Economic news

Congresswoman Karen Bass Hosts Telephone Town Hall to Discuss Tax Benefits Given to Residents from the American Rescue Plan

It’s been nearly a month since President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, which included economic stimulus checks for most American’s and tax benefits for the community. As we continue to forge through the pandemic and economic woes, Congressmember Karen Bass held a call geared towards helping navigate this tax season.

A year of COVID-19 brought record consumer debt and collection complaints 

After more than a year of COVID-19, the nation’s collective ability to cope with dual public health and economic crises has diminished many consumers’ ability to remain financially stable. While this February’s national employment report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a net gain of 379,000 jobs and white unemployment dropped to 5.6%, there was no corresponding improvement for Black and Latino workers. Instead, unemployment was respectively higher at 9.9% and 8.5%.   

Okonjo-Iweala is First Woman, African to Lead World Trade Body

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed Monday to head the World Trade Organization, becoming the first woman and first African to take on the role amid rising protectionism and disagreement over how the body decides cases involving billions in sales and thousands of jobs.