After G-20, U.S. isolated on trade and climate change

Jul 10, 2017
At the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany over the weekend, Japan and the European Union announced an agreement in principle for a new trade accord. And they touted free trade at a time when they see America shifting towards protectionism. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called President Trump’s decision to exit the Paris climate agreement […]

As fewer farmers work the land, the small town way of life fades

Jul 10, 2017
Average farms are growing and adopting new technologies to make ends meet.
Farmer Brandon Biesemeier stands on his herbicide sprayer on his family's land near Haxtun, Colorado.
Luke Runyon/Harvest Public Media and KUNC

Will new IPO rules encourage more public offerings?

Jul 10, 2017
The Securities and Exchange Commission wants to encourage more companies to go public. More IPOs, the thinking goes, can be good for the economy. Starting today, the government has instituted a new rule allowing all companies, regardless of their size, to file IPO paperwork confidentially. The filings don’t become public until about 15 days before […]

LGBTQ advocates ask why questions left off Census survey

Jul 10, 2017
Gay rights advocates say questions about sexual orientation and gender identity would connect the LGBTQ community to all the rich data of the census.
Gay, lesbian and transgender activists react to the unanimous decision by the Iowa Supreme Court recognizing same sex marriage as a civil right during a celebration on April 2009 at the University of Iowa.
David Greedy/Getty Images

If companies are having trouble hiring, why aren’t they paying more?

Jul 7, 2017
The June employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed strong job growth – 222,000 – and a 0.1 percent rise in the unemployment rate to 4.4 percent, as more job-seekers entered the labor force. But the rise in average hourly earnings was anemic—up 0.2 percent month over month, 2.5 percent year over year. […]

Walmart tries to make better savers out of the unbanked

Jul 7, 2017
A prepaid debit card program with a savings plan called the Vault links prizes to savings.
Latoya Roberts and her three children shop at a Walmart in a suburb outside of Pittsburgh.
Erika Beras/Marketplace

Here are the hot jobs in this low unemployment economy

Jul 7, 2017
The June unemployment report is out today, and we’re looking at which jobs are in demand in our near-full employment economy. How can you tell which occupations are hard to fill? One way is to see where employers are raising salaries to attract new workers. Pharmacy tech, registered nurse, software engineer, data scientist — if […]

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Traffic climbed after the recession. So did accidents and truckers' premiums.

Jul 6, 2017
Truck companies have turned to technology to ensure employees drive safely.
Attorney Hilary Rowen says the biggest driver of rising insurance rates is the sheer number of hours truckers and everyone else are spending on the road.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Two things Trump likes: a narrower trade gap and a weak dollar

Jul 6, 2017
At the G20 meeting of world leaders this week, President Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are sure to talk about trade. Trump has been outspoken — on Twitter, at least — about the U.S. needing to shrink the “massive” trade deficit it has with Germany. The Commerce Department says the U.S. trade deficit did […]

As homeowners feel wealthier with rising home prices, will they spend more money?

Jul 6, 2017
Rising home prices have led to higher consumer confidence, but will that translate into more consumer spending in the near future?