Business & Economy Archives | Northwest Public Broadcasting

Business & Economy

Washington’s Smallest Counties Will Lead The Way Into Phase 3 Of State’s Reopening Plan

By Tom Banse June 4, 2020

Nine rural counties are eligible to apply to the state Secretary of Health this week to move to the next stage in Gov. Jay Inslee's four-phase reopening plan. Lincoln, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Columbia and Wahkiakum counties wasted no time and submitted the necessary paperwork and letters of support on Wednesday to advance from Phase 2 to Phase 3. Read More

Millions Of Americans Skip Payments As Tidal Wave Of Defaults And Evictions Looms

By NPR News June 3, 2020

Jonathan Baird and his wife, Nichole, say they've had to decide between making their car payment and buying food since she lost her job in the pandemic. His mortgage and auto lenders told him he didn't qualify for help.

Hardship programs appear to be helping many people pause payments and survive the economic shutdown so far. But not everybody is getting the help, and advocates see big potential trouble ahead. Continue Reading Millions Of Read More

From Jobs To Homeownership, Protests Put Spotlight On Racial Economic Divide

By NPR News June 2, 2020

Malaysia Hammond places flowers at a memorial mural for George Floyd in Minneapolis on Sunday. Police brutality has sparked days of civil unrest. But the sparks have landed in a tinderbox built over decades of economic inequality, now exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

African Americans are 40% less likely to own their homes than whites. And blacks are more likely to hold jobs that put them at risk of the coronavirus. The civil unrest follows decades of inequality. Continue Reading From Jobs To Read More

Washington’s ‘Stay Home’ Order Ends June 1, With State Moving To County-By-County Approach

By NWPB News May 29, 2020

A COVID-19 test kit. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has instructed state health officials to test all nursing home staff and residents in the coming weeks, according to a state doctor.

Gov. Jay Inslee's stay-at-home order will end at midnight on May 31. Instead, state officials will use a phased plan outlined at the beginning of the month to govern county-by-county reopening permissions. Continue Reading Read More

Idaho Moves To Phase 3 Of 4-Stage Reopening Plan

By Doug Nadvornick May 29, 2020

File photo. Gov. Brad Little speaks March 13, 2020 at a news conference. On Wednesday, April 15, he extended a stay-at-home order to the end of April, saying it’s needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. CREDIT: Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman via AP

Idaho Governor Brad Little announced Thursday his state is ready to move on to the next phase of its coronavirus reopening plan, beginning Saturday, May 30. Continue Reading Idaho Moves To Phase 3 Of 4-Stage Reopening PlanRead More

40.8 Million Out Of Work In The Past 10 Weeks — 26% Of Labor Force

By NPR News May 28, 2020

A Seattle barbershop remains closed because of the coronavirus outbreak on May 19. Last week, an additional 2.1 million people filed for unemployment benefits around the country.

More than 1 in 4 U.S. workers have lost their jobs since coronavirus shutdowns began. Last week, an additional 2.1 million people filed for unemployment benefits. Continue Reading 40.8 Million Out Of Work In The Past 10 Weeks — 26% Of Labor Read More

Boeing Cuts More Than 12,000 Jobs Due To Drop In Air Travel

By NPR News May 27, 2020

A line of Boeing 737 MAX jets sit parked on the airfield adjacent to a Boeing production plant last month in Renton, Wash. Boeing now says it is cutting thousands of jobs

The number of people traveling by air has plummeted more than 90% since the beginning of March. More than half of the employees losing their jobs are being laid off involuntarily. Continue Reading Boeing Cuts More Than 12,000 Jobs Due To Drop In Air Read More

After Months of Steep Declines, Air Traffic Is Picking Up

By NPR News May 23, 2020

An empty terminal at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The normally bustling check-in at the United Airlines terminal was eerily quiet on April 24. CREDIT: David Schaper/NPR

The airlines have lost billions of dollars in revenue with virtually no demand during the coronavirus pandemic. Now they are seeing more bookings despite concern from passengers. Continue Reading After Months of Steep Declines, Air Traffic Is Picking Read More

Washington State Paid Out ‘Hundreds Of Millions’ In Bogus Jobless Benefits

By NWPB News May 22, 2020

A sign explains the closure of a shop in the Pike Place Market in Seattle. As the coronavirus outbreak has caused record number of people to seek unemployment benefits Washington state officials said Thursday that impostors have used the stolen information of tens of thousands of people to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in unemployment benefits.

