Economy
Can bringing back manufacturing help the heartland catch up with ‘superstar’ cities?
In recent decades, America has seen economic opportunities concentrated in superstar cities. Manufacturing boosters hope reshoring factories could help change that. We look at the theory and evidence.
Will I get refunds? Small businesses wonder as courts rule on Trump tariffs
Court rulings against President Trump's tariffs could spell relief for many American importers — if the decisions hold. For now, the uncertainty remains.
Federal trade court blocks Trump from imposing tariffs under emergency powers law
The ruling from a three-judge panel at the New York-based Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing that Trump has exceeded his authority.
Alabama study reveals hurricane resilience programs are paying off for homeowners and insurers
The first-of-its-kind analysis, released last week, reviews thousands of insurance claims linked to Hurricane Sally, which struck Alabama’s coast in 2020. Homes retrofitted or built to Fortified standards saw significantly fewer and less costly claims.
Are manufacturing jobs actually special?
More than half of American workers don't have a college degree. Is manufacturing a ticket for them to the middle class?
Why ‘Sell America’ is trending on Wall Street
Investors are worried about the ongoing trade war — and rethinking the safety and soundness of U.S. government debt.
No more pennies: In big change, Treasury will stop minting them
In a cost-cutting move, the Treasury Department will soon stop minting new pennies. The one-cent coins will still be legal tender. There are more than 100 billion pennies in circulation but many are gathering dust in change jars and forgotten pockets.
Is AI coming for your job? Maybe. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare
Artificial intelligence is already transforming workplaces in Alabama. And the pace of the AI revolution is about to accelerate.
Retailers feel pressure to eat the price increases from tariffs
From Target to Walmart, retailers are fighting two battles at once: a financial battle to keep costs low in the face of new tariffs, and a political one to avoid the president's wrath.
Home Depot doesn’t plan to raise prices due to tariffs. But some items may disappear
The home improvement chain broke from many other retailers, who say they cannot afford to absorb new tariffs. President Trump recently attacked Walmart for warning of price hikes.
Trump has imposed a lot of tariffs. But here’s why collecting them can be hard
Collecting Trump's tariffs could be tricky. The agencies that screen imports say they're frequently overwhelmed and understaffed, and experts say exporters are becoming cannier at evading taxes.
What a Texas showerhead salesman discovered about ‘Made in the USA’ labels
A Texas showerhead salesman wanted to know how much more customers would pay to buy a product that's made in the USA. The answer could pour cold water on President Trump's plan to encourage more companies to open factories in the U.S.
5 years since Brexit, are Britain and the EU getting back together?
With a war in Ukraine and the U.S. rethinking alliances, Britain and the European Union may need each other more than they thought. They're holding their first summit since Brexit Monday.
Walmart says higher prices from tariffs coming as soon as this month
The world's largest retailer says it won't be able to absorb all the costs from higher tariffs on imported goods, particularly from China. Already in April, shoppers began tightening their budgets as retail spending did not grow much compared to March.
Trump’s plan to bring shipbuilding back to the US? Port fees on Chinese vessels
Port fees on Chinese-built ships and operators will start in October, further raising the cost of trading with the United States.
U.S. egg prices fall for the first time in months but remain near record highs
The average price for a dozen Grade A eggs declined to $5.12 last month after reaching a record $6.23 in March. It was the first month-to-month drop in egg prices since October 2024.
Inflation cools in April — but tariffs could upend the picture in coming months
Consumer prices in April were up 2.3% from a year ago, the smallest annual increase in more than four years. Grocery prices fell 0.4%, thanks to a large drop in the price of eggs.
Why an economist says temporary U.S.-China tariff deal doesn’t ease uncertainty
Businesses are rushing to import Chinese goods after the U.S. struck a temporary deal. This "stop-go" nature of trade could still mean higher prices and doesn't ease uncertainty, an economist warns.
Why aren’t Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have?
Leaders from both political parties have been working to bring back manufacturing. But American manufacturers say they are struggling to fill the manufacturing jobs we already have.
Inflation cools in April — but tariffs could upend the picture in coming months
Consumer prices in April were up 2.3% from a year ago, the smallest annual increase in more than four years. Grocery prices fell 0.4%, thanks to a large drop in the price of eggs.
First, relief. Then, a scramble to get stuff in after U.S. cuts China tariffs for now
Although business owners welcomed a temporary deal with China to slash tariffs, there's still considerable uncertainty about what happens next.
Stocks soar after U.S. and China agree to temporarily slash tariffs
Stocks soared — and businesses breathed a sigh of relief — as the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily slash their triple-digit tariffs.
The U.S. and China announce a deal to cut tariffs, temporarily easing trade war
American levies on Chinese goods will drop from at least 145% to 30% for an initial period of 90 days, while Chinese levies are set to fall from at least 125% to 10% on American goods.
Coca-Cola Amphitheater poised to open mid-June
With just six weeks until the first show, construction at the new Coca Cola Amphitheater north of downtown Birmingham is still underway.
Americans are already seeing Trump’s tariffs kick in. They sent in receipts to prove it
There's new tariffs on almost everything that is imported. Some of that increased cost is being eaten by exporters in other countries, but a lot of the higher prices are being picked up by Americans, who are seeing it in their receipts.
Energy Star, efficiency program that has steered consumer choice, targeted in cuts
An Environmental Protection Agency plan to eliminate its Energy Star offices would end a decades-old program that gave consumers a choice to buy environmentally friendly electronics and save money on bills, consumer and environmental groups said.
In the wake of tariffs, cargo at the Port of LA is down 35%
The immediate impact of the cargo decline affects virtually every business around the ports, but port officials say this downturn will soon be felt much more broadly.
The Fed will likely hold interest rates steady as Trump’s tariffs spark uncertainty
The Federal Reserve will likely hold interest rates steady Wednesday as President Trump's tariffs threaten to raise prices and drag down economic growth.
U.S. and Chinese officials will meet in Geneva in first sign of thaw in trade war
The superpowers have been locked in a geopolitical blinking contest, waiting for the other side to reach out. The talks in Switzerland are the first concrete sign of a potential thaw in the deadlock.
Why oil prices are falling, and what it means for the economy
Between tariffs roiling the global economy and OPEC putting more barrels on the market, prices have dropped significantly since January. That's good for consumers, and bad for oil companies.
Warren Buffett announces his retirement and warns the trade war will hurt America
The billionaire investor, now 94, also said he would be resigning as CEO at the end of the year. He spoke at Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting known as "Woodstock for Capitalists."
The U.S. job market cooled slightly as Trump’s trade war heated up
U.S. employers added 177,000 jobs in April — a modest slowdown from the previous month, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%.
