Companies see an opportunity with more relief money headed to consumers

Mar 17, 2021
Deals and other offers are likely to appear online, where people have already been shopping during the pandemic.
Consumers are likely to spend this latest round of relief payments quickly, said Matt Kleinschmit, CEO of the market research consultancy Reach3 Insights.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

New law dramatically expands access to health care subsidies

Mar 11, 2021
Lots of low- and middle-income folks who didn’t qualify for subsidies before will now.
Under the new law, nobody will have to pay more than 8.5% of their income on health insurance.
Stephane De Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images

What might consumers do with both a tax refund and pandemic relief money?

Mar 9, 2021
Those who have already paid off debt and built up their savings may be ready to spend tax refund money.
NoDerog via Getty Images

When it comes to relief, think of the economy as a car tire

Feb 10, 2021
Wendy Edelberg from Brookings evaluates what the Republican and Democratic relief proposals could mean for GDP.
Vladimir Rys/Getty Images

How the end of slavery led to two different minimum wages

Feb 9, 2021
After the Civil War, companies didn’t want to reach into their own pockets to pay recently freed enslaved people.
The national tipped minimum wage is just $2.13 an hour. Companies have to kick in more if workers don't make at least $7.25 an hour when you add in their tips.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

What happens if some relief funds are not spent?

Feb 5, 2021
Leftover PPP money is in an account. But other expenses, like unemployment, are paid only as needed.
The prospect of unspent PPP loans came up in Senate negotiations over COVID-19 relief spending.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Will January bring more hiring?

Jan 8, 2021
The latest COVID relief package will have a positive effect on the economy as soon as this month.
A waiter at the outdoor dining area of a restaurant in New York last year.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

How Americans are likely to spend the second round of relief checks

Dec 29, 2020
Back in March, many people didn't spend all of their relief money right away. That may be more difficult this time around.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked Democrats' move for $2,000 relief checks. Above, McConnell arrives on Capitol Hill on Dec. 20.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Transit agencies get $14 billion in relief, with ridership still down

Dec 29, 2020
The money will let agencies avoid doomsday scenarios of thousands of layoffs and drastic service cuts.
A woman exits a Brooklyn subway station on Nov. 18, 2020, in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Airlines get relief funds, but travel rebound may take a while

Dec 29, 2020
The measure includes money that will allow the airline industry to bring back furloughed workers through March.
A pilot walks through New York's LaGuardia Airport on Dec. 3.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images