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.

364,443 Illinoisans fell out of love with Illinois, moved away since 2020

By Patrick Andriesen

02/14/2024

Illinois will celebrate this Valentine’s Day knowing it broke up with 364,443 people since 2020. While they moved out for now, lower taxes could win them back.

Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic

By Hilary Gowins

02/08/2024

Editor’s note: There is a lot of information coming at you every day, but not a lot of context. The Illinois Policy Institute is launching "Our Perspective" to give you our take on topics of the day so you can better shape your take on them.

TAGS: housing market, real estate

Chicago considers natural gas ban that could 2X heating costs

By Patrick Andriesen

01/23/2024

The Chicago City Council is considering an ordinance to effectively ban natural gas in most new buildings, including gas stoves. Energy providers warn the policy could double heating costs for Chicago homes.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Dry January savings: Illinois wine taxes 4x higher than New York, California

By Dylan Sharkey

01/15/2024

Illinois’ excise tax on wine is more than 4 times higher than the same bottle in New York or California. Buying in Chicago adds extra tax layers, hitting 6 times the taxes of other big cities.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Chicago, sin taxes

Illinoisans expected to bet $300 million on holiday football

By Dylan Sharkey

12/29/2023

Illinoisans will have wagered more than $300 million on football during December, or roughly $25 a person. Illinois is the second-largest sports betting market in the nation.

Illinois population drop, departures among worst in U.S.

By Bryce Hill

12/29/2023

Illinois lost 83,839 residents who moved to other states, one of the highest rates in the U.S. and driving a 10th consecutive year of population decline. It ranks near the bottom on multiple other population measures, too.

1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County

By Hannah Schmid

12/26/2023

Research shows income and adult literacy are strongly related. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 20% of Illinois adults are “functionally illiterate.” Cook County’s rate is 25%.

TAGS: Cook County

‘This Christmas’ your gift from Chicago is 9% tax, even if ‘Home Alone’

By Dylan Sharkey

12/21/2023

Streaming holiday movies or music? Chicago taxes it as the same rate as enjoying the same thing in person. The 9% amusement tax has included streaming services since 2015.

New York

Illinois sales taxes highest in Midwest

364,443 Illinoisans fell out of love with Illinois, moved away since 2020

Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

Chicago considers natural gas ban that could 2X heating costs

Dry January savings: Illinois wine taxes 4x higher than New York, California

Illinoisans expected to bet $300 million on holiday football

Illinois population drop, departures among worst in U.S.

1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County

‘This Christmas’ your gift from Chicago is 9% tax, even if ‘Home Alone’

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students