Business economists sketch a more hopeful outlook

In the past three months, the outlook for the U.S. economy has improved in the eyes of business economists. However, the optimism is couched somewhat by the resurgence of the coronavirus.

No virus bill yet: White House, GOP at odds over jobless aid

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent senators home, promising a Republican proposal would be ready on Monday.

Poll: Nearly half say job lost to coronavirus won't return

Nearly half of Americans whose families experienced a layoff during the coronavirus pandemic believe those jobs are lost forever.

US new home sales jump 13.8% in June

The Commerce Department reported Friday that the June gain pushed sales of new homes to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 776,000. The increase follows a 19.4% jump in May.

White House drops payroll tax cut as GOP unveils virus aid

The White House has dropped a bid to cut Social Security payroll taxes as Republicans unveil a $1 trillion COVID-19 rescue package.

Jobless claims rise as cutoff of extra $600 benefit nears

The number of laid-off Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week for the first time since the pandemic struck in March, evidence of the deepening economic pain the outbreak is causing to the economy.

Why are coins hard to find during the pandemic?

The Federal Reserve has seen a significant decline of coins in circulation because people are not spending them as regularly at businesses, many of which are either temporarily closed or not accepting cash.

Wrangling over virus relief persists despite high stakes

The desperate race to corral the coronavirus pandemic is taking on even greater urgency as a burgeoning economic crisis collides with political turmoil.

Trump faces divisions with Senate GOP on coronavirus aid

Lawmakers were returning to a Capitol still off-limits to tourists, another sign of the nation’s difficulty containing the coronavirus. Rather than easing, the pandemic’s devastating cycle is rising again, leaving Congress little choice but to engineer another costly rescue.

Mask exemption cards are a scam, says DOJ, ADA, FTC

More and more businesses are requiring masks before entry. Most people do it, but some have pushed back. And the FTC reports, those folks are susceptible to a scam claiming a “mask exemption card.” 

Michigan Congresswomen pushing to extend federal unemployment benefits amid COVID-19

Some U.S. Representatives from Michigan are efforting to move a COVID-19 federal unemployment benefits extension through Washington amid the expiration later this month.

Another 1.3 million Americans sought unemployment aid last week

The number of laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits remained stuck at 1.3 million last week, a historically high level that indicates many companies are still cutting jobs as the viral outbreak intensifies.

Missed the tax deadline? Take these steps now

Here are some steps you can take to keep your penalties to a minimum if you were unable to file by July 15.

Chipotle to hire 10,000 employees

The Mexican grill pledged to ramp up hiring as more restaurants reopen.

Junk mail? Tens of thousands may have mistakenly thrown away stimulus payment

Despite warnings issued by the federal government, tens of thousands of individuals may have inadvertently thrown out their $1,200 stimulus payments.

Most PPP recipients expect to run out of money by August, study finds

A majority of small businesses that tapped the taxpayer-funded Paycheck Protection Program expect to run out of money by the first week of August, according to a Goldman Sachs survey released Tuesday.

Junk mail? Tens of thousands may have mistakenly thrown away stimulus payments

Despite warnings issued by the federal government, tens of thousands of individuals may have inadvertently thrown out their $1,200 stimulus payments.