business Archives | Northwest Public Broadcasting

From ‘Freaking Pissed’ To ‘Big Things’: How One Olympia Gym Survived The Pandemic Uncertainty

By Austin Jenkins July 13, 2021

Participants run through a series of exercise circuits during a lunchtime class at Athena Fitness and Wellness in Olympia. The women-owned business opened right before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and survival was never certain. But with the help of grants, loans, a GoFundMe campaign and assistance from their landlord, the owners managed to keep their doors open.

It was almost a year ago that Athena Fitness in Olympia was facing financial doom. The women-owned business had opened just before the pandemic struck. In August of last year, new COVID restrictions threatened to put the owners out of business. So, what’s happened since? Read More

How New Federal Rules Could Make It Easier To Buy Hearing Aids Or Fix Your Phone

By NPR News July 9, 2021

A man displays an advertisement for repairing iPhone in New York on October 19, 2015. AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)

President Biden unveiled a new plan on Friday taking aim at powerful industries where a handful of players have so much market clout that they can drive up prices, depress wages and make it hard for small companies to break in. Read More

A $500 Sign-On Bonus To Deliver Pizzas? Here’s What To Know About Hiring Incentives

By NPR News July 6, 2021

In need of workers, a Domino's franchise in Washington, D.C., is offering a sign-on bonus for all positions. CREDIT: Andrea Hsu/NPR

With a record 9.3 million jobs open in the U.S. as of April, and a workforce in no hurry to get back to work, a growing number of employers are looking to hiring bonuses to fill their ranks. Long a tradition on Wall Street, sign-on bonuses are rare in low-wage work such as fast food, warehousing and food delivery. Now, as the economy has picked up, hiring bonuses are Read More

15 Months Into Restrictions, Washington Mostly Drops COVID Business And Crowd Limitations

By NWPB News June 30, 2021

A sign at the El Sarape restaurant advertises outdoor seating, Jan. 5, 2021, in Olympia, Wash., as indoor dining was prohibited statewide due the the governor's coronavirus safety measures. CREDIT: Ted S. Warren/AP

Fifteen months after Washington state's first “stay at home” order was issued in response to the coronavirus, businesses across the state are now allowed to return to pre-pandemic operations. Continue Reading 15 Months Read More

Hundreds Of PPP Loans For Pandemic Business Relief Went To Fake Farms In Absurd Places

By NWPB News May 23, 2021

Paycheck Protection Plan - stock image with calculator and money

An online lending platform called Kabbage sent 378 pandemic loans worth $7 million to fake companies (mostly farms) with names like “Deely Nuts” and “Beefy King.” Continue Reading Hundreds Of PPP Loans For Pandemic Read More

Governor Says All Washington Counties Will Stay In Their Current Reopening Phase…For Now

By NWPB News May 4, 2021

Washington Governor Jay Inslee wearing a mask and speaking from his desk during a press conference

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday said all of the state’s counties will remain in their current phase of the state’s economic reopening plan and won’t face more restrictions because new COVID cases are levelling off after a recent spike. Read More

Signs Of Economic Boom Emerge As Retail Sales Surge, Jobless Claims Hit Pandemic Low

By NPR News April 15, 2021

Diners eat lunch at Max's Oyster Bar in West Hartford, Conn., on March 19. Retail sales surged last month as $1,400 relief payments and easing coronavirus restrictions led shoppers to open their wallets. Jessica Hill/AP

Signs of an economic boom are emerging as Americans open up their wallets to spend freely. Retail sales soared 9.8% in March, according to a report Thursday from the Commerce Department. The increase follows a 2.7% slump in February, which analysts blamed partly on severe winter weather. Read More

It’s A No: Hopes For Amazon’s First Unionized Warehouse Go Unfulfilled In Historic Election

By NPR News April 9, 2021

Workers at Amazon's facility in Bessemer, Ala., held a historic vote on whether to form the company's first warehouse union. CREDIT: Bill Barrow/AP

