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Economy

Inequality and unease are rising as elite Davos event opens with pro-business Trump set to attend

By JAMEY KEATEN
Jan 19, 2026 9:57 am - The World Economic Forum, the think tank whose four-day annual meeting opens Tuesday, has a stated motto of “improving the state of the world," and this year's theme is “A spirit of dialogue.”
Illinois needs spending restraint to help businesses thrive in 2026

By Matt Paprocki
Jan 17, 2026 11:53 am - The Illinois General Assembly has returned for the 2026 session, and lawmakers already are debating subsidizing the Chicago Bears’ new stadium, making changes to Tier 2 pensions, addressing energy concerns and data centers, and even proposing new progressive income taxes.
Wage inequities persist in Illinois but have improved slightly, report shows

By JENNA SCHWEIKERT
Jan 16, 2026 12:14 pm - A 2021 amendment to the Equal Pay Act mandates certain Illinois businesses to report biannual wage and demographic data to the Department of Labor. The first analysis, based on three years of data, shows some improvement, but disparities remain the widest in low-wage and craft occupations. Researchers recommend expanding the reported data to get the full picture of wage equity in Illinois.
Elgin mayor stresses ‘stability’ in annual State of the City address

By Rick West
Jan 15, 2026 2:45 pm - Elgin Mayor David Kaptain told business leaders this week that the city’s focus on financial and governmental stability over the past 10 years will help them navigate the next 10.
Inflation cooled slightly in December though it remains above Fed's target

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
Jan 13, 2026 9:14 am - WASHINGTON — Inflation cooled a bit last month as prices for gas and used cars fell, a sign that stubbornly elevated cost pressures are slowly easing. Consumer prices ro...
Trump visits Ford plant and defends his tariffs, hoping to counter jitters about the economy

By WILL WEISSERT and COREY WILLIAMS
Jan 13, 2026 6:34 am - President Donald Trump offered a full-throated defense of his sweeping tariffs on Tuesday, traveling to swing-state Michigan to push the case that he’s boosted domestic manufacturing in hopes of countering fears about a weakening job market and still-rising prices that have squeezed American pocketbooks.
Top central bankers express ‘full solidarity’ with Fed Chair Powell in clash with Trump

By DAVID McHUGH
Jan 13, 2026 6:30 am - Central bankers from around the world said Tuesday they “stand in full solidarity” with U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, after President Donald Trump dramatically escalated his confrontation with the Fed with the Justice Department investigating and threatening criminal charges.
DOJ investigation of Fed Chair Powell sparks backlash, support for Fed independence

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and JOSH BOAK
Jan 12, 2026 1:02 pm - WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell appeared on Monday to be emboldening defenders of the U.S. cent...
‘Til debt do us part: Planning for your business to not go as planned

By James Trail
Jan 10, 2026 12:45 pm - Across suburban Chicago, many people will start new businesses this year, and many of them will have more than one owner. While starting a business is relatively easy, keeping it free of conflict is much more difficult. That is why taking affirmative steps to protect both the owners and the company is paramount.
Economic outlook: What to expect in 2026

By Jim Platania
Jan 10, 2026 12:30 pm - President Donald Trump’s reelection in 2024, the tariff shock in 2025, and geopolitical events along the way have left investors wondering what comes next.

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