Biden's Treasury secretary nominee Janet Yellen clears Senate committee
The Senate Finance Committee has approved President Joe Biden’s nomination of Janet Yellen to be the nation’s 78th Treasury secretary.
Biden signs executive orders on $15 minimum wage for federal workers, food aid increases
President Joe Biden plans to take executive action to provide a stopgap measure of financial relief to millions of Americans.
Unemployment claims fall to a still-high 900,000
Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, lowering claims to 900,000, still a historically high level that points to further job cuts in a raging pandemic.
Wall Street stocks rally to records on Inauguration Day 2021
U.S. stocks are rallying to records Wednesday on encouraging earnings reports and continued optimism that new leadership in Washington will mean more support for the struggling economy.
Jobless claims jump to 965,000 as COVID-19 pandemic takes toll
The number of people seeking unemployment aid soared last week to 965,000, the most since late August and evidence that the resurgent virus has caused a spike in layoffs.
Biden eyes child tax credit expansion among stimulus measures: Report
President-elect Joe Biden is imminently expected to outline his plans for additional stimulus measures as the U.S. battles surging COVID-19 cases.
Schumer pledges quick delivery of $2,000 stimulus checks: 'We will get that done'
Senate Democrats plan to make another coronavirus relief package — including sending an additional stimulus payment to many Americans — one of their top priorities for the year once they assume control of the chamber.
Unemployment continues to hurt low-income workers amid pandemic
Ten months into America’s viral outbreak, low-income workers are still bearing the brunt of job losses — an unusual and harsh feature of the pandemic recession that flattened the economy last spring.
US lost 140,000 jobs in December; first monthly loss since spring
U.S. employers shed jobs last month for the first time since April, cutting 140,000 positions, clear evidence that the economy is faltering as the viral pandemic tightens its grip on consumers and businesses.
US trade deficit widens to $68.1 billion in November
The November gap between what America buys from abroad compared to what it sells abroad rose by 8% from the October deficit of $63.1 billion.
Jobless claims slip to still-high 787,000 in the US
The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell slightly to 787,000, evidence of a job market stumbling in the face of the viral pandemic and the damage it has inflicted on the economy for nearly 10 months.
Unemployment benefit claims unexpectedly fall as coronavirus lockdowns widen
The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell last week amid a rise in COVID-19 infections and new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the disease.
McConnell blocks immediate Democratic push for $2,000 stimulus checks
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Democrats' push to immediately bring President Donald Trump's demand for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks up for a vote.
Minnesota minimum wage to increase on Jan. 1
Minnesota’s minimum wage will increase to adjust to inflation on Jan. 1, 2021, the state Department of Labor and Industry announced Monday.
McConnell praises Trump for signing COVID-19, government funding bills
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised President Trump late Sunday for signing a $900 billion pandemic package and a $1.4 trillion government funding bill to avert a government shutdown.
'It does break my heart a little bit': A bleak Christmas for America's unemployed
Millions of Americans have been jobless since the viral pandemic ripped through the U.S. economy in March, triggering a deep recession and causing widespread unemployment.
House GOP, Dems stymie requests to reconsider stimulus, spending package after Trump grievances
House Republicans and Democrats Thursday blocked each others' "unanimous consent" requests put forward after President Trump aired grievances to the massive coronavirus stimulus and government funding package.
House Dems will try to pass $2,000 stimulus checks this week after Trump signals support
House Democrats are planning to force a vote this week on increasing the size of the stimulus checks included in the $900 billion coronavirus relief package after President Trump demanded Congress raise the payments from $600 to $2,000 per adult.
Layoffs remain elevated as 803,000 seek unemployment aid
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell by 89,000 last week to a still-elevated 803,000, evidence that the job market remains under stress nine months after the coronavirus outbreak sent the U.S. economy into recession and caused millions of layoffs.
Trump asks Congress to amend $900B COVID-19 relief bill, increase stimulus checks to $2,000
The bill that was passed by Congress establishes a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans, but President Donald Trump said he wants lawmakers to increase the check amounts to $2,000 per person or $4,000 for married couples.