Impostors have used the stolen information of tens of thousands of people in Washington to fraudulently receive hundreds of millions of dollars in unemployment benefits, the head of the state’s Employment Security Department said Thursday. Read More

‘Are Their Apples Worth More Than Our Lives?’ Yakima Valley Fruit Workers Strike For Protections, Pay

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa May 21, 2020

Perla Torres, a fruit packer at Jack Frost Fruit, poses for a photograph wearing a mask she says she bought from a supervisor. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa/NWPB

So far this month, more than 400 Yakima Valley fruit packing workers have gone on strike, according to Familias Unidas Por La Justicia. The farmworker advocacy group, based in Skagit County, is helping these workers organize committees, negotiate with employers and seek legal advice. Read More

Eastern Washington Small Businesses Get Coronavirus Relief Through State Grants

By Doug Nadvornick May 21, 2020

Owen's Grocery and Deli in Newport is one of nearly 200 eastern Washington small businesses to receive state coronavirus relief grants from the state. Courtesy of Owen's Grocery and Deli

Washington’s Commerce Department has announced about $10 million in coronavirus relief grants for some of the state’s smallest businesses. Nearly 200 businesses in rural eastern Washington towns are among the recipients. Continue Read More

About Half Of U.S. Homes Lost Wages During Pandemic, Census Bureau Finds

By NPR News May 20, 2020

People wait in a long line to receive a food bank donation at the Barclays Center on May 15 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Across the country, cities and towns are dealing with the highest unemployment rates since the Great Depression.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, 47% of adults say their households have lost employment income and close to 40% have delayed getting medical care, according to early results of a Census Bureau survey. Continue Reading About Half Of U.S. Read More

Target’s Average Day In April Was Bigger Than Cyber Monday

By NPR News May 20, 2020

Target said it relied on its physical stores to fill 80% of online sales in the past three months.

Though its stores remained open, Target saw its online sales jump 141% in the past three months, with 5 million shopping on the retailer chain's website for the first time. Continue Reading Target’s Average Day In April Was Bigger Than Cyber Read More

Senators Clash Over How Soon To Reopen The Economy

By NPR News May 19, 2020

Lawmakers squabbled over how quickly the economy can rebound from the coronavirus shutdown and whether the government is doing enough to support struggling families and businesses. Continue Reading Senators Clash Over How Soon To Reopen The EconomyRead More

10 More Washington Counties, Including Larger Ones Like Spokane, Eligible For Earlier Reopening

By NWPB News May 19, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said May 19 that his office is finishing guidelines for more populous counties to allow more businesses to open. CREDIT: TVW

Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday said that 10 additional counties are eligible to apply to loosen some social distancing restrictions in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Continue Reading 10 More Washington Read More

Oregon Emergency Measures Back On As State Supreme Court Holds Judge’s Ruling To Overturn

By Dirk VanderHart May 18, 2020

A protestor holds signs on the steps of the Oregon state capitol during a rally to reopen Oregon while health care workers counter demonstrate in the background CREDIT: Jonathan Levinson/OPB

A Baker County judge has invalidated Brown’s restrictions on businesses and social gatherings, along with every other executive order Brown has issued under a state of emergency she ordered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Read More

Congress Gave Colleges A $14 Billion Lifeline. Here’s Where It’s Going

By NPR News May 18, 2020

Like so many sectors of the economy, higher education is taking a big hit from the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education has so far distributed more than $10 billion in relief funds to colleges. Continue Reading Congress Gave Colleges A Read More

Businesses Are Reopening, But Many Customers May Not Be Ready To Go Back

By NPR News May 18, 2020

Shoppers began showing up earlier this month at the International Plaza mall in Tampa, Fla. Mall business has been slow to pick up because a lot of people remain reluctant to venture out.

