New minimum wages in effect July 1 for Chicago, Cook County

By Dylan Sharkey

07/01/2022

Minimum wages for Chicago and Cook County are increasing July 1. Inflation has rapidly outpaced wage growth, cutting the average Illinoisan’s pay by $2,200.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, economy, inflation, minimum wage

Cooling down an overheated US economy doesn’t have to be painful

By Orphe Divounguy

06/03/2022

As jobs growth and wage growth show signs of slowing, tax and regulatory changes could help prevent economic pain.

TAGS: economy, Federal Reserve, Illinois, inflation

Illinois sees among worst spending drops early in COVID-19 pandemic

By Jon Josko

01/04/2022

While the start of the COVID-19 pandemic caused consumer spending to drop across the U.S., the decline was worse in Illinois. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s harsher restrictions appear to be the culprit.

TAGS: COVID-19, economy, expenditures, Illinois, restrictions

Illinois among 20 states dragging down U.S. economic recovery

By Orphe Divounguy

12/03/2021

The pandemic caused the largest and shortest economic contraction in U.S. history. But as other states recovered, Illinois’ economy remained $17 billion below the pre-pandemic trend through the first half of 2021.

TAGS: COVID-19, economy, Illinois

Women driving Illinois’ labor market recovery

By Orphe Divounguy

11/22/2021

Illinois’ labor market has heated up, gaining 40,900 jobs in October. It was the largest increase in 2021 as women, especially minority women, returned to work

TAGS: COVID-19, economy, Illinois, labor force participation rate

79,000 more Illinoisans are in poverty because state can’t fix its culture of corruption

By Orphe Divounguy

05/12/2021

If Illinois could have reduced corruption to the national average, an estimated 79,000 fewer people would be living in poverty, according to an analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute. State lawmakers can help by passing ethics reforms.

TAGS: corruption, economy, ethics reform, Illinois, income inequality, poverty

Illinois’ economy stuck trying to get through Pritzker’s COVID-19 ‘bridge phase’

By Hilary Gowins

04/29/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois is close to starting the extra ‘bridge phase’ of mandates he added in March, but over a year into his COVID-19 restrictions it is another barricade to the state’s economy. States with fewer limits are seeing bigger declines in infections.

TAGS: COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, reopen, restrictions

Report: Illinois fiscal health again 2nd worst in U.S.

09/22/2020

Each Illinois taxpayers owes $52,000, thanks to politicians spending more than they already take in. On Nov. 3 taxpayers will be asked for even more.

TAGS: debt, economy, JB Pritzker, pensions

Illinois’ new initial unemployment claims remain high

By Orphe Divounguy, Jon Josko

06/11/2020

New jobless claims remain several times higher than last year as state begins to test re-opening.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, jobs, recession, unemployment

Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown

By Bryce Hill

05/28/2020

Nearly 1 in 4 Illinoisans find themselves out of work, more than all border states except Kentucky.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment