The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped in the week ended June 19, a sign that layoffs declined and the job market is improving.
June 24, 2021Coronavirus
Government, Business 
Hiring signs sit outside a gas station in Pennsylvania. (Keith Srakocic/Associated Press)
US Jobless Claims Tick Down to 411,000 as Economy Heals
Hiring signs sit outside a gas station in Pennsylvania. (Keith Srakocic/Associated Press) Business, Equipment 
Used vehicles sit in a Colorado lot in November 2020. (David Zalubowski/Associated Press)
Some Used Vehicles Now Cost More Than Original Sticker Price
Used vehicles sit in a Colorado lot in November 2020. (David Zalubowski/Associated Press)When it was new, the window sticker price on a typical 2019 Toyota Tacoma SR double cab pickup was just under $29,000. Two years later, dealers are paying almost $1,000 more than that to buy the same vehicle, even though it’s used.
June 23, 2021 Government, Business, Technology, Safety 
A contactless delivery. (UPS Inc.)
Fleets’ COVID-19 Safety Practices May Linger After Pandemic Ends
A contactless delivery. (UPS Inc.)The COVID-19 outbreak prompted transportation companies to adopt a battery of safety measures — some of which may remain in place even after the pandemic is over.
June 21, 2021 Business, Logistics, Top 100 
UPS, which ranks No. 1 on the for-hire list, recently sold its LTL division UPS Freight to TFI. (Tim Boyle/Bloomberg News)
Unveiling the 2021 Top 100 For-Hire Carriers
UPS, which ranks No. 1 on the for-hire list, recently sold its LTL division UPS Freight to TFI. (Tim Boyle/Bloomberg News)The trucking firms that appear on the 2021 Transport Topics Top 100 For-Hire Carriers list are split nearly evenly between companies that reported a revenue decline in 2020 and those that still managed to grow during the year of COVID-19.
June 18, 2021 Government, Business 
A hiring sign is displayed in Vernon Hills, Ill., on June 11. (Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press)
Jobless Claims Rise for First Time Since April
A hiring sign is displayed in Vernon Hills, Ill., on June 11. (Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press)Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance rose slightly for the first time since late April, likely a temporary blip for a labor market that’s otherwise improving as the economy reopens.
June 17, 2021 Government, Business 
A shopper views shoes at a store in New York in May. (Amir Hamja/Bloomberg News)
US Retail Sales Drop, Hinting at Shift to Spending on Services
A shopper views shoes at a store in New York in May. (Amir Hamja/Bloomberg News)U.S. retail sales declined in May, after a stimulus-related splurge in the prior two months, suggesting consumers are starting to shift more of their spending to services as the economy reopens.
June 15, 2021 Government, Business, Fuel 
Bloomberg News
Biggest Foreign Buyers of US Fuel Are About to Step on the Pedal
Bloomberg NewsBrazil and Mexico are beginning to emerge from the pandemic and that’s boosting demand for road fuel in economies that buy more U.S. gasoline and diesel than any other foreign nation.
June 14, 2021 Government, Business 
A vendor prepares cotton candy at a food stand in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Micah Green/Bloomberg News)
US Initial Jobless Claims Decline for Sixth Consecutive Week
A vendor prepares cotton candy at a food stand in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Micah Green/Bloomberg News)Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance fell for a sixth straight week, consistent with further improvement in the labor market and robust economic growth.
June 10, 2021 Government, Business 
An employee wearing a protective mask assists customers at a department store in Georgia. (Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg News)
Economists Brace for Another Volatile Monthly Jobs Report
An employee wearing a protective mask assists customers at a department store in Georgia. (Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg News)Economists, blindsided by a major miss in April’s U.S. employment report, are now ready for any number of surprises.
June 3, 2021 Government, Business 
Employees sew fabric at a facility in Hickory, N.C. (Logan Cyrus/Bloomberg News)
Jobless Claims Dip Below 400,000 for First Time in Pandemic
Employees sew fabric at a facility in Hickory, N.C. (Logan Cyrus/Bloomberg News)Applications for U.S. state unemployment insurance dipped below 400,000 for the first time during the pandemic as hiring accelerates and the economy strengthens heading into the summer months.
June 3, 2021