economy Archives | Northwest Public Broadcasting

If You’re A Salaried Worker In Washington, You May Soon Be Eligible For Overtime With New Rules

By NWPB News December 11, 2019

Victor Duran, a co-manager of a sports apparel store at the Southcenter mall, south of Seattle. Duran is one employee who could benefit from new overtime rules in Washington, which will allow hundreds of thousands of workers who have been exempt to begin collecting when they work more than 40 hours per week. CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP

The Department of Labor and Industries finalized the rules Wednesday and will phase them in by 2028. By that time, salaried workers making up to about $83,400 a year will be entitled to time-and-a-half pay if they work more than 40 hours per week. Read More

Those On Social Security Will Get Less Than 2 Percent Cost-Of-Living Increase In 2020

By NWPB News October 14, 2019

The increase amounts to $24 a month for the average retired worker, according to estimates released Thursday by the Social Security Administration. Following a significant boost this year, the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 2020 reverts to its pattern of moderate gains. Read More

U.S. Employers Add 136,000 Jobs; Unemployment Dips To 3.5 Percent

By NPR News October 4, 2019

A worker assembles an industrial valve at Emerson Electric Co.'s factory in Marshalltown, Iowa. The manufacturing sector has seen a slowdown amid the ongoing trade war. CREDIT: Tim Aeppel/Reuters

An index of manufacturing activity released on Tuesday showed the factory sector contracting for the second consecutive month. Factories shed 2,000 jobs in September. Continue Reading U.S. Employers Add 136,000 Jobs; Unemployment Dips To 3.5 Read More

Shopping Cart Economics: How Prices Changed At A Walmart In 1 Year

By NPR News September 16, 2019

Products that have changed in price from August 2018 to August 2019.

Since August 2018, NPR has been tracking about 80 items sold at a Georgia Walmart with an eye toward products caught in the trade war. On average, prices rose 3%. Tariffs are one of many factors. Continue Reading Shopping Cart Economics: How Read More

With Jobs Numbers Like These, It’s Hard To See Why The Economy Is Slowing

By NPR News August 3, 2019

A construction worker lays down shingles on the roof of a new house in Brandon, Miss., on June 19. Construction jobs rose 4,000 in July — below the 18,000 added in June and the 19,000 added in July 2018.CREDIT: Rogelio V. Solis/AP

The U.S. economy is slowing down, but it keeps creating jobs at a healthy pace. Employers added 164,000 jobs last month — as analysts had projected — and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7%. Continue Reading With Jobs Numbers Like Read More

Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates For 1st Time Since 2008

By NPR News July 31, 2019

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell has been under pressure from President Trump to cut interest rates. CREDIT: Patrick Semansky/AP

The quarter-point cut signals growing concern at the Federal Reserve about a slowdown in the economy amid the trade war with China. The Fed last cut rates in 2008 and raised them as late as December. Continue Reading Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Read More

What Washington Can’t Tax, Oregon Might

By NWPB News July 6, 2019

Dan’s Tractor Inc. owner Skip Ogden stands at the counter of his southwestern Washington store. CREDIT: Kate Davidson/OPB

On July 1, Washington stopped letting Oregon shoppers skip paying sales tax at the register, with a few exceptions. Some businesses in southwestern Washington fear the change will drive away Oregon customers who won’t want to cross the river to shop when there is no sales tax at home. Read More

A Yield Curve Inversion Just Happened. It’s Done So Before The Last 7 U.S. Recessions

By NPR News July 1, 2019

The floor of the New York Stock Exchange. An economic indicator known as the "yield curve inversion" hit the three-month mark, which has preceded the past 7 U.S. recessions. Richard Drew/AP

An inauspicious milestone was achieved on Sunday: the yield curve remained inverted for three months, which has for almost half a century preceded economic recessions. Continue Reading A Yield Curve Inversion Just Happened. Read More

New Report Says College-Educated Women Will Soon Make Up Majority Of U.S. Labor Force

By NPR News June 20, 2019

In this photo, women fill out job applications at a JobNewsUSA job fair in Miami Lakes, Fla. Lynne Sladky/AP

This year U.S. women who graduated from college will likely make up a majority of adults with degrees in the labor force. The increase could signal greater earning potential for women in the future. Continue Reading New Read More

U.S. Prepares Tariffs On Additional $300B Of Imported Chinese Goods

By NPR News May 14, 2019

The new U.S. tariffs list includes staples such as rice, along with clocks, watches and other items that weren't previously under threat of new duties. Here, farmers plant rice seeds at a seedlings pool in China's Jiangsu province. Xu Jingbai/VCG via Getty Images

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative published a list of Chinese goods that would be hit with new duties, from artists' brushes to watches. Continue Reading U.S. Prepares Tariffs On Additional $300B Of Imported Chinese GoodsRead More

Journalists Raise Money, Post Jobs And Buy Beers For Peers After A Week Of Layoffs

By Scott Leadingham January 26, 2019

After Buzzfeed, Gannett and Verizon's media group announced job losses this week, journalists across the country banded together to offer support. Continue Reading Journalists Raise Money, Post Jobs And Buy Beers For Peers Read More