The vast majority of votes cast by Amazon's workers in Bessemer, Ala., were against joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in a stinging defeat of the union drive. The final tally showed 1,798 votes against unionizing and 738 votes in favor of the union. Read More

More Plants At GM Go Dark As Chip Shortage Continues To Bite

By NPR News April 8, 2021

A sign is seen outside of a General Motors plant in Detroit, on Jan. 27, 2020. GM said on Thursday it is idling more plants as it continues to deal with a shortage of chips. CREDIT: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

General Motors will temporarily shut down two more plants as automakers continue to struggle with major supply chain disruptions, particularly in computer chips. Continue Reading More Plants At GM Go Dark As Chip Shortage Continues To BiteRead More

A Sign Of Hope After ‘Winter Hibernation’: Employers Add 379,000 Jobs

By NPR News March 7, 2021

A man walks past a "Now Hiring" sign in front of a store in early December in Arlington, Va. U.S. employers added 379,000 jobs in February, as hiring picked up sharply from the previous month. CREDIT: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

Hiring picked up steam in February as a winter wave of coronavirus infections eased and consumers spent more freely. U.S. employers added 379,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate dipped to 6.2%. Continue Reading A Sign Of Hope Read More

Washington-Based Costco To Raise Minimum Wage To $16 An Hour: ‘This Isn’t Altruism,’ CEO Says

By NPR News February 25, 2021

People wait to shop at the Costco Wholesale in Austin on Feb. 20.

Costco plans to edge up its starting wage to $16 an hour starting next week, CEO W. Craig Jelinek said on Thursday, revealing plans that would propel his company ahead of most of its retail competitors. Continue Reading Read More

Washington Lawmakers Pass $2.2 Billion COVID Relief Bill, Now Heads To Governor’s Desk

By Austin Jenkins February 10, 2021

Gov. Jay Inslee - press conference - December 8 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says he looks forward to signing a $2.2 billion COVID relief bill in the coming days. The measure cleared the Legislature Wednesday after a bipartisan vote in the state Senate. Continue Reading Read More

Pandemic Piles On Already Reeling Boeing, Leading To Nearly $12 Billion Loss In 2020

By NPR News January 27, 2021

Boeing 777-X jet takes off in Seattle with Olympia Mountains in the background

Boeing is trying to close the books on a dismal year. The aircraft manufacturer Wednesday reported that the company lost close to $12 billion in 2020, a record loss, as the pandemic depressed demand for new airplanes and the company continued to reel from its 737 Max debacle. Read More

Paper Rustling: Major Washington Cattle Operator Allegedly ‘Fed’ 200K Cattle That Didn’t Exist

By Anna King January 27, 2021

Easterday's "North Lot" is one of the largest concentrated cattle feeding operations in Washington. It was sold Jan. 22 to AB Livestock, a Tyson competitor. Courtesy of Franklin County, Wash.

A major Washington cattle operator allegedly “fed” over 200,000 head of cattle that didn’t exist for years. Now Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc is suing. Tyson says in a lawsuit filed in Franklin County Superior Court this week that its losses are more than $225 million. The losses are from false cattle sales and feed costs. Read More

Washington Legislators Unveil $2.2 Billion COVID-19 Financial Relief Package

By NWPB News January 22, 2021

Sign on restaurant door in Spokane saying when it will reopen from covid closure with multiple dates crossed out and finally saying "who knows"

The plan includes $618 million to boost vaccination efforts and contact tracing. It also includes $668 million for school assistance, $365 million to aid renters and landlords and $240 million for grants to businesses. Continue Read More

Retail Spending Dips For 3rd Straight Month As Infections Surge

By NPR News January 15, 2021

Shoppers walk past a "Sale" sign outside a store at the Easton Town Center Mall in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 7. CREDIT: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Even as people continue to splurge on shopping, they cut back on going out to eat and shop. Plus, the earlier-than-usual holiday shopping season meant online shopping as well sales of electronics and appliances dipped in December. Gas stations saw the biggest jump in spending last month, up 6.6%, as people traveled for holiday visits despite health warnings. Read More

