claims for unemployment last week, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to weigh on the U.S. job market. That brought the total for the past 6 weeks to 30.3 million.

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As Texas Reopens, Furloughed Workers Hope To Rejoin Workforce

5:39am April 30, 2020

Businesses in Texas, such as a Joe's Crab Shack in San Antonio, are preparing to reopen. A furloughed server discusses his concerns.

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Brown University President On Why Universities Need To Reopen By Fall

5:38am April 30, 2020

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Brown University President Christina Paxson about why reopening college and university campuses for the fall semester should be a "national priority."

What Happened Today: U.S. GDP Shrank, Contact Tracing Questions

9:24pm April 29, 2020

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

Public officials across the U.S. are considering using contact tracing to ensure a safe reopening of the states. NPR's health policy correspondent answers listener questions on contact tracing.

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The U.S. economy shrank in the first quarter, as the coronavirus lockdown began. The April-to-June quarter is expected to be worse.

Economy

'Tip Of The Iceberg': Economy Shrinks At 4.8% Pace, But Worst Is Yet To Come

5:13pm April 29, 2020

by Scott Horsley

The economy contracted in the first quarter of 2020 as the coronavirus began to take its toll and spending dived. It's the first quarterly drop in six years and a likely precursor to a deep recession.

Courtney Meadows says the coronavirus has changed how other people see her job as a grocery store cashier.

Economy

Grocery Cashier Is 'Putting A Little Positivity' Into Seniors' Shopping Trips

5:01pm April 29, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

Grocery stores have carved out special shopping times for seniors and others. "Just to be able to spend that one-on-one time with ... them. They definitely make me laugh," Courtney Meadows says.

U.S. GDP Shrank In The First Quarter, Expected To Worsen In The Second

3:58pm April 29, 2020

by Scott Horsley

The coronavirus is putting a big dent in the U.S. economy. The Commerce Department says the country's GDP has shrunk at an annual pace in the first quarter — and the second quarter will be worse.

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