Nortwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette - National Business

GOP pushes social media bills in states

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 08:00:00 GMT

Republican state lawmakers are pushing for social media giants to face costly lawsuits for policing content on their websites, taking aim at a federal law that prevents internet companies from being sued for removing posts.

Senate OKs stimulus bill in tight vote

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 09:43:00 GMT

WASHINGTON -- An exhausted Senate narrowly approved the $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief bill Saturday as President Joe Biden and his Democratic allies notched a victory they called crucial for hoisting the country out of the pandemic and economic doldrums. It includes an increase in safety-net spending that amounts to the largest anti-poverty effort in a generation.

Jobless-aid deal hit with Senate holdout

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 10:55:00 GMT

Senate Democratic leaders reached an agreement late Friday over unemployment benefits with moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, ending a nine-hour standoff that threatened to derail action on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill.

Gain of 379,000 jobs lifts hopes, but analysts see recovery as fragile

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 10:46:00 GMT

The U.S. economy added 379,000 jobs in February, a level well above the pre-pandemic rate of growth that surpassed analysts' estimates and bolstered hopes about more positive growth through the year as the public-health crisis lessens.

U.S., EU set 4-month tariff hiatus

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 08:11:00 GMT

A phone call Friday clinched the first trade breakthrough to start rebuilding trans-Atlantic relations between the United States and the European Union in the wake of the Trump presidency.

U.S. trade deficit widens by 1.9%

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 08:10:00 GMT

The U.S. trade deficit widened to unprecedented levels in January as imports surged to the highest since mid-2019.

Work from home a tax-time letdown

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 08:09:20 GMT

The home office deduction could've been this tax season's most popular way to reduce taxes -- a breakout tax break.

S&P 500 posts weekly gain as stocks bounce back

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 08:09:00 GMT

Wall Street capped a volatile day of trading Friday with a broad rally that snapped the market's three-day losing streak.

Review set on meat-plant inspections in pandemic

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 08:08:20 GMT

The inspector general for the U.S. Agriculture Department is reviewing the agency's handling of inspections at meatpacking plants during the coronavirus pandemic, in part to determine how it protected front-line meat inspectors, according to a letter obtained by The Washington Post.

Ford production said begun on new truck

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 08:08:10 GMT

A new pickup from Ford Motor Co. began rolling off assembly lines at the Dearborn, Mich. automaker's Hermosillo plant in Mexico last month, according to production data reported to shareholders this week.

Texas utility regulators stand pat on overcharges

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 08:07:10 GMT

Texas utility regulators have rejected a recommendation that they reverse about $16 billion in overcharges for wholesale electricity that were racked up during the failure of the state's utility grid last month because of a pricing error by the grid's operator.

U.S. adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 14:42:00 GMT

U.S. employers added a robust 379,000 jobs last month, the most since October and a sign that the economy is strengthening as confirmed viral cases drop, consumers spend more and states and cities ease business restrictions.

Jobless filings up despite virus strides

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 08:13:00 GMT

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits edged higher last week to 745,000, a sign that many employers continue to cut jobs despite a drop in confirmed viral infections and evidence that the overall economy is improving.

Fed chief foresees no raise of rates

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 08:10:00 GMT

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell suggested Thursday that inflation will pick up in the coming months but that it would likely prove temporary and not enough for the Fed to alter its record-low interest rate policies.

Craft sticks landing, then blows

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 08:07:00 GMT

SpaceX's futuristic Starship aced a touchdown Wednesday, but then exploded on the landing pad with so much force that it was hurled into the air.

Stocks take a hit from tech slump, bond-yield surge

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 08:04:00 GMT

Technology companies led another broad sell-off on Wall Street on Thursday as a spike in bond yields put more pressure on the market's high-flying stocks.

Marlboro-maker asks FDA to help redeem nicotine's image

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 08:00:00 GMT

Marlboro-maker Altria Group Inc. wants to enlist an unlikely partner in convincing Americans that nicotine isn't as bad as they think -- its regulator.

U.S. productivity falls 4.2% in largest decline since 1981

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 07:57:00 GMT

U.S. productivity fell at an annual rate of 4.2% in the fourth quarter, the largest quarterly decline in nearly four decades.

U.S. jobless claims tick up to 745,000 as layoffs remain high

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 15:57:00 GMT

Infrastructure upgrades urged

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:04:00 GMT

America's infrastructure has scored near-failing grades for its deteriorating roads, public transit and storm water systems because of years of inaction from the federal government, the American Society of Civil Engineers reports. Its overall grade: a mediocre C-.