Ford Cutting Jobs In Europe, Moving Away From Less Profitable Vehicles

By NPR News January 10, 2019

People at the Ford display at the Essen Motor Show fair in Essen, Germany, in December 2017. The automaker has announced it will be cutting some jobs in Europe to reduce costs. Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images

The automaker says it is not yet clear how many people will lose their jobs. The cuts come during a time of turmoil for the car industry, as automakers invest heavily in new technology. Continue Reading Ford Cutting Jobs In Europe, Moving Read More

U.S. Adds Stronger-Than-Expected 312,000 Jobs; Unemployment Rises Slightly To 3.9 Percent

By NPR News January 5, 2019

The economy added 312,000 jobs in December — topping analysts' expectations of 180,000 jobs added. Unemployment climbed as more people felt confident enough to quit their jobs and look for new ones. Continue Reading U.S. Adds Read More

New Year Brings Higher Minimum Wage In Washington And 19 Other States

By NPR News December 31, 2018

Protesters with NYC Fight for $15 gather in front of a McDonalds to rally against fast food executive Andrew Puzder, who was President Trump's nominee to lead the Labor Department on February 13, 2017 in New York City. CREDIT: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Millions of American workers will see pay raises in the new year due to minimum-wage increases in 20 states and 21 cities. Continue Reading New Year Brings Higher Minimum Wage In Washington And 19 Other StatesRead More

The American Dream Is Harder To Find In Some Neighborhoods

By NPR News October 1, 2018

This map, a screenshot from The Opportunity Atlas, shows household income in 2014-2015 for people born between 1978 and 1983 to low-income parents. In areas that are more red, people who grew up in low-income households tended to stay low-income. In areas that are more blue, people who grew up in low-income households tend to make more money. The Opportunity Atlas CREDIT: NPR

Does the neighborhood you grow up in determine how far you move up the economic ladder? A new online data tool being made public Monday finds a strong correlation between where people are raised and their chances of achieving the American dream. Continue Read More

U.S. Added 213,000 Jobs In June

By NPR News July 6, 2018

Joana Dudley looks at a list of job prospects at a job fair in Miami Lakes, Fla., in January. In the government's June jobs report, the unemployment rate ticked up to 4 percent with more people entering the labor force. CREDIT: Lynne Sladky/AP

The government's June jobs report beat expectations with another 213,000 jobs added. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4 percent with more people entering the workforce. Continue Reading U.S. Added 213,000 Jobs In JuneRead More

A Decade After The Bubble Burst, House Flipping Is On The Rise

By NPR News April 17, 2018

House flipping is at an 11-year high in the U.S. New research shows borrowers with good credit like flippers, and not subprime borrowers, were mainly responsible for the crash. Is another bust coming? Continue Reading A Decade After The Bubble Read More

Women Can’t Have Prior Salaries Used Against Them, Court Says In Equal Pay Case

By NPR News April 10, 2018

America's continuing gender pay gap is "an embarrassing reality of our economy," the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said. Continue Reading Women Can’t Have Prior Salaries Used Against Them, Court Says In Equal Pay Read More

Trump Plan To Impose Tariffs On Steel, Aluminum Imports Raises Trade War Fears

By NPR News March 1, 2018

The president promised steel and aluminum executives that he will levy tariffs on imports of their products in coming weeks. The tariffs will be 25 percent for steel and 10 percent for aluminum. Continue Reading Trump Plan To Impose Read More

Coal Jobs Up, But Not Because Of President Trump’s Policies, Analysts Say

By NPR News February 23, 2018

The number of U.S. coal jobs rose slightly during the president's first year in office. But energy analysts credit short-term market forces and say they won't stop long-term decline. Continue Reading Coal Jobs Up, But Not Because Of President Trump’s Policies, Analysts Read More

DeFazio and Walden Appear in Grants Pass to Promote Timber Trust Bill

By Sueann Ramella January 27, 2012

DeFazio and Walden want to allow for more logging in Oregon Cascade forests such as the Santiam State Fores, pictured here. JASON MCARTHUR / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Listen GRANT’S PASS, Ore. – Oregon Congressmen Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden appeared together in Grants Pass Thursday. They were pushing their proposal to open up some public… Read More

Lawmakers Consider Abolishing Death Penalty To Save Money In Wash.

By Sueann Ramella January 26, 2012

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington lawmakers are considering a plan to save money by abolishing the death penalty in the state. That idea got a hearing today in Olympia. Karil Klingbeil testified in support of the ban. Her sister, Candy Hemmig, was murdered 30 years ago in Olympia. The killer, Mitchell Rupe was dubbed “the man… Read More

Oregon Congressman Hopes To Restore Funding To Rural Counties

By Sueann Ramella January 26, 2012

Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio ONLINE GUIDE TO HOUSE MEMBERS AND SENATORS / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio is hoping he’ll soon be able to introduce legislation that will help fund rural counties who are bracing for the loss of federal timber payments. Some counties face insolvency if the Secure Rural… Read More

Airbus Beats Boeing in Airplane Sales

By Sueann Ramella January 17, 2012

Year-end sales numbers are in and, in the corporate battle of the skies, Airbus has once again beaten Boeing. The European jet maker said this morning that sales last year totaled 1,419 — or almost double the 805 sales Boeing posted last year. Both companies report that so-called “fuel-efficient” narrow-body jets now represent the strongest… Read More