That chaotic Union Pacific railyard just outside of downtown Los Angeles continues to generate headlines. The situation is so bad that even California Governor Gavin Newsom wonders what’s going on.…
In October, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain endorsed a tweet claiming that inflation and supply chain issues affecting the United States were “high class problems.” They are not. As I pointed out in December,…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: A new Minnesota law is saving certain kinds of businesses a boatload in federal income taxes Star Tribune: Minnesota lawmakers face $7.7B…
These were some of the headlines in Minnesota’s media last week: Kare 11: Minnesota’s unemployment rate is lower than it was before the pandemic Pioneer Press: Minnesota unemployment drops to lowest level…
Collections of a hospitality-specific city tax were down by 81 percent last spring. No doubt, hotels, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues in the City of Minneapolis have suffered in the…
On Jan. 15, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced a mandate requiring proof of vaccinations or negative tests for entry into food or drink establishments in the city beginning Jan. 19.…
The United States is currently experiencing its fastest rate of inflation, year over year, since mid-1982. Those of you who are old enough to remember that might also remember the…
Nebraska, again, lowers its own record for America’s lowest unemployment rate. Minnesota’s rate returns to pre-pandemic level, but lags neighboring states. In data released for December, Nebraska again recorded the…
The Minnesota House Commerce Finance Policy committee is currently deciding which of 26 proposed liquor bills will be included in an omnibus package to go to a vote. These decisions…
However, the labor force participation rate is stuck at Jimmy Carter levels. This week, unemployment figures were released for the state of Minnesota, showing that the December unemployment rate fell…
It’s coming down to the wire for small businesses to change the minds of Minneapolis planners bent on eliminating 92 percent of parking spots in favor of bikes and busses…
Labor market KSTP: Minnesota recruits teens to health care jobs amid workforce crisis Kare 11: Record-high job vacancies in Minnesota as pandemic worker shortages continue WJON: Central Minnesota to Experience…
Inflation is running at its fastest rate, year over year, since June 1982. Generally, people see this in the form of rising prices. But that is only part of the…
The K-12 school system is a fundamental tool for a well-functioning economy. In addition to providing children an enriching environment to learn in, it allows parents to work. The same…
Back in December, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed gas prices falling from $3.40 a gallon on Nov. 15 to $3.38 on Nov. 29, which works out at…
How a garbage-strewn rail yard in downtown Los Angeles portends doom for America. A dysfunctional Union Pacific rail yard filled with discarded packages and abandoned cargo epitomizes the nation’s current…
‘You may not be interested in monetary economics, but monetary economics is interested in you.’
State and local taxes and spending Austin Daily Herald: Sen. Gene Dornink: Working with a budget surplus Fergus Falls Daily Journal: County taxes reflect support of residents The Center Square:…
March 2021 saw the passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP). At the time, the Biden administration touted a study by Moody’s Analytics, which: “…projects that the President’s…
Melvin Carter doesn’t have enough tools in his box to avert the coming havoc of rent control.
Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that inflation rose by 7.0 percent in the year to November. This is the fastest annual rate of increase since June 1982. Stripping…
Labor market Alexandria Echo Press: New year, new minimum-wage rates as of Jan. 1 Fergus Falls Daily Journal: Minimum wage increase Duluth News Tribune: ‘More of what workers want’: Wage…
Labor market Pine Journal: Can this workforce be saved? Here’s why US workers are quitting in droves Morrison County Record: Letter: Walz to blame for worker shortage Bemidji Pioneer: Child…
State and local taxes and spending Minn Post: Online retail sales are way up. So are local sales tax collections in Minnesota Park Rapids Enterprise: Hubbard County’s first levy increase…