Farmers Got Big Government Pandemic Relief In 2020, Even Those Who Didn’t Need It

By NPR News December 31, 2020

The aid, delivered in two separate packages over the course of the year, went to a wide variety of people in agriculture, including corn and soybean farmers, cattle ranchers, and fruit and vegetable producers. The $46 billion in direct government payments to farmers in 2020 broke the previous annual record by about $10 billion, even after accounting for inflation. Read More

The Spectacular Rise Of SPACs: The Backwards IPO That’s Taking Over Wall Street

By NPR News December 29, 2020

Shaquille O'Neal's got a SPAC. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan's got a SPAC. Famed investor Bill Ackman launched a $4 billion SPAC. And a 25-year-old became the youngest self-made billionaire thanks to — you guessed it — a SPAC. So what is a SPAC? A "special purpose acquisition company" is a way for a company to go public without all the paperwork of a traditional IPO, or Read More

Entrepreneur Launches Bowling Alley On Wheels During The Pandemic

By NPR News December 12, 2020

Luxury Strike CEO Terence Jackson Jr. came up with the concept two years ago and funded the venture by selling a couple condos he owned and pretty much all of his assets. Laura Herberg/NPR

Terence Jackson Jr., 34, runs Luxury Strike Bowling, a rentable, private mobile bowling alley that offers a unique entertainment alternative to Zoom parties as the city remains on lockdown. Continue Reading Entrepreneur Launches Bowling Alley Read More

Americans Want More COVID Economic Relief. Most Think Congress Should Compromise

By PBS Newshour December 10, 2020

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

Two-thirds of Americans say the federal government has not done enough to ease the economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll. Continue Reading Americans Want Read More

‘Warning Signs Flashing’: Job Growth Slows Sharply As Pandemic Takes Toll On Economy

By NPR News December 4, 2020

A person cleans a table in an outdoor tented dining area of a restaurant in Sacramento, Calif., on Nov. 19. Job growth slowed sharply in November as relief aid is due to expire at the end of the year. CREDIT: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

U.S. employers added just 245,000 jobs last month as the runaway pandemic continued to weigh on hiring. The unemployment rate fell to 6.7% from 6.9% in October. Continue Reading ‘Warning Signs Flashing’: Job Growth Read More

As Washington Restaurants Close Indoors Again, Some In Hard-Hit Yakima Say They Won’t

By Scott Leadingham November 24, 2020

Server Luis Velez opens a bottle of wine for customers Mary Graf, left, Sophie Mandel and Andy Peraza, right, shown through a sheet of plastic surrounding the table, on Wednesday, October 21 , 2020, at Spinasse on Capitol Hill in Seattle.

Earlier this year, Yakima County was among the worst-hit places for COVID-19 in Washington and the West Coast. It and the Tri-Cities region were among the last counties to open for indoor bar and restaurant service. Now, with another statewide closure, some restaurant operators are pushing back and refusing to close. Read More

What Blockbuster Automaker Profits Tell Us About The Pandemic Economy

By NPR News November 8, 2020

Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Co., with the 2021 Ford F-150 King Ranch truck in September in Dearborn, Mich. Strong demand for high-margin vehicles such as pickups has propelled Ford and its rivals to remarkably strong earnings this past quarter. CREDIT: Nic Antaya/Getty Images

The auto industry was devastated this spring by coronavirus shutdowns. But the recovery has been much faster and stronger than anyone anticipated as demand for new trucks and SUVs continues. Continue Reading What Blockbuster Automaker Read More

Billions In COVID-19 Relief Loans May Have Been Handed Out To Scammers, Report Says

