COVID-19


College Towns Good for COVID-19 Recovery

Small college towns are apparently best-positioned to recover from COVID-19, according to Moody's Analytics. “The most dynamic recoveries may well bypass traditional powerhouses and take place instead in areas that either were or were poised to lead the way in… more

Passing the Test?

The COVID-19 pandemic metrics suggest that Missouri and Kansas are emerging from the worst of the crisis. Will those trend lines hold as economic restrictions are lifted. The good news, to people starving for some amid the carnage of the… more

Fed Chair Powell Sees A Gradual Recovery

Economic recovery will be gradual and prolonged, but federal aid programs are worth it to help stimulate the economy, said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in statements to Peterson Institute for International Economics. “Additional fiscal support could be costly but… more

Gallup Survey Finds Increased Acceptance of Masks

There was a major jump in the acceptance of mask use as a way to prevent COVID-19 infection from March to April. A recent Gallup poll found that 32 percent of heath professionals say wearing a mask is just as… more

Producer Price Index Sees Biggest-Ever Drop

The Producer Price Index fell 1.3 percent in April, the biggest decline in the history of the report, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "In April, over 80 percent of the decrease in the final demand index can be… more

Fauci Warns Against Reopening Too Soon

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House COVID-19 task force, warned that cities and states reopening too soon could have a major negative impact if those locales don't have the proper resources to deal with an uptick in… more

House Proposes Another $3T in Stimulus

House Democrats have proposed another stimulus bill, totaling $3 trillion, in response to economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It would follow the $2 trillion stimulus bill passed in March, though the measure is not expected to make it… more

April Commercial Real Estate Price Index Falls

A price index for commercial real estate fell by 9.4 percent in April and is down by 10.4 percent below its peak from last year. Investment and research firm Green Street Advisors said that retail and hotel assets are doing… more

Multifamily Leasing Goes Virtual

Since there are social-distancing rules in several states and municipalities, signing a lease for an apartment can't be done in person. But people still have to move from one location to another. To combat that, some multifamily landlords have adopted… more

Malls Reopening This Week

Oak Park Mall, Independence Center, and other area malls are reopening this week, as stay-at-home orders are relaxed in several area municipalities. Oak Park, in Overland Park, is opening tomorrow, with 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. hours, while Independence Center… more