Coronavirus
Growth at Services, Factories Slows to Eight-Month Low
A worker drives a forklift inside a shipping warehouse at the Fiesta Tableware Co. factory in Newell, W.Va. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News)
U.S. business activity continues to downshift, with growth slowing to an eight-month low in August against a backdrop of materials shortages, a lack of labor and an upswing in coronavirus infections.
August 23, 2021China’s Port Shutdown Raises Fears of Closures Worldwide
Containers sit stacked next to gantry cranes as trucks operate at the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in Ningbo, China. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)
A COVID outbreak that has partially shut one of the world’s busiest container ports is heightening concerns that the rapid spread of the delta variant will lead to a repeat of last year’s shipping nightmares.
August 13, 2021Jobless Claims Near Pandemic Low as Economy Strengthens
Michael Conroy/AP
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell for a third straight time last week, the latest sign that employers are laying off fewer people as they struggle to fill a record number of open jobs and meet a surge in consumer demand.
August 12, 2021IEA Cuts Oil Demand Outlook on Virus
Gas flares burn from pipes aboard an offshore oil platform in the Persian Gulf's Salman Oil Field. (Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg)
The International Energy Agency cut forecasts for global oil demand “sharply” for the rest of this year as the resurgent pandemic hits major consumers, and predicted a new surplus in 2022.
August 12, 2021Amazon Lottery Offers Vaccinated Workers Cars, $500,000 Cash
Rachel Jessen/Bloomberg News
Amazon.com Inc. will offer cash prizes of as much as $500,000 as well as cars and vacation packages to frontline employees who can prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
August 9, 2021Amazon’s Dilemma: Mandating Vaccinations Would Risk Losing Workers
An Amazon employee receives a vaccination at a fulfillment center in Las Vegas in March. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The quandary facing America’s second-largest private employer is this: how to keep its facilities COVID-free without sparking a mutiny among workers who are desperately needed to keep operations running amid a tight labor market and strong online demand.
August 4, 2021Economy, Trucking Industry Roar Back
A shortage of drivers is a concern as the economy heats up. (Mark Lennihan/AP)
Economic indicators and forecasts from economists show trucking and the U.S. economy are in the midst of a strong recovery, though concerns remain about the persistent shortage of drivers and supply chain delays.
July 15, 2021Slow Vaccine Rates for Seafarers Threaten to Worsen Shipping Chaos
Health workers prepare doses of COVID-19 vaccine for sailors and port workers in Port Klang, Malaysia, on June 25. (Samsul Said/Bloomberg)
Global vaccinations of seafarers are going too slowly to prevent outbreaks on ships from causing more trade disruptions, endangering maritime workers and potentially slowing economies trying to pull out of pandemic slowdowns.
July 13, 2021Initial Jobless Claims Edge Up but Hold Near Pandemic Low
An employee inspects a tire at a bicycle production facility in Manning, S.C. (Micah Green/Bloomberg News)
Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance edged up last week, though remained near a pandemic low, as the labor market grinds its way toward a full recovery.
July 8, 2021State Jobless Claims Post Larger-Than-Expected Decline
An employee coats bicycle frames with powder paint in South Carolina. (Micah Green/Bloomberg News)
Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance fell last week by more than projected, reaching a fresh pandemic low and suggesting that dismissals are abating as the economy reopens and labor demand rises.
July 1, 2021