Governors around the country have begun slowly allowing stores, restaurants and malls to serve customers again. But it won't count for much if people are afraid to venture out again. Continue Reading Businesses Are Reopening, But Many Read More

Yellowstone National Park Set To Reopen — With Caveats

By NPR News May 17, 2020

Yellowstone National Park entrance sign. CREDIT: Kirk Siegler/NPR

There is growing economic pressure to reopen national parks and ease travel restrictions even as many states are still seeing a rise in coronavirus cases. Continue Reading Yellowstone National Park Set To Reopen — With CaveatsRead More

CDC Issues Tools To Guide Reopening Of Schools, Businesses, Transit

By NPR News May 15, 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released flowchart-like tools on Thursday designed to guide businesses, schools, mass transit and other organizations through reopening.

The flowchart-like documents released by the CDC ask businesses, schools and workplaces to first and foremost consider whether reopening is consistent with state and local stay-at-home orders. Continue Reading CDC Issues Tools To Guide Read More

Pandemic Hits Spending Hard; 79% Dive In Clothing Sales Leads A Record Plunge

By NPR News May 15, 2020

Month-by-month change in U.S. retail spending since January 2007.

Retail sales saw record drops for the second month in a row. Other categories with huge declines included a 59% dive in furniture sales and 29% decreases in department stores and gas stations. Continue Reading Pandemic Hits Spending Read More

Idaho Soon Moves To Next Reopening Phase; Washington Denies Spokane County’s Phase 2 Request

By NWPB News May 14, 2020

Idaho Governor Brad Little at state medical supplies stockpile in Boise - April 14 2020

Idaho Gov. Brad Little says the Gem State will move to the second phase of state’s four-part coronavirus recovery plan on Saturday. That means businesses such as gyms and hair salons will be able to reopen with the appropriate precautions. Little made his announcement Thursday and threw in a surprise as well. Read More

Millions Of Pigs Will Be Euthanized As Pandemic Cripples Meatpacking Plants

By NPR News May 14, 2020

With meatpacking plants reducing processing capacity nationwide, U.S. hog farmers are bracing or an unprecedented crisis: the need to euthanize millions of pigs.

As the pandemic wreaks havoc on the meat industry, hog farmers anticipate they'll soon be forced to euthanize millions of pigs unable to be sent for processing. Continue Reading Millions Of Pigs Will Be Euthanized As Pandemic Read More

Richard Burr To Step Down As Senate Intelligence Chairman During Probe Of Stock Sell-Off

By NPR News May 14, 2020

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., here in February, is temporarily stepping aside as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the investigation of his stock sales. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is stepping aside during the Justice Department's investigation, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Thursday. Continue Reading Richard Burr To Step Down As Senate Intelligence Read More

We’re Eating More At Home, And It’s Costing Us More

By NPR News May 13, 2020

The latest inflation data offers a snapshot of Americans' new pandemic spending habits. Prices are down for most goods and services but up sharply for groceries. Continue Reading We’re Eating More At Home, And It’s Costing Us MoreRead More

UPDATE: At Least 34 COVID-19 Cases At Ellensburg Food Plant Pauses Kittitas County’s Reopening Plan

By NWPB News May 11, 2020

Kittitas County paused its application to reopen some businesses early after positive COVID-19 case at food processer Twin City Foods in Ellensburg. CREDIT: Google Maps - July 2012

Health officials in Kittitas County have found at least one new positive case of COVID-19: a worker at a Twin City Foods processing plant in Ellensburg. The news came Friday after more than three weeks of no new confirmed cases. That plus the county’s low population made Kittitas County eligible to lift social distancing measures earlier than other parts of the state. Read More