By NPR News October 28, 2020

A store displays a sign before closing down permanently following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, on Aug. 4, 2020 in Arlington, Va. The Small Business Administration's inspector general office said billions of dollars in relief loans may have been handed out to fraudsters or ineligible applicants. CREDIT: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The Small Business Administration had to quickly disburse coronavirus relief loans. But some of that may have been handed out to fraudsters, an agency report says. Continue Reading Billions In COVID-19 Relief Loans May Have Read More

‘I’m Still Unemployed’: Millions In Dire Situation As Savings Start To Run Out

By NPR News October 17, 2020

Hundreds of unemployed Kentucky residents wait in long lines outside the Kentucky Career Center in Frankfort for help with their unemployment claims on June 19. New research shows savings built up by the jobless are starting to run out. John Sommers II/Getty Images

Many unemployed Americans have been tapping into their savings to pay bills. But those savings are going fast, and hopes for a new round of pandemic relief before the election are fading. Continue Reading ‘I’m Still Read More

United And American Airlines Tell 32,000 Employees They’re Now On Furlough

By NPR News October 1, 2020

American Airlines check-in counters sit closed last month behind plastic barriers at Los Angeles International Airport. CREDIT: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"To our departing 13,000 family members: thank you for your dedication and we look forward to welcoming you back," United told employees, as CARES Act payroll aid was set to expire. Continue Reading United And American Airlines Tell Read More

From Pullman To Ellensburg To Bellingham, College Towns Feel The Coronavirus Economic Slump

By NWPB News September 24, 2020

The Cougar Cottage in Pullman, known widely just as "The Coug," is a staple for students, staff and alumni during the year, especially football season and celebrating big events like graduation. It's been open as it could during the pandemic, with safety measures in place. Courtesy of The Cougar Cottage

Online classes and no fall college sports spell trouble for Washington college towns like Pullman, Ellensburg and Bellingham that lean on a higher education-fueled economy. Continue Reading From Pullman To Ellensburg Read More

Tablet And Phone Cameras Monitor Mask-Wearing And Distancing In Cafes And Lobbies

By Tom Banse September 7, 2020

Screen grab from a Nomad Go demo video showing a kiosk that monitors mask compliance at a building entry. CREDIT: Nomad Go

The four-year-old startup Nomad Go in Kirkland, Washington, sells software for building management -- to monitor lines and speed of service, for example. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, co-founder and CEO David Greschler realized his company's image analysis tools could be enhanced to show not only percent occupancy, but also mask compliance and if people are properly Read More

She Followed Rules And Took COVID Seriously. But Now An Olympia Gym Owner Is ‘Freaking Pissed’

By Austin Jenkins August 13, 2020

Tiffany Krueger, owner of Athena Fitness and Wellness in Olympia, says the governor's new 17-foot distancing rule for fitness clubs is unfair and could put her out of business. Courtesy of Tiffany Krueger

On Aug. 3, Gov. Inslee announced new rules for indoor fitness studios and gyms that nearly tripled the required spacing between class participants from six feet to 17 feet. Krueger expressed her frustration in a 4-minute video she posted to Instagram. “I have to say that I am freaking pissed,” she said in the video. “We’re unable to pay our bills with these mandates; that Read More

Payroll Tax Delay To Boost Take-Home Pay, But Don’t Spend It Yet

By NPR News August 12, 2020

Employers are supposed to stop withholding the payroll tax on Sept. 1. But companies need guidance from the IRS on exactly who is eligible to have their taxes suspended and how to keep track so those taxes can eventually be repaid. CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP

President Trump has directed the Treasury Department to stop collecting payroll taxes this fall in an effort to boost workers' paychecks. But the move is temporary, and could spark headaches in 2021. Continue Reading Payroll Tax Delay To Boost Read More

Foreign Workers Living Overseas Mistakenly Received $1,200 U.S. Stimulus Checks

By NPR News August 5, 2020

Stimulus checks are prepared on May 8, 2008, in Philadelphia. In 2020, stimulus checks again went to many Americans, this time during the pandemic's economic fallout. Some of that money went to thousands of foreign workers not eligible to receive the funds. CREDIT: Jeff Fusco/Getty Images

