All Economy
Pay was starting to outpace US inflation. Can it keep up?Stubborn inflation is not only upsetting investors who await interest rate cuts. It’s also threatening to undermine the rise in workers’ real wages.
First LookLA County constantly fights homelessness. How AI helps prevent it.Millions struggle with housing affordability in Southern California. But Los Angeles County’s experimental tool combines more than 400 factors to identify the residents most at risk of ending up on the streets – and it’s working.
Do immigrants help or hurt the US economy? The answer might surprise you.Immigration and the economy are top concerns of voters ahead of the 2024 election. But political talking points don’t tell the whole story.
Can bitcoin, despite risks, make leap from trendy to trusted?Bitcoin’s endgame is becoming more pertinent due to a planned “halving” this month. It hinges on trust, as with other matters in the finance world.
Trump defied political norms. Now he tests the stock market.Some call Trump Media & Technology Group a “meme stock.” But in financial markets, confidence tends to hinge on fundamentals of finance, not the risky ground of emotion or personal trust.
Baltimore bridge collapse prompts focus on safetyWhen a cargo ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, it caused the bridge to collapse and resulted in loss of life, loss of a major commuter highway, and the closing of the Port of Baltimore. It also puts a focus on bridges and their vulnerability.
First LookFor small creators, TikTok means revenue and exposure. That could all go away.Marketers and influencers are already starting to pivot from campaigns that rely on reaching consumers through TikTok. But for smaller creators and entrepreneurs, the app is a crucial way to reach fans – and it can’t necessarily be replaced.
First LookRealtor commissions are changing. So could the price of selling a home.Multiple lawsuits have claimed homeowners were unfairly forced to pay artificially inflated agent commissions when they sold their homes. On March 15, the National Association of Realtors agreed to change its rules and pay sellers $418 million.
District of Columbia scrambles as pandemic comeback proves elusiveWashington wrestles with a slow post-pandemic recovery, with wider lessons about cities redefining their future.
Biden-Trump rematch: How dueling economic records stack upTo their supporters, both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have economic success stories to boast about. Our charts give context for their competing claims.
The ExplainerFiling taxes is hard. A new IRS program could change that.Does filing taxes in the United States have to be so hard? In dozens of countries, most taxpayers don’t need to file a return at all.
First LookWendy’s says, where’s the beef in surge pricing?Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner, during a conference call earlier this month, announced the chain would test fluctuating prices on its menu. As food prices stay high despite US economic growth, Wendy’s hopes to entice more business.
Meet Sora: AI-created videos test public trustOpenAI’s Sora could widen society’s social trust deficit. How do people know what to believe when they “can’t believe their eyes”?
Americans feel better on economy. It’s taken a while.A gap persisted last year between consumers’ dour mood and more upbeat data. But such gaps can close. Economists look at the role trust and optimism play in an economy’s health.
First LookMexican goods flow into US markets, outpacing Chinese importsMexico is now the leading supplier of goods for the United States. This shift, a result of dialed-up Beijing-Washington tensions, sees the two neighboring North American countries strengthening trade.
First LookLawmakers prioritize housing as US rents, eviction rates soarA record number of Americans can’t pay rent. To prevent evictions, state lawmakers are addressing the issue from a wide variety of angles.
FocusA tale of two companies: Can Boeing, Cruise rebuild customer confidence?When companies make errors, patrons often forgive. When they lie, it’s hard to rebuild trust. This dynamic is now playing out with U.S. firms Boeing and Cruise at a time when public confidence in big businesses is low.
Job gains confirm a US economy exceeding expectationsThe latest economic numbers show an increasingly positive narrative: decelerating inflation, no recession in sight, and surprisingly strong job growth.
Crypto was started to address a collapse of trust. Can it be trusted?Cryptocurrency emerged to address fading trust in traditional institutions. But to fulfill its promise, it might need to learn old-school lessons.
From Bubba Gump to bust? American shrimpers face extinction.American shrimp boats are being made obsolete by foreign shrimp farms with dubious practices. To survive, boat captains will need to change.
