News
6 years of grocery receipts: Tracking the prices of essential food items
2+ hour, 16+ min ago (1050+ words) Six years ago, a 5-pound family pack of chicken breast cost roughly $15.01. Today, that same pack averages about $20.40. Grocery prices have increased significantly in Michigan and the Midwest since just before the pandemic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics…...
IRS increases standard mileage rate for 2026, here’s how much it changed
3+ week, 2+ day ago (188+ words) If you're one of the millions of Americans who claim mileage when using your personal vehicle for work, you're getting a slight raise in 2026. The Internal Revenue Service is increasing the optional standard mileage rate for business use of automobiles…...
Trump’s tariff wars: Here’s a recap of trade actions launched in 2025
1+ mon, 21+ hour ago (644+ words) By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer It's been a rollercoaster of a year for U.S. trade policy. President Donald Trump launched a barrage of new tariffs in 2025, plunging the U.S. into trade wars with nearly every country in the world. Volley after…...
Michigan unemployment benefits to increase again starting Jan. 1
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (353+ words) Michigan's weekly unemployment benefits will increase by 18.8% in the new year. Starting Jan. 1, the maximum unemployment benefits a person can collect will rise from the current $446 a week to $530 a week. Not all unemployed workers receive the maximum amount of…...
Michigan minimum wage to increase 10% starting Jan. 1
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (464+ words) Minimum wage earners in Michigan will get a 10% increase in hourly pay starting Jan. 1. The state's minimum wage will jump from the current $12.48 an hour to $13.73 at the start of the new year. Tipped employees will also see their base…...
Surprising problem is frustrating customers, costing restaurants millions, experts say
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (373+ words) The restaurant industry has a penny problem. That's the word from the National Restaurant Association, which sent out a notice this week imploring federal officials to address issues related to a nationwide penny shortage. The U.S. stopped making the penny on…...
Trump scraps tariffs on certain items in effort to lower grocery prices
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (750+ words) WASHINGTON " President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was scrapping U.S. tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits and a broad swath of other commodities " a dramatic move that comes amid mounting pressure on his administration to better combat high consumer prices....
Food inflation to cut into Thanksgiving meals: Here’s what to know
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (674+ words) Food prices have started rising again in recent months after a period of cooling inflation, making holiday shopping difficult for families on a tight budget. Grocery prices now are 2.7% higher than a year ago and remain more than 25% higher than…...
Michigan has ‘duty to collect’ unemployment from 350,000, but many are still confused
2+ mon, 4+ week ago (1770+ words) LANSING, MI - In the past month, more than 350,000 Michigan workers were told they must pay back their unemployment benefits, mostly from the COVID-19 pandemic, with some getting bills for thousands of dollars. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) says it's…...
Social Security COLA announcement delayed, when will increase be announced?
3+ mon, 2+ week ago (351+ words) Social Security beneficiaries will have to wait a bit longer to find out how much their benefits payments will increase by for 2026. Thanks to the ongoing government shut down, the scheduled announcement for the annual cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) has been delayed…...