Business and Economic News

In Minnesota, thousands of families are trying to adapt to new economic conditions and fears about access to economic and medical aid – in some cases with limited English proficiency. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Ruby Lee and Bo Thao-Urabe for more on the situation faced by immigrant communities around the state.
Jamie Dimon warns 'A bad recession' is coming
In a letter to shareholders, the JPMorgan Chase CEO applauds the government and the Fed for quick work, but says the pandemic will have devastating consequences for the global economy.
DNR reviews impacts of farmer’s plan to irrigate cropland in Pineland Sands
Farmer Tim Nolte wants to irrigate about 300 acres to grow hay and other crops, and graze his cattle. But the request has gotten caught up in a larger debate over the conversion of forests to potato fields in the region, which covers Wadena, Cass, Becker and Hubbard counties in north-central Minnesota.
Trump touts end of dispute with 3M over protective masks
President Trump said that the “3M saga ends very happily. We’re very proud to be dealing now with 3M.” The president said that the Minnesota-based company agreed to deliver an additional “55.5 million high-quality facemasks each month.”
Some auto insurers are sending refunds to customers as crash rate falls
The pandemic is keeping cars parked, which means fewer crashes — and big savings for auto insurers. Allstate and American Family Insurance have decided to return that extra cash to customers.
Is anyone hiring? Are there loan opportunities for small business owners? Is another round of stimulus checks coming? MPR’s senior economics contributor Chris Farrell joins the program to answer these questions and more.
Gig workers struggle to get financial help during pandemic
Gig companies like Instacart and Uber promise financial assistance to workers affected by the coronavirus. But some workers are finding it hard to get that aid.
German, French officials accuse U.S. of diverting medical supplies
Officials in France and Germany have accused the U.S. of intercepting medical supplies as President Trump ordered an American company to stop exports. Governors complain of a "wild west" in bidding.