Here’s Who’s Being Hit Hardest By The Economic Downturn

By PBS Newshour May 11, 2020

A pedestrian walks past a sign in a shop window reading "We Will Return Boston Strong" after Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker extended his stay-at-home advisory and his order closing non-essential businesses

The current estimated unemployment rate far exceeds the 10 percent peak reached in the Great Recession in 2009. It is the most devastating loss of jobs since the Great Depression, when economists estimate the unemployment rate reached 25 percent in 1933. Read More

‘Let My People Go’: Opponents Of Coronavirus Measures Again Freely Gather To Protest In Olympia

By Austin Jenkins May 9, 2020

Participants at the Saturday rally prayed as the event got underway. Government overreach and tyranny were common themes. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

For the second time in a month, opponents of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s extended “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order – many of them openly carrying firearms – rallied at the state Capitol Saturday in an event that brought together sign-waving citizens, conservative state legislators, Republican and Libertarian candidates for public office and members of far-right groups. Read More

For The History Books: 14.7% Unemployment, 20.5 Million Jobs Wiped Away, At Least Temporarily

By NPR News May 8, 2020

Notes: All values are seasonally adjusted. In the bar chart, figures for the two most recent months are preliminary and may be revised later. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (unemployment rate, payrolls, wages)

U.S. employers shed a record number of jobs in April, as the unemployment rate climbed to the highest since the Great Depression. The coronavirus crisis has locked down much of the economy. Continue Reading For The Read More

Can George Washington Buy Wooden Teeth With This Washington Town’s New Wooden Money?

By NWPB News May 8, 2020

The design for wooden money Tenino, Washington, plans to print in response to the COVID-19 crisis, modeled after a Depression-era effort.

Tenino, a small town in Thurston County, Washington, has approved a plan to print its own money on strips of wood. Again. It’s a response to the COVID-19 crisis that’s modeled after how the town responded to a prior crisis — the Great Depression. Read More

How The Small Business Loan Program Went Wrong In Just 4 Weeks

By NPR News May 4, 2020

Signs are displayed in the window of a store in Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

Not-so-small companies like Shake Shack and organizations like the LA Lakers were able to get loans that were meant for suffering small businesses. What happened? Continue Reading How The Small Business Loan Program Went Wrong In Just 4 Read More

I Said Hay, What’s Going On? Supply Chain Breakdown Hurting Big Northwest Ag Exports

By Anna King May 2, 2020

File photo. Central Washington is a hay growing and exporting powerhouse. But supply chain disruptions have caused slowdowns at West Coast and East Coast ports.

An unprecedented number of ships have canceled their calls to the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. So far this year, there have been 32 canceled international sailings since January 1. That has created the shortage of shipping containers at those Northwest ports. Read More

House Judiciary Committee Calls On Amazon’s Bezos To Testify

By NPR News May 1, 2020

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos attends a commemoration ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey.

The House Judiciary Committee has threatened to subpoena Amazon founder Jeff Bezos if he does not voluntarily address the company possibly misleading Congress in earlier testimony. Continue Reading House Judiciary Committee Calls On Amazon’s Read More

Jay Inslee Extends Coronavirus Closures Through May, Outlines Phased Plan To Reopen

By NWPB News May 1, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced an extension of the state's stay home, stay healthy measures through May, while unveiling a four-phase economic reopening and recovery plane. CREDIT: TVW

Washington's 'stay home' order will extend until at least May 31. On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the new time frame and that businesses will be able to open over four phases. Continue Reading Jay Inslee Extends Read More

Idaho Gov. Brad Little Begins Lifting Stay-Home Measures To ‘Re-open’ Economy

By Nicholas Deshais April 30, 2020

Idaho Governor Brad Little kicked off the process Thursday of “re-opening” the state after five weeks of “stay home, stay healthy” measures to help stem the spread of coronavirus. Continue Reading Idaho Gov. Brad Little Begins Lifting Read More

A Staggering Toll: 30 Million Have Filed For Unemployment

By NPR News April 30, 2020

A County Library employee hands unemployment paperwork to residents in Tampa, Fla.

