Business and Economic News

The final of a three-part series by MPR's Chris Farrell about the economy and climate change, called "The Greener Good." This episode is about ethical investing.
No money to help stretch SNAP dollars at farmers markets in state budget
A program that helps Minnesotans with low incomes buy produce at farmers markets could be a victim of budget negotiations at the state Capitol, and some legislators are scrambling to find a way to save it. 
Fed sees faster time frame for rate hikes as inflation rises
The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it may act sooner than previously planned to start dialing back the low-interest rate policies that have helped fuel a swift rebound from the pandemic recession but have also coincided with rising inflation.
Latinas left workforce at highest rate, see slow recovery
A new report finds that Latinas have left the workforce at rates higher than any other demographic and also have had some of the highest unemployment rates throughout the pandemic. That could spell trouble not just for a post-pandemic economic recovery but for the long-term stability of the country as baby boomers continue to retire.
Want a job? Employers say: Talk to the computer
Online services that interview job applicants remotely by webcam and use artificial intelligence to assess their skills mushroomed in popularity during the pandemic and into the subsequent economic recovery. But the technology raises questions about whether computers can accurately and fairly judge a person’s character traits and emotional cues. 
'We held a lot of good ground': Line 3 protest and prayer camp disbands near Mississippi River crossing
A group of about 100 people who oppose the pipeline that is primed to be laid near a stretch of the Mississippi in Clearwater County pitched tents, built compost toilets and established a camp along the timber-mat boardwalk that extends to the riverbanks. The group ended its eight-day occupation of the space Monday evening.
Thinner Mints: Girl Scouts have millions of unsold cookies
The 109-year-old organization says the coronavirus — not thinner demand for Thin Mints — is the main culprit. As the pandemic wore into the spring selling season, many troops nixed their traditional cookie booths for safety reasons.
Fake records of rabies shots prompt U.S. ban on dogs from 113 countries
A surge in pet adoptions has increased demand for dogs imported from around the world. Most are fine, but federal officials turned up 450 dogs in 2020 with false records — 50 percent more than in 2019.