Thousands of foreign workers who entered the U.S. on temporary work visas received $1,200 pandemic stimulus checks in error, and many of them are spending the money in their home countries. Continue Reading Foreign Workers Living Read More

Unsuitable For A Pandemic? Add Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank To Bankruptcy List

By NPR News August 3, 2020

An employee works inside a Jos. A. Bank retail store in San Francisco. The parent company Tailored Brands earlier said it would close up to 500 stores and cut 20% of corporate jobs. CREDIT: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The parent company Tailored Brands earlier said it would close up to 500 stores and cut 20% of corporate jobs. It's joined in pandemic bankruptcy by rival Brooks Brothers and a growing list of others. Continue Reading Unsuitable For A Read More

U.S. Economy Drops 32.9% In Worst GDP Report Ever

By NPR News July 30, 2020

A movie theater is seen closed due to the coronavirus pandemic on July 2, 2020, in Brea, Calif. The U.S. economy shrank at a record 32.9% rate in the second quarter as the pandemic cost tens of millions of jobs. CREDIT: Jae C. Hong/AP

The coronavirus triggered the sharpest economic contraction in modern history in the second quarter as the pandemic hammered the economy, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Continue Reading U.S. Economy Drops 32.9% In Worst GDP Report EverRead More

After Delays, Republicans Rolled Out A New Pandemic Relief Bill. Democrats Balked

By NPR News July 27, 2020

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left, with President Trump at the White House. The GOP has unveiled a new pandemic relief bill but tough negotiations lie ahead with Democrats. Evan Vucci/AP

After days of delays, congressional Republicans unveiled their $1 trillion proposal for a fifth wave of pandemic relief. Democrats are not on board — signaling tough negotiations ahead. Continue Reading After Delays, Republicans Read More

Retail Sales Bounce Up 17.7% After Record Drop As States Reopen

By NPR News June 16, 2020

Social distancing instructions are posted at California's Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall on June 12, as local businesses enter Phase 3 reopening. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Spending is still nowhere near last year's. But as more states and cities allowed restaurants and shopping centers to reopen, May saw a big swing from a historic collapse in March and April. Continue Reading Retail Sales Bounce Up 17.7% After Read More

Federal Reserve Vows To Help Economy Weather The Pandemic Recession

By NPR News June 10, 2020

An employee sets a table for pickup orders at a restaurant in Arlington, Va. Even as states are moving to reopen their economies, tens of millions are out of work. CREDIT: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The Fed leaves interest rates near zero as expected, and promises to use all of its tools to support the economy. Officials project unemployment above 9% at the end of this year. Continue Reading Federal Reserve Vows To Help Economy Weather Read More

It’s Official: The U.S. Economy Is In A Recession. How Long Will It Last Is Uncertain

By NPR News June 8, 2020

Boxes of food are loaded on vehicles last month at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The country has officially entered a recession amid the pandemic, the National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday. CREDIT: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

The committee tasked with marking U.S. business cycles says the economy peaked in February and has since been in a recession triggered by the pandemic. But it says the recession could be short-lived. Continue Reading It’s Read More

Frustrated By Delayed Unemployment Benefits, Laid Off Workers Turn To Washington Supreme Court

By Tom Banse June 6, 2020

Laid-off restaurant worker Katrina Thiessen is frustrated by the weeks-long delay in having her unemployment claim approved.

Frustration with long delays in getting jobless benefits is boiling over into a lawsuit against the Washington State Employment Security Department. Attorneys representing two laid off workers and the nonprofit Unemployment Law Project filed the case directly with the state Supreme Court on Friday. Read 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

From Camping To Dining Out To Weddings: How Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities

By NPR News May 24, 2020

Graphic - going to the beach CREDIT: Meredith Miotke for NPR

The weather's warming up and public spaces are starting to reopen. How do you decide what's safe to do? We have guidance to help you compare and evaluate the risks. Continue Reading From Camping To Dining Out To 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