While U.S. cattle farmers see record-high profits, crop producers go bust
The cattle game has been good for Chris Lynch as of late. He and his wife began raising cattle in 2015 on their farm in California, MO. Their herd of 30 “mama cows” produces around 29 calves per year. This year, Lynch was able to purchase insurance that guarantees...
Child care’s two-tier, private-public wage system
At Beanstalk Academy in Brooklyn, New York, building principal Niasha Green manages a private child care center. Her lead preschool teachers are paid $55,000 a year, while similar jobs teaching young children at schools run by the Department of Education pay at least...
US potato farmers were already struggling to turn a profit. Then input prices shot up.
Like many potato farmers, Grant Morris of Schneider Farms in Pasco, Washington, had already spent over $1,000 an acre even before putting spuds in the ground. This year, like last year, he hardly expects to turn a profit. “Everybody's just hoping to break even,” said...
Dining out in Vegas becomes a tale of two consumers
Sam Marvin has spent the past year caught between losing profits and losing customers. He says his food costs have climbed 32% and his margins have fallen to roughly 4% at his restaurant, Echo & Rig, a midpriced steakhouse and butcher shop located off the Strip...
Five Things to Watch for Thursday’s Retail Sales Report
The Census Bureau will release April retail sales data Thursday at 8:30 a.m. and economists expect total retail sales to rise 0.5% from the prior month. This report will offer a critical read on how American consumers are holding up under inflation, and give newly...
U.S. hiring remains steady, but economists warn cracks are forming beneath the surface
The labor market showed surprising signs of resilience in April, revealing an economy that is trudging along in the face of growing uncertainty. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that on Friday employers added 115,000 new jobs in April, around double what...
What to Watch in March’s U.S. Trade Deficit Report
With the global economy beginning to feel the effects of the Iran war, the United States' trade deficit for March will likely widen amidst increased imports and exports. Here are five things to look for when the Department of Commerce releases its latest report...
Five things to watch out for in the February and March New Home Sales Report
The New Residential Sales Index will post an updated report on Tuesday with new homes sales data for February and March. It will likely reflect that prices are holding firm or slightly increasing due to low inventory and elevated construction costs, even as waning...
5 Things to Watch for in April’s ISM Report
Manufacturing in April will likely tick up for the fourth straight month, but pressures from the Iran War are expected to continue to keep manufacturers on their toes. Bloomberg’s economist diffusion index predicts a reading of 53.0 for the purchasing managers’ index...