A 2018 Supreme Court tax decision is helping state budgets during the pandemic

Sep 3, 2020
Ruling enabling states to collect sales taxes on online purchases turned out to be key.
States are collecting substantial online sales tax revenue while some other forms of commerce shrink.
Mapodile/Getty Images

How are retail sales numbers higher than they were last year?

Aug 14, 2020
People are still shopping — just for different stuff.
A Florida man puts newly purchased wood into his truck. Sales at home and garden stores in July were up almost 15% over July of last year.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

CEOs call on Washington to help small businesses

Aug 4, 2020
Over 100 current and former corporate leaders sign a letter urging Congress to provide more relief to a huge sector that includes many of their suppliers and customers.
A shuttered small business in Brooklyn. Large corporations want small businesses to be kept afloat because the two sectors are interdependent.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Thanksgiving won't launch Black Friday shopping at some of the biggest retailers

Jul 29, 2020
Walmart, Target and Best Buy won't open on the holiday this year to jump-start the traditional extreme-shopping weekend.
A Macy's Black Friday sale in 2018 in New York. Store traffic on Thanksgiving is just a small part of Black Friday weekend.
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

In China, livestream sales flourish in time of COVID-19

Jul 27, 2020
Struggling retailers hope livestreaming will provide a lifeline. Aspiring influencers don't always strike it rich.
Former livestreaming influencer Sam Tian says making it in the industry is largely a matter of luck.
Charles Zhang/Marketplace

Fed's Beige Book in focus as conversation about diversity continues

Jul 7, 2020
Many are questioning just how inclusive and diverse one of the Fed's regular reports on the economy is.
One criticism of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book is that it focuses on business owners and leaves out consumers.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Retail sales were way up in May. But don't pop the Champagne just yet.

Jun 16, 2020
March and April's weak numbers were easy to beat. Upcoming changes, such as the end of unemployment bonus payments, may stall the upward trend.
A reopened clothing store in Los Angeles. U.S. retail sales climbed at a record rate in May.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Retail sales soar 17.7% in May, although they're still down compared to last year

Jun 16, 2020
Overall, retail sales are down by 6% compared to May 2019.
With lockdowns lifting, economists expected May retail sales to jump. But not by this much.
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Home improvement sales are holding steady despite the overall retail slump

May 19, 2020
As people spend more time at home because of COVID-19, they are thinking about how they can improve those spaces.
Home improvement sales saw only a small dip in the U.S. in April.
Ming Yeung/Getty Images

Curbside pickup, delivery poised to boost Walmart sales

May 18, 2020
Walmart reports earnings this week, and is expected to show big gains in e-commerce amid the pandemic.
An employee restocks a shelf at an Ohio Walmart. Employees shop for customers for the chain's popular curbside pickup option.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images