DFLers say Minnesota shouldn't charge gas tax this summer as inflation hedge

Rising prices for gas, food and other necessities are confounding Minnesota policymakers who feel pressure from voters but have few levers to tame inflation.

Donors needed: Breast milk in short supply amid COVID-19 surge, winter weather woes

The Human Milk Banking Association of North America said it is in urgent need of donor breast milk which is essential to “saving the most vulnerable babies’ lives.”

US job growth soars past expectations with 467,000 added, shaking off omicron surge

U.S. job growth blew past expectations in January, as the economy brushed off a record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide that threatened to sideline millions of workers and kept many consumers at home.

Judge denies motion by restaurants to lift Minneapolis vaccine mandate

A judge has denied a group of restaurants' request to lift a vaccine mandate in place for Minneapolis, which requires the businesses to check vaccine cards.

Unemployment claims drop for the first time in a month

The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims fell by 30,000 to 260,000 last week, slightly less than the 265,000 analysts were expecting.

Boat show returns, but supply chain issues could put damper on Minnesotans' dreams

Greg and Shirley Smith came all the way from Austin, Texas to buy a couple of boats for their new property on Sturgeon Lake just south of Duluth. But they'll have to act quickly if they want to make sure they are able to hit the water this summer.

Unemployment claims climb to 286,000, the most since October

Jobless claims rose for the third straight week — by 55,000 to 286,000, highest since mid-October, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Best Buy CEO sees high worker turnover in US economy lasting 12-24 months

The heads of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve and Best Buy say uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will cloud the economy in the near term, with supply chain disruptions and a worker shortage likely to continue.

Best Buy CEO sees high worker turnover in U.S. economy lasting 12-24 months
video

The heads of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve and Best Buy say uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will cloud the economy in the near term, with supply chain disruptions and a worker shortage likely to continue.

‘Disappointing’ jobs report won’t slow interest rate hikes, experts say

The December jobs report came in lower than expected. However, experts explain why the Fed is still likely to raise interest rates in the first quarter of 2022.

Child tax credit 2021 payments: How to know if you owe, IRS letter to watch for

Families who received monthly payments as part of the expanded Child Tax Credit program in 2021 should look out for this letter from the IRS ahead of tax season.

$29,000 for an average used car? Would-be buyers are aghast

The days when just about anyone with a steady income could wander onto an auto lot and snag a reliable late-model car or buy their kid’s first vehicle for a few thousand dollars have essentially vanished. “I’ve never seen anything remotely close to this — it’s craziness.”

Student loan payment pause extended through May 1

President Joe Biden said financial recovery from the pandemic will take longer than job recovery, especially for those with student loans.

Nearly $100B in COVID-19 relief funds stolen, Secret Service says

Most of that figure comes from unemployment fraud. The Labor Department reported about $87 billion in unemployment benefits could have been paid improperly, with a significant portion attributable to fraud.

Minnesota jobless rate falls to 3.3%, lowest since pre-pandemic

Minnesota's unemployment rate, once battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, fell in November to 3.3 percent to match its pre-pandemic level.

Vaccine mandates aren't causing staff shortage, Mayo and Allina say

Two of Minnesota's biggest health care systems, Mayo Clinic and Allina Health, refute claims that their COVID-19 vaccine mandates are causing a staff shortage that has the state scrambling for answers.

COVID-19 hospitalizations surpass 1,500 in Minnesota

More than 1,500 people are now hospitalized from COVID-19 in Minnesota, according to data released by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Stocks sink on new COVID variant; Dow loses 1,000 points

A day after the Stock Market was closed for Thanksgiving, news of a new COVID-19 variant sent stocks falling, with the Dow losing 1,000 points.