Latest from Jonathan Frewin

• Jun 2, 2021

  Crude oil prices up = optimism for the global economy

  

  The price of crude oil is spiking, with some of that driven by the economies around the world that have been able to move away from pandemic restrictions on travel. Plus, a bulldozer is an uninspiring way to deal with an empty J.C. Penney. What about turning it into affordable housing? And, corporate leaders have pledged to take into account the needs of the earth, communities, employees and other stakeholders beyond shareholders. How do you measure whether they’re meeting that pledge?

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• Jun 2, 2021

  Biden’s strategy to narrow the racial wealth gap

  

  President Biden’s plan, announced in Tulsa, Oklahoma, yesterday, aims to address discrimination in housing access and value for Black Americans. Plus, spelling out the updated guidance to employers about whether they can require workers to get vaccinated and provide incentives for doing so. And, it’s been a little more than a week since a host of nations in Europe told airlines not to fly over Belarusian airspace. A punishment like that leaves millions of dollars hanging in the balance.

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• Jun 2, 2021

  U.S. says cyberattack on meatpacker JBS is likely from Russia

  

  From the BBC World Service: Brazil’s JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, suffered a targeted attack which disrupted its operations in Australia, Canada and the U.S. Plus, with planes not flying over Belarus for now, how much money could the country lose in overflight fees? And, Wendy’s throws open the doors to its first restaurant in the U.K. in decades, with plans for European expansion.

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• Jun 1, 2021

  How the economy might recover with summer kicking into gear

  

  We’ll hear from one economist who says we could see more than 10% GDP growth in the second quarter on an annualized basis, along with a recovery for the services sector this summer. Also, public skepticism for China’s new three-child policy and what it will actually mean for population growth. Plus, keep an eye out for credit card incentives as companies hope to bring balances back up. And, a labor shortage for lifeguards.

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• Jun 1, 2021

  Have you tried getting an Uber or Lyft lately?

  

  In some cities, the cost of an Uber to the airport could rival that of the flight itself. There are long wait times and elevated prices for rides right now. We take a closer look at why. Plus, a new estimate on how long the global computer chip shortage could last. One CEO says it could be years. Also, the unequal distribution of COVID vaccines is threatening permanent economic recovery, according to leaders from the International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, World Bank and World Trade Organization. And, how efforts at Howard University’s College of Fine Arts aim to address a lack of diversity in Hollywood’s executive suites.

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• Jun 1, 2021

  A $50 billion plan to help tackle global vaccine inequality

  

  From the BBC World Service: Leaders from the World Bank, IMF, WTO and WHO say the gap between rich and poor countries on COVID vaccines threatens the global economic recovery. Also, the pandemic has taken a toll on India’s burgeoning middle class. Plus, Lebanon’s economic crisis could be one of the worst financial collapses in nearly 200 years. And, Kraft Heinz will start making ketchup in England again.

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• May 31, 2021

  What is Zoom’s fate as pandemic starts to fade?

  

  Masks are beginning to come off and hand sanitizer sales are down. So what about that other COVID mainstay, Zoom? The videoconferencing platform reports quarterly results on Tuesday. Plus, the cap on how many children couples in China can have is now up to three. And, a new tool to measure how rising inequality in the U.S. affects Americans as workers, consumers, bill payers and savers.

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• May 31, 2021

  Nashville music scene navigates reopening

  

  Some in the industry want Nashville to step up and better support music venues as pandemic economic recovery continues. Also, an announcement today from China’s government: Married couples may now have up to three children. The change in policy comes after new census numbers showed China’s working-age population shrank over the last decade. And, a look at disaster preparedness in the U.S. with the official start to hurricane season one day away.

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• May 31, 2021

  China looks to boost population growth, but couples say they just don’t want big families

  

  From the BBC World Service: China said it is now allowing families to have up to three children in order to try to boost slowing population growth. But will relaxed rules have the intended outcome? Plus, Taiwan looks to local COVID-19 vaccine production to speed up immunization. And, we look at the problems caused by improper battery recycling.

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• May 28, 2021

  The latest numbers on U.S spending, incomes and inflation

  

  With spending up again, despite incomes being down, it’s clear consumers are driving a continued recovery from the pandemic recession. Meanwhile, a key inflation indicator preferred by the Federal Reserve surged more than expected in April. Also, news the Biden administration is trying to address the root causes of migration from Central America by improving economic opportunity in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Plus, the hot market for cyber insurance right now. And, Texas could soon become the state with the toughest rules on letting renters know if they’re planning on living in a place at risk of flooding.

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