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Retail

Employment Falls By 700,000 in March

Total payroll employment in March fell by 701,000 primarily due to COVID-19, according to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, and the unemployment rate hit 4.4 percent, up 0.9 percent from the previous month. That marks the biggest… more

Unemployment Claims Unfortunately Break More Records

The unemployment picture in the United States has gotten a lot more grim, due to COVID-19 shock waves. For the week ended March 28, unemployment claims hit 6.448 million, a new record since the numbers have been tracked by the… more

Apparel Retailers Feel COVID-19 Pain

At least two national retailers with a significant presence in the Kansas City area are furloughing most of their workers in anticipation that they will need to keep their stores closed longer than they had previously planned. Macy's, with six… more

The Future of Small-Business Relief

It may come too late to save thousands of small businesses, but the congressional response to the economic shutdown from COVID-19 will be a sore relief to those that can keep their heads above water until the assistance shows up. While… more

Small Businesses Take a COVID-19 Hit

About 56 percent of small businesses say they are impacted negatively by COVID-19, according to a recent report from Kansas City-based customer conversion and retention platform Bellwethr. While 55.5 percent said they are feeling negative impacts, 44.4 percent said that… more

Winners and Losers in a COVID Economy

You only had to look in the paper-products aisle of your local grocer  this month to know instinctively that those stores were going to see big sales, and for more than just toilet paper.   As the business world reorients… more

Unemployment Claims Hit Record Numbers

Initial unemployment claims hit 3.283 million for the week ended March 21, the "highest the highest level of seasonally adjusted initial claims in the history of the seasonally adjusted series," says the Department of Labor in its weekly unemployment report.… more

KU Health: Progress, but a Long Road Ahead

On the first full day of the regional stay-at-home directive to combat spread of the COVID-19 virus, officials from the University of Kansas Health System offered a good news/bad news update on changing conditions at the largest health-care provider in… more

We’re In an Economic Crisis. But Companies Are Hiring

Several major companies are hiring right now despite COVID-19's significant downward-pull on the economy and the historic stock market crash. All of them have a significant presence in the Kansas City Metro area and could potentially ease the pain for… more

KS Gov. Kelley Providing Hospitality Industry Financial Relief

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has announced the allocation of $5 million to go to businesses in the hospitality industry impacted by COVID-19. Businesses could get a one-time loan of $20 million at zero percent interest without required payments for four… more