Business and Economic News

Belgians urged to eat more fries to help potato farmers amid pandemic-related glut
Belgian households typically eat one serving of fries per week. The head of the national potato processing association says one more won't hurt consumers or their health, and will help producers.
Bachelor Farmer closure shakes weary restaurant industry
Fine dining restaurants and those with multiple locations seem to be taking the biggest hit, as Minnesota’s stay-at-home order heads into a seventh week.
Healthy pigs being killed as meatpacking backlog hits farms
Officials estimate that about 700,000 pigs across the nation can't be processed each week and must euthanized. Most of the hogs are being killed at farms, but up to 13,000 a day also may be euthanized at the JBS pork plant in Worthington, Minn.
Essential workers plan May Day strikes; others demand end to lockdowns
Essential employees are planning labor actions to call for sick leave and hazard pay, while nurses will protest for more PPE. Meanwhile, others are calling for an end to the lockdowns.
Farmers markets aim to offer comforting tradition, produce
With their outdoor space and flexible layouts, farmers markets may be able to adapt more easily to the needs of shoppers during a pandemic.
Rent is due, but millions of Americans won't be paying
Housing activists are enlisting renters who can and can't pay rent starting May 1 to sign a pledge with the goal of putting pressure on landlords and policymakers.
A Mexican 'Lucha Libre' wrestler is sewing masks to fight coronavirus
Hijo del Soberano was already designing “lucha libre” costumes on the side. Since his wrestling venue shut amid Mexico's lockdown, he's turned to making masks. "I just altered my skills a bit," he says.
A staggering toll: 30 million have filed for unemployment
Another 3.8 million people filed claims for unemployment last week, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to weigh on the U.S. job market. That brought the total for the past six weeks to 30.3 million.