Economy
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Affordable Care Act enrollment projected to plunge by 5 million as costs spike, analysis shows
May 19, 2026 2:19 pm - Nationwide enrollment in the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace could plummet by nearly 5 million people this year, shrinking the number of participants in the program by more than 20%, according to a new analysis from the healthcare research nonprofit KFF.
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The Iran war is crushing consumers. A ‘gas tax holiday’ wouldn’t fix that in Illinois.May 16, 2026 1:27 pm - The price of gasoline is at its highest level since the summer of 2022, and the root cause is no mystery. Every time gas prices skyrocket, one particular idea bubbles up that sounds good in theory but is bad public policy in practice: a “gas tax holiday.”
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Why the U.S. job market is so hard, especially for recent college graduates
May 14, 2026 2:34 pm - The American job market is behaving in a way that economists are struggling to explain. The economy is growing. Unemployment is low. And yet, for millions of workers, finding a job has become harder than at almost any other point in decades.
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US filings for jobless benefits hits 211,000 as the war in Iran drags on, clouding economic forecastMay 14, 2026 8:41 am - The number of Americans filing for jobless aid rose last week but remains historically low despite the economic uncertainty caused by the war in Iran.
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Retail sales up 0.5% in April from March as higher gas prices leave less room for nonessential items
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Senate confirms Trump pick Warsh as chairman of the Federal Reserve, following Powell
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Wall Street’s record-setting run halts as AI stocks slump and oil prices rise
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The Iran war is hitting home as gasoline prices fuel inflation surge of 3.8% in the US
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US home sales flat in April as lackluster spring homebuying season lurches forwardMay 11, 2026 10:20 am - Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat in April, another lackluster showing for the housing market during what’s traditionally its busiest time of the year.
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How do data centers benefit the places where they’re built? Local mayors give mixed reviews
May 11, 2026 9:32 am - Lawmakers currently are debating how to regulate data centers while balancing that goal with the economic benefits the facilities can bring to communities. No regulations have moved beyond the discussion stage, and it’s unclear whether they’ll pass this spring. The most significant economic development data centers bring come from property taxes, construction job creation and community developments.