Economy
South Korean President Lee to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday
At a summit meeting in Washington, D.C. on Monday, the U.S. and South Korean presidents will discuss modernizing their 71-year-old alliance and fleshing out a trade deal reached last month.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell signals possible rate cut, sending stocks sharply higher
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell signaled a possible interest rate cut in the months to come, sending stocks sharply higher.
With Fed under pressure, Jerome Powell prepares for a high-stakes speech
The Fed chair will speak Friday at an annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The speech comes as the central bank is under mounting pressure from the White House to lower interest rates.
Walmart says tariff costs are rising ‘each week’ and will continue
The world's largest retailer — like many others — has been absorbing most of the increased costs, but raising prices of some goods.
Far fewer Canadians are visiting the U.S. this year, new numbers show
Canadian residents made just 1.7 million return trips by motor vehicle back into their country from the U.S. in July, a nearly 37% decline over the same month in 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Washington’s hydropower has created a data center boom. Some are concerned about its future.
In small town Washington — where hydropower is plentiful — data centers are creating jobs and funding amenities. But water and energy aren't unlimited — and some worry about long-term sustainability.
Trump is tightening the screws on corporate America — and CEOs are staying mum
Critics warn that Trump's demands for business leaders to step down, and for the government to take a cut of sales, threaten American-style capitalism.
The hidden costs of cutting Medicaid
Cutting Medicaid can seem like an easy way to slash the budget. But, the costs can spread to all of us.
Inflation remains elevated as Trump’s tariffs take hold
Inflation remained elevated last month as President Trump's tariffs continued to make their way into the prices that consumers pay. The average cost of living in July was up 2.7%.
Trump’s tariff revenue has skyrocketed. But how big is it, really?
President Trump's new tariffs are pouring in. But it's still only a fraction of overall government revenues — and falls short of new spending in the recent Republican megabill.
We get asked about tariffs all the time. Here’s what we say
From inflation to recession, we who cover the economy and business at NPR get asked about tariffs all the time. Here are some of the most frequent questions — and what we answer.
IRS Commissioner Billy Long replaced after less than two months
The Trump administration has replaced former Missouri Congressman Billy Long as IRS Commissioner, after less than two months on the job. It's the latest in a string of management shakeups at the tax collection agency.
Trump taps White House economist Stephen Miran to fill Fed vacancy on temporary basis
President Trump plans to nominate Stephen Miran to fill a vacant seat on the Federal Reserve's board of governors, but only for the next six months.
Trump’s broad tariffs go into effect, just as economic pain is surfacing
The White House said that starting just after midnight that goods from more than 60 countries and the European Union would face tariff rates of 10% or higher.
Claire’s, the ear-piercing tween mall staple, is bankrupt — again
The chain's bankruptcy filing is the second in seven years. Its troubles include unwieldy debt, shoppers' changing habits and new tariff costs.
This Tuscan startup sold all its olive oil in the U.S. Then came Trump’s tariffs
Americans love olive oil — and import 95% of it. But tariffs are making it harder for Europeans to sell it to Americans.
As Trump’s tariffs take shape, is America really winning?
Trump says his tariffs will spur America into a "golden age" — but that remains far from certain. Here are 5 things to know about how his trade policies could impact the U.S. and the global economy.
The job market is showing signs of weakness as Trump’s tariffs take effect
U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs in July, according to a report from the Labor Department Friday, as the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%. Job gains for May and June were also revised sharply lower.
What Trump’s threat to tariff Russia’s trade partners means for India
President Trump said India would pay the price for buying Russian oil and military equipment. Here is a look at how India, with one of Asia's largest economies, is responding.
Not enough money for retirement? NPR wants to hear from you
Many adults over age 50 either have no retirement savings or worry they won't be able to support themselves during their post-working years. If that's you, NPR wants to hear your story.
Automakers are eating the cost of tariffs — for now
Last quarter, tariffs cost the auto industry billions of dollars. So far, that's come out of profits instead of being passed along to buyers. But that could change.
The U.S. economy rebounds to 3% growth in second quarter — but tariffs skew picture
The U.S. economy grew this spring after a slowdown earlier this year. A report from the Commerce Department shows the nation's GDP grew at an annual rate of 3% in the second quarter of the year.
Trump keeps pressuring the Fed to cut rates. Here’s why its independence matters
Trump has threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, challenging the Fed's independence. Experts say he's not the first president to target the central bank, but he's the most public and aggressive.
The Fed is likely to hold interest rates steady despite intense pressure from Trump
The Federal Reserve is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged, but a rate cut is possible in September. President Trump has been urging the central bank to lower borrowing costs.
Are prices going up because of tariffs? Here’s what we know
Prices have risen a tad on some items especially affected by tariffs. But for the most part, companies are finding ways to delay price increases — for now.
Here’s a puzzling question: Why are stocks at record highs despite looming tariffs?
President Trump's tariffs could hit the economy badly and lead to higher inflation. But Wall Street investors are reacting by sending stocks to record highs.
Corporate America is having a weird tariff summer
Some big companies are reporting real financial pain from tariffs and economic uncertainty — but for others, business is booming.
Independent grocery stores have had a tough five years. SNAP cuts will make it harder
The bulk of sales for many independent grocers come from SNAP. Cuts to the program could leave some making hard decisions about their future.
Are you a single mom? We want to hear from you about your challenges and life experiences
About 40% of all births in America are to unmarried women according to the U.S. Census. Are there situations and challenges that are unique to single moms? We'd like to hear about them.
Trump visits Federal Reserve and tussles with Jerome Powell in extraordinary moment
President Trump visited the Federal Reserve to inspect an ongoing renovation and disagreed with the Fed chair about the project's final cost in an extraordinary moment.
Inflation heats up in June as President Trump’s tariffs start to bite
Consumer prices were up 2.7% from a year ago — a larger annual increase than the month before.
Inflation heats up as President Trump’s tariffs start to bite
Consumer prices were up 2.7% from a year ago — a larger annual increase than the month before.
