News
US initial jobless claims inch up but remain at a healthy level
6+ hour, 10+ min ago (216+ words) U. S. applications for jobless aid rose modestly last week, but remain at a historically low level despite economic headwinds brought on by the war in Iran. The number of Americans filing for unemployment aid for the week ending June 6 rose by…...
From fuel to food: How the oil shock is squeezing the global economy
10+ hour, 23+ min ago (257+ words) The escalating U. S. -Iran war is becoming a major shock to the global economy, with effects spreading far beyond the Middle East, The New York Times reports." Markets are reacting first and most strongly through energy prices, since Iran's position near…...
Rising inflation may put new Fed chair at odds with Trump
11+ hour, 20+ min ago (238+ words) Newly appointed Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh may soon face a major test of his independence from Donald Trump, The Washington Post reports." Although Warsh is viewed as sympathetic to lower interest rates, a position favored by Trump, rising inflation…...
Investors question sustainability of AI boom as inflation pressures mount
1+ day, 5+ hour ago (250+ words) Beneath the market's enthusiasm for AI and record-high stock prices, there is growing anxiety among investors and business leaders'especially outside the U. S. , The New York Times reports." Business leaders in London are increasingly questioning whether the AI-driven market rally is sustainable…...
Roundup: Small business owners / Elevated car prices / Teacher bonuses
1+ day, 6+ hour ago (223+ words) Baton Rouge Business Report Content creators: Some 73% of small business owners now identify as creators, showing how entrepreneurship is increasingly tied to content creation. These owners are building businesses through social media, audience engagement and personal branding alongside traditional operations....
US consumers are rethinking their spending, retailers say
3+ day, 10+ hour ago (251+ words) U. S. consumers haven't stopped spending money since the Iran war drove up fuel prices, but many shoppers are reassessing what they buy and where, according to company executives and retail analysts. But the new signs of strain cited by major retailers…...
Workforce reforms will help set stage for next growth wave, report says
1+ week, 2+ day ago (51+ words) Baton Rouge Business Report Tuesday, June 2, 2026 The just concluded legislative session produced the most comprehensive package of workforce legislation the state has seen in over 10 years, according to a report from Leaders for a Better Louisiana. "...
Why America has "lost all margin for error" on its $39 trillion debt
1+ week, 3+ day ago (160+ words) In the days before Memorial Day weekend, rates on 30-year Treasury bonds hit their highest level in 19 years at 5. 2%, Fortune reports. The benchmark 10-year hit 4. 7%, the highest level since mid-2007. If those kinds of yields take hold, Fortune's Shawn Tully writes,…...
Roundup: Unemployment / Richard Nelson / The Storage Center
1+ week, 6+ day ago (250+ words) Baton Rouge Business Report Friday, May 29, 2026 Initial claims rise: Initial unemployment claims in Louisiana rose to 1, 694 for the week ending May 23, up from 1, 394 the prior week but down from 2, 232 during the same week a year ago, according to data from…...
From soda bottles to cars, brands target price-sensitive shoppers
2+ week, 5+ hour ago (202+ words) Major consumer brands are rolling out smaller, lower-cost products and increasing value-focused promotions as inflation-weary Americans continue to cut back spending, according to The Wall Street Journal. Companies are adjusting pricing and packaging strategies to appeal to lower-income consumers facing…...