Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest

By Bryce Hill

02/14/2024

Combined state and average local sales tax rate tallies 8.85% in Illinois for 2024. That’s the highest in the Midwest and seventh highest in the nation.

5 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, most add jobs in December

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

01/26/2024

Seven of 13 Illinois metro areas added jobs from November to December 2023, led by the St. Louis area. Five metros still reported fewer jobs than prior to the pandemic.

Illinois’ Midwest-leading minimum wage increases again in January 2024

By Patrick Andriesen

12/28/2023

Non-tipped workers will see their hourly wage hit $14 an hour while tipped employees will collect $8.40 thanks to the next minimum wage hike on January 1, 2024.

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

By Bryce Hill

12/28/2023

Illinoisans moving to other states was the sole reason for population decline in 2023. It’s not a Midwestern thing, because our neighbors are growing.

Illinois ‘sin taxes’ rely on an unreliable naughty list

By Jess Plowman

12/20/2023

State politicians like to pass laws they claim will make Illinoisans healthier by taxing their naughty habits. The taxes rarely are as lucrative as projected and hurt some more than others.

5 jobs Illinois imposes heaviest licensing burdens on

By Joe Tabor

12/04/2023

Employment is the clearest path out of poverty, but these five low-income professions face more occupational licensing burdens than others in Illinois.

Illinois cannabis buyers pay 89% more than U.S. average

By Patrick Andriesen

08/29/2023

The new report published by Headset found Illinoisans are paying 89% more for the average cannabis item than the rest of the nation. Researchers attribute the high prices to stifled competition.

TAGS: marijuana

Midwest states expand school choice while Illinois fights to save scholarships for low-income students

By Hannah Schmid

08/22/2023

Five Midwest states have enacted or expanded school choice programs since the Invest in Kids Act was enacted in 2017. Now Illinois’ scholarships are set to expire while other programs thrive.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

By Justin Carlson

08/04/2023

Despite statewide job gains in June, eight of Illinois’ metro areas lost jobs for the month. Most areas still haven’t recovered to pre-pandemic job levels.

June cannabis sales highest of year, 3rd highest ever for Illinois

By Dylan Sharkey

08/01/2023

Illinois dispensaries sold $136 million in marijuana during June, the highest of the year and third-best month ever for cannabis sales.

Missouri

Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest

5 Illinois metro areas await pandemic recovery, most add jobs in December

Illinois’ Midwest-leading minimum wage increases again in January 2024

All neighbor states grow as Illinois population shrinks by 32,826

Illinois ‘sin taxes’ rely on an unreliable naughty list

5 jobs Illinois imposes heaviest licensing burdens on

Illinois cannabis buyers pay 89% more than U.S. average

Midwest states expand school choice while Illinois fights to save scholarships for low-income students

Most Illinois metro areas shed jobs in June, await pandemic recovery

June cannabis sales highest of year, 3rd highest ever for Illinois

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

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