Business and Economic News

Oil prices keep slipping as demand drops by record amounts
The International Energy Agency says the industry is about to test the limit of how much oil it can transport and store, given the phenomenal drop in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Retail spending just fell off a cliff
Americans are still spending a fair amount on food and online deliveries, but the shutdowns of stores, malls and restaurants led to a record 8.7 percent sales drop in March.
WHO sets 6 conditions for ending a coronavirus lockdown
The easing of shutdowns is a hot topic, as economic output is now stalled in many countries — including the U.S. But ending a shutdown too soon could backfire, the World Health Organization says.
COVID-19: Hard questions, real answers on credit cards, unemployment and your finances
COVID-19 has introduced new financial challenges and exacerbated others for millions of Americans. During a recent national call-in special, two personal finance experts gave advice on everything from mortgage payments to unemployment to stimulus checks.
As unity wanes, Minnesota lawmakers advance new COVID-19 bill
The Minnesota Legislature muscled through additional bills to respond to COVID-19, but the harmony seen earlier in the state’s fight with the coronavirus pandemic has eroded.
How are Minnesota’s growers and grocers keeping food safe and in supply
Empty shelves in grocery stores are adding to the anxiety about food scarcity. But grocers and growers are telling Minnesotans that America is not running out of food. On Wednesday at 11 a.m., we check in with those keeping our food safe and in good supply.
IMF warns of steepest recession since the Great Depression
The fallout from the coronavirus will be much worse than that of the financial crisis, the IMF says. The global economy is expected to shrink by 3 percent this year; the U.S. GDP could fall twice as much.