Economy
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Elgin group releases booklet on business and residential development and growthJul 29, 2025 12:59 pm - A new 12-page informational booklet provides a quick, in-depth look at statistics featuring Elgin’s business, municipal, and residential activity and growth; population and diversity factors; workforce sectors and categories; health care resources and services; and educational institutions.
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Trump’s tariffs could squeeze US factories and boost costs by up to 4.5%, a new analysis finds
Jul 29, 2025 8:03 am - As President Donald Trump prepares to announce new tariff increases, the costs of his policies are starting to come into focus for a domestic manufacturing sector that depends on global supply chains, with a new analysis suggesting factory costs could increase by roughly 2% to 4.5%.
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US-China tariff talks may provide clues on a possible Trump-Xi meeting
Jul 28, 2025 1:38 pm - Top trade officials from China and the United States launched a new round of talks on Monday in a bid to ease tensions over tariffs between the world’s two biggest national economies.
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Wall Street coasts for now ahead of a week packed with potential flashpoints
Jul 28, 2025 9:53 am - U.S. stock indexes are drifting on Monday after the United States agreed to tax cars and other products coming from the European Union at a 15% rate, lower than President Donald Trump had earlier threatened. Many details are still to be worked out, though, and Wall Street is heading into a week full of potential flashpoints that could shake markets.
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Better Business Bureau offers smart strategies for business growth and cost reductionJul 26, 2025 12:04 pm - In the dynamic world of business, finding ways to lower expenses while continuing to grow is essential for long-term success.
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Hershey and other chocolate makers hike prices as cocoa remains near record highs
Jul 24, 2025 1:31 pm - Hershey and other chocolate makers are continuing to hike prices, saying a volatile cocoa market gives them no choice.
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Lake County ranks among top 10 nationally for economic developmentJul 21, 2025 11:05 am - Lake County has been named one of the top 10 counties in the nation to do business in by Site Selection Magazine.
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‘Click-to-cancel’ is over, but there are other ways to unsubscribe
Jul 19, 2025 1:19 pm - A “click-to-cancel” rule, which would have made it easier for consumers to end unwanted subscriptions, was blocked by a federal appeals court days before it was set to go into effect. But there are ways to end those subscriptions and memberships, even if they take some work.
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Retirees, here’s how to tweak the 4% rule to protect your nest egg
Jul 18, 2025 8:18 am - New retirees might enter a different environment than their predecessors—the economy or market might have changed slightly or dramatically.
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US retail sales bounce around in a whipsaw trade environment
Jul 17, 2025 9:22 am - After an earlier pullback, consumers picked up their spending in June showing resilience despite anxiety high over tariffs and the U.S. economy. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.6% in June, the Commerce Department said Thursday, after two consecutive months of spending declines, a 0.1% pullback in April and a 0.9% slowdown in May.