US GDP fell at 5.0% rate in Q1; worse is likely on the way

It was the sharpest quarterly decline since an 8.4% fall in 2008 during the depths of the financial crisis.

Report: State, local aid needed to avert 4 million layoffs

A report could help illustrate a bipartisan agreement in Congress on next month’s fifth, and possibly final, COVID-19 response bill.

US inmates got coronavirus relief checks, and IRS wants them back

The legislation authorizing the payments during the pandemic doesn’t specifically exclude jail or prison inmates, and the IRS has refused to say exactly what legal authority it has to retrieve the money.

Only 47% of Americans are losing sleep over money despite pandemic: Study

For the 47 percent who are worried about money issues currently, 23 percent said their cause of stress revolved around everyday expenses, which Bankrate noted was down from the 32 percent who said the same last year.

Existing home sale plunge 9.7% in 3rd straight monthly drop

The National Association of Realtors said Monday that the monthly decline pushed sales down to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million, the slowest pace since a home buyers tax credit expired in October 2010.

Georgia jobless rate falls in May as some return to work

Georgia’s jobless rate fell to 9.7% in May from 12.6% in April as nearly 150,000 workers reported being back on the job.

US mortgage rates fall; 30-year at all-time low of 3.13%

Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week as the benchmark 30-year home loan reached a new all-time low.

Georgia issues 3rd COVID-19-related evictions hold

Renters in danger of losing their place to live are getting another reprieve. The Georgia Supreme Court has extended for the third time the judicial emergency, which means a temporary halt to evictions. 

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell warns that long downturn would mean severe damage

“The longer the downturn lasts, the greater the potential for longer-term damage from permanent job loss and business closures,” Powell said. “Long periods of unemployment can erode workers’ skills and hurt their job prospects.”

Some tribes reopen their casinos despite state opposition

Some federally recognized tribes have pushed ahead with plans to reopen their casinos despite opposition from governors who have little to no say in the matter.

1.5 million more laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits

About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening.

US employers laid off 7.7 million workers in April

U.S. employers laid off 7.7 million workers in April _ a sign of just how deep the economic hole is after the closure of thousands of offices, restaurants, stores and schools during the pandemic.

Georgia budget gap passes $850 million as revenues again lag

With a month left in the current budget year, Georgia’s shortfall widened to more than $850 million in May.

BP to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide amid COVID-19 pandemic

Chief Executive Bernard Looney said that the cuts will affect office-based roles in BP’s global workforce of 70,000 people and come mostly this year.

US unemployment drops unexpectedly to 13.3% amid outbreak

The U.S. unemployment rate fell unexpectedly in May to 13.3% — still on par with what the nation witnessed during the Great Depression — as states loosened their coronavirus lockdowns and businesses began recalling workers.