Mpls, St. Paul launch new electric car-sharing and charging station program

A new service will provide Minneapolis and St. Paul drivers with increased access to electric vehicle (EV) charging spots, and rentable electric vehicle options as well.

Valentine's Day 2022: Spending expected to near $24B

More than half of U.S. consumers are planning to celebrate Valentine's Day despite rising inflation.

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.

Plan to reenergize downtown Forest Lake takes shape

"As good as it sounds." That's the motto for the city of Forest Lake, but in recent years, its downtown area has grown a little tired.

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.

State unemployment rate tracks down to 3.1 percent, lowest level since pre-pandemic

Despite an anecdotal shortage of workers across seemingly every industry, the state unemployment rate has decreased to 3.1 percent according to numbers released today.

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.

Retail sales drop 1.9% in December following early holiday rush

Americans sharply cut their spending in December after a burst of early spending in the fall that helped bolster the holiday season.

Inflation surges in December to highest rate since 1982

Prices paid by U.S. consumers jumped 7% in December from a year earlier, the highest inflation rate since 1982 and the latest evidence that rising costs for food, rent and other necessities are heightening the financial pressures on America's households.

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.

Debt ceiling: Biden signs fast-track plan to prevent default

The Senate approved a bill that will clear the way for Congress to raise the debt ceiling with a simple-majority vote before the projected Dec. 15 deadline.

US consumer inflation rate up 6.8% in past year, highest since 1982

Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.8% in November compared with a year earlier, the highest annual inflation rate in 39 years.

US jobless claims hit lowest level in 52 years amid seasonal volatility

U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 184,000 last week, the lowest since September 1969 — offering more evidence that the job market is recovering.

US employers posted near-record 11 million open jobs in October

U.S. employers posted 11 million open jobs in October, nearly matching a record high reached in July and a sign that companies were confident enough in the economy to expand.