Another 3.8 million people filed claims for unemployment last week, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to weigh on the U.S. job market. That brought the total for the past 6 weeks to 30.3 million. Continue Reading A Staggering Toll: 30 Million Have Read More

‘Tip Of The Iceberg’: Economy Shrinks At 4.8% Pace, But Worst Is Yet To Come

By NPR News April 29, 2020

The U.S. economy shrank in the first quarter, as the coronavirus lockdown began.

The economy contracted in the first quarter of 2020 as the coronavirus began to take its toll and spending dived. It's the first quarterly drop in six years and a likely precursor to a deep recession. Continue Reading ‘Tip Of The Read More

3.4 Million Homeowners Skip Payments. But Many Are Scared, Say Congress Needs To Act

By NPR News April 27, 2020

Homeowners say that to catch up on payments, lenders demand big balloon payments they can't afford. Advocates want Congress to mandate that missed payments simply be added to the end of the loan term. Continue Reading 3.4 Read More

Small Business Loans Site Crashes On First Day Of Reopening

By NPR News April 27, 2020

Banks reported struggling to get through to the Small Business Administration on Monday to enter loan application information to the newly replenished small business relief program

Bankers tell NPR that the SBA's portal wouldn't allow them to enter the loan application information that is needed to access the PPP program. Continue Reading Small Business Loans Site Crashes On First Day Of ReopeningRead More

Pandemic Shutdown Is Speeding Up The Collapse Of Coal

By NPR News April 27, 2020

Energy analysts say coal use is down so much that some power plants might run out of room to stockpile it.

Coal use has plummeted in part because it's more expensive than natural gas or renewable energy. Mines are shutting down, and some power plants may run out of places to stockpile coal. Continue Reading Pandemic Shutdown Is Speeding Up The Collapse Of Read More

Washington Moves Toward Reopening Fishing, Hunting, Golfing, State Parks Beginning May 5

By NWPB News April 27, 2020

Palouse Falls State Park is home to Washington's official state waterfall -- and large crowds in the spring runoff season.

Fishing, hunting and golfing can resume on May 5 in Washington, at which time people can also return to state parks and other state lands for day trips, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday. Continue Reading Washington Moves Read More

Why Ticket Holders Are Struggling To Get Refunds For Concerts And Live Events

By NPR News April 24, 2020

The U.S. leg of Weezer's Hella Mega tour with Green Day and Fall Out Boy has yet to be canceled due to the coronavirus

Entertainment companies Live Nation and AEG have modified their refund policies for postponed events. Getting money back would depend on whether a concert or a game has a firm rescheduled date. Continue Reading Why Ticket Holders Read More

President Trump Signs New Coronavirus Bill For Small Businesses And Hospital Relief

By NPR News April 24, 2020

President Trump a new coronavirus economic aid package, largely targeted to support small businesses, in the Oval Office on Friday. CREDIT: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The biggest item in the $484 billion measure is roughly $321 billion in additional funding for a small-business loan program. President Trump signed the legislation on Friday. Continue Reading President Trump Signs New Read More

Gov. Brad Little Announces 4-Stage Reopening And Recovery Plan For Idaho

By Doug Nadvornick April 23, 2020

Idaho has created a new website to share details of its new four-stage coronavirus reopening plan.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has announced a four-stage plan for re-opening the state’s businesses and communities after closures due to the coronavirus. The first stage is scheduled to take effect May 1. Continue Reading Gov. Brad Little Read More

Inland Northwest Farmers Markets Hit By Coronavirus Closures Adapt To New Rules

By Nicholas Deshais April 23, 2020

Morgan Henry Kerr of Bellingham's Farmers Market monitors the new market entrance to monitor the number of people in the market so that physical distancing is maintained at all times.

While some elements of a farmers market are allowed — selling food and soap — other parts are not considered an “essential business” under Washington and Idaho’s orders. That means no more live music. No more kids’ activities. No seats. No touching the produce. Read More