Business and Government

Unemployment Claims Hit 30 Million in Six Weeks

There were 3.8 million additional filings for unemployment for the week ended April 25, bringing the total to about 30 million in the last six weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.  The four-week moving average for unemployment is… more

Consumer Spending Falls 7.5% in March

Consumer spending fell by 7.5 percent in March, a according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which is a major shift in the small monthly increases seen prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. The decrease was $829.9 billion in spending… more

Feds Keep Interest Rates at Zero

The Federal Reserve Bank is keep interest rates between zero and one-quarter of percent as a result of negative economic impact caused by COVID-19. "The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has… more

Federal Guidelines on Social Distancing Expire Today

Though localities around the Kansas City metro area will allow businesses to open in phases next week, the federal government's guidelines on social distancing expired today. As a result President Trump said he would soon travel to Arizona, which is… more

KCMO Easing Stay-At-Home Rules

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is allowing some businesses to have soft opening and all employees back to work on May 6, a move up from the prior May 15. Called the "10/10/10 rule," it lets some non-essential businesses open… more

GDP Sees Biggest Drop Since Recession

Gross Domestic Product fell 4.8 percent during the first quarter, which reportedly the first quarterly decline since 2014 and the biggest drop since the first quarter of 2008, when it dropped 8.4 percent. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis says… more

Q&A With … Randall Williams, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Randall Williams, who is the director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has been giving regular updates about the impact of COVID-19 on Missouri. Q. At this point in the circulation of the virus, is real containment… more

Platte County Rolls Back Stay-At-Home Order

Platte County has joined neighboring Clay County and North Kansas City in rolling back its stay-at-home orders from May 15 to May 4. However, there were still be a significant number of restrictions on residents and businesses that are set… more

Hotel Industry Asks Congress For Aid

The hotel industry, which has been plagued by the impact of COVID-19 and seen its occupancy plunge due to a severe downturn in travel and business meetings, is asking Congress for help. In a letter to Congress, the American Hotel… more

Top KC-Area Financial Execs Talk COVID-19

Both Commerce Bancshares and Waddell & Reed Financial released their quarterly earnings today, and COVID-19 impacts on their businesses were top of mind for their executives. In the case of Kansas City-based Commerce, which saw net income fall to $51.9… more