ECONOMY

Economy

How the delta variant and supply chain problems smothered the economy's sparkle

7:29am October 28, 2021

The U.S. economy slowed sharply in late summer and early fall, as the Delta variant and persistent supply chain problems weighed on growth. Prospects for the coming months may be brighter.

How the proposed tax on billionaires would actually work

5:06pm October 27, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Adrian Ma of the Planet Money podcast about the "billionaire tax" being proposed by Democrats to help fund the Build Back Better legislation.

When will it stop being the 'pandemic economy?'

4:55pm October 27, 2021

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with economist Austan Goolsbee about what it will take for the U.S. to recover from the unique economic challenges posed by the pandemic.

Top student loan official testifies on troubled loan forgiveness program

4:55pm October 27, 2021

by Cory Turner

The head of the U.S. Department of Education's federal student lending office, Richard Cordray, testified before a House panel Wednesday, about changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speak to reporters Tuesday about a corporate minimum tax plan. On Wednesday Wyden unveiled another tax proposal, this one aimed at billionaires.

Senate Democrats unveil a plan for a new tax on billionaires

8:12am October 27, 2021

by Kelsey Snell

Democrats say the tax on billionaire assets would help pay for President Biden's social spending bill.

Skimpflation is giving you less for your money.

Meet Skimpflation: A Reason Inflation Is Worse Than The Government Says It Is

12:26pm October 26, 2021

by Greg Rosalsky

The economy is malfunctioning. We're spending more and getting less. The problem is bigger than just standard inflation.

Los Angeles International Airport and SoFi Stadium employers spoke with potential job applicants at a job fair in Inglewood, Calif., in September. About 19% of all households in an NPR poll say they lost all their savings during the COVID-19 outbreak, and

Black and Latino families continue to bear pandemic's great economic toll in U.S.

5:06pm October 25, 2021

by Laurel Wamsley

A new poll finds more than 55% of Black and Latino households have faced serious financial problems in recent months. And more than a quarter have depleted their savings.

Financial catastrophe looms as Congress works to address the country's debt ceiling

4:59pm October 25, 2021

by Claudia Grisales

The clock is ticking for Congress to address America's debt ceiling that lets the government borrow money to pay its bills. A financial catastrophe may follow if it isn't resolved by early December.

A battle over taxes continues to brew as the IRS is seeking to obtain more bank account information, a move strongly opposed by Republicans and the lenders themselves.

Does the IRS really want to spy on your bank account? The latest tax fight, explained

7:50am October 25, 2021

by Scott Horsley

The Biden administration hopes to help fund its agenda by cracking down on tax evasion, but its plan to require more bank information is drawing strong opposition from GOP lawmakers and banks.

Tracking bank account information could help curb tax evasion, but there's pushback

4:15pm October 22, 2021

by Scott Horsley

The Biden administration hopes to help fund its agenda by cracking down on tax evasion, spotting cheats using account information from banks. It's drawing opposition from GOP lawmakers and banks.