State and local budget shortfalls will cause heavy drag on growth
Without additional aid states face more layoffs. READ MORE
Economic Snapshots
Jobs creation effort needs to focus on good jobs
Male workers face shortage of good jobs with health and retirement benefits. READ MORE
Minorities, less-educated workers see staggering rates of underemployment
One in six workers cannot find the amount of work they want. READ MORE
Money to spare for health care
The House's proposed surtax on the nation's top earners would provide valuable revenue to help fund a new health care program. READ MORE
Highest earners get biggest tax breaks for saving for retirement
Lowest wage earners see little or no tax breaks for retirement saving. READ MORE
Public health insurance offsets large losses in private coverage
Public health insurance provided a safety net source of insurance coverage for 23 million children in 2008. READ MORE
Most black children grow up in neighborhoods with significant poverty
Huge gap persists among the portion of black versus white children living in poor neighborhoods. READ MORE
Lost investment during a recession can prolong pain
Lower investment spending during a recession can lead to slower economic growth long after a recession is over. READ MORE
Trade agreement favors pharmaceutical companies over sick
Free trade becomes awfully expensive for those needing generic drugs in Central America. READ MORE
Americans agree on how to fix Social Security
Survey finds most Americans are willing to pay higher taxes to strengthen Social Security. READ MORE
Big banks getting bigger
As of this summer, the four largest bank holding companies accounted for nearly half of all bank assets held in the United States. READ MORE
This Labor Day, wage erosion continues to hurt employed workers
This Labor Day, American workers will have little to celebrate as they struggle with the recent collapse of hourly wage growth. READ MORE
Economic downturn largest contributor to deficit woes
Recovery Act spending amounts to a small slice of the budget deficit pie. READ MORE
No coercion in card check
A recent report failed to turn up a single meritorious case of coercion or fraud in more than 1,000 card check campaigns demonstrating majority support for a union. READ MORE
Unions guarantee more vacation
On average, only U.S. union workers will receive annual paid vacation time comparable to the minimums mandated by our European peers. READ MORE
Clunkers program drives economic, environmental gains
"Cash for Clunkers" moves money from gas tank back into consumers' pockets. READ MORE
Costly COBRA: For the jobless, health care costs may exceed unemployment benefits
Workers must pay dearly to keep health insurance after losing a job. READ MORE
Minimum wage workers: better educated, worse compensated
Over the past 30 years, the compensation for minimum wage workers has fallen dramatically out of step with their education level. READ MORE
The Federal Reserve’s exploding balance sheet
To help thaw last year's global credit freeze, the Federal Reserve pumped money into the economy through bond purchases and emergency loans to financial institutions. This week's Economic Snapshot illustrates the changes in both quantity and risk levels of assets now held by the Fed. READ MORE
African Americans see weekly wage decline
While other groups have seen a modest rise in weekly wages over the last 2 years, African Americans are the only group to experience a decline. READ MORE
