Kansas

Consumer spending up nationwide

Following a weeks-long dry spell in spending, the U.S. saw consumers increase their spending by a record 8.2% in May, partly erasing huge plunges the previous two months, according to reporting by the Associated Press. The consumer spending rebound followed… more

Coping with COVID: Record new cases for Kansas City metro and U.S.

Kansas City and the surrounding area saw the largest increase in recorded COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row on Thursday, recording just over 200 new cases.           A total of 227 new cases were reported by the end… more

Comparing COVID-19 and the Great Recession

The economic downturn the U.S. is seeing today as a result of COVID-19 is beginning to pan out for many much like the Great Recession in 2008 did. Although many comparisons can be made, one difference shown in the data… more

PPP new guidance

A new PPP announcement was made late afternoon Tuesday, the SBA updating forgiveness guidelines for small business owners who have received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program and issuing new guidance titled Interim Final Rule on Revisions to Loan Forgiveness… more

List released of distressed or underserved areas

At a time when many communities across the U.S. are suffering from the financial effects of COVID-19, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency provide the updated list of… more

Coping with COVID: Regional update

The two largest metropolitan areas in Missouri are now part of a wave of COVID-19 cases that have surged nationwide over the past week, with Kansas City and St. Louis seeing new diagnoses at rates not recorded since the previous… more

Jobless claims continue their decrease

Data for seasonally adjusted unemployment insurance claims show that in the week ending June 20, the advance figure for adjusted initial claims had lowered over the course of a week. Claim figures showed 1,480,000, a decrease of 60,000 from the… more

Another round of layoffs at Cerner

Now in operation for 40 years, the healthcare technology giant confirmed on Wednesday that it has laid off more employees in the Kansas City area. The new round of layoffs follows a recent round of cuts announced in November 2019.… more

In a Nutshell by Ken Herman

The headlines that everyone feared crossed the tape in the middle of last week, when it was reported that a resurgence of COVID-19 cases was hitting Texas, Arizona, Florida, and California. That unwelcome news offered a motive for some aggressive… more

Virus spikes show increased need for caution, Fauci says

The next few weeks are critical to tamping down a disturbing coronavirus surge, Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress on Tuesday — issuing a plea for people to avoid crowds and wear masks just hours before mask-shunning President Donald Trump was… more