Illinois leads the nation in foreclosures in 2022

By Bryce Hill

07/29/2022

Illinois homeowners are most likely in the nation to be in foreclosure. The looming $2,100 property tax hike from Amendment 1 would make housing even more unaffordable.

TAGS: Amendment 1, foreclosure, housing market, Illinois

Illinois adds jobs in May, but in just over half of metro areas

By Bryce Hill

07/10/2022

Despite a full year of job gains, all Illinois metropolitan areas are missing jobs since the pandemic began and the recovery stalled. While May brought job gains statewide, only eight metro areas saw gains while seven saw losses.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois, jobs, metro areas, unemployment

Illinois drivers pay $35 more to fill up on gas than one year ago

By Patrick Andriesen

06/30/2022

Drivers are now paying $35 more to fill-up on regular gasoline and $65 more for diesel than they were a year ago. Gas taxes eat more than one-fifth of every tank.

TAGS: gas prices, gas tax, JB Pritzker, motor fuel tax, taxes

8 Illinois metro areas fail to add jobs in April; just 1 recovers from pandemic

06/17/2022

Illinois’ overall job numbers continue to rise, but the recovery is spotty. Over half of the metropolitan areas failed to add jobs in April.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, employment, job creation, jobs

Amendment 1 will make bad Illinois business climate worse

05/17/2022

A Rockford family and their trucking business are being driven out of Illinois by high taxes and bad public policies. If voters agree Nov. 8 to enshrining public union power in the Illinois Constitution, expect more businesses and workers to leave.

TAGS: Amendment 1, economic recovery, government unions, unemployment

Illinois marks 10th month of job gains, but still missing 1-in-5 jobs

By Bryce Hill

05/12/2022

Illinois is steadily adding jobs lost during the COVID-19 economic downturn, but despite 10 months of gains the state recovery lags the nation. Some metropolitan areas are far behind where they were.

TAGS: COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Illinois gas taxes help push prices near all-time high

By Dylan Sharkey

05/09/2022

The second-highest motor fuel tax in the nation keeps Illinois’ gas prices the highest in the Midwest. Diesel hits a record as the average gas price moves close to a record.

TAGS: gas prices, Illinois

Champaign-Urbana loses 5,300 jobs in February as most Illinois metros gain

By Bryce Hill

04/01/2022

Illinois posted job growth of 19,600 in February, with bigger payrolls in 10 of 14 Illinois-based metropolitan areas.

TAGS: Champaign, economic recovery, Illinois, jobs, unemployment, Urbana

Nearly all Illinois metro areas lost population in 2021

By Bryce Hill

03/25/2022

Illinois’ record population decline affected virtually all of the state’s largest cities.

TAGS: Illinois, metro areas, outmigration, population

Only 1 Illinois metro area fully recovered its pandemic-related job losses

By Bryce Hill

03/24/2022

Bloomington is the only metro area to recover jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and statewide mandated shutdowns. Illinois is still missing 200,100 jobs as of January 2020.

TAGS: Bloomington, COVID-19, economic recovery, jobs, unemployment

Rockford

Illinois leads the nation in foreclosures in 2022

Illinois adds jobs in May, but in just over half of metro areas

Illinois drivers pay $35 more to fill up on gas than one year ago

8 Illinois metro areas fail to add jobs in April; just 1 recovers from pandemic

Amendment 1 will make bad Illinois business climate worse

Illinois marks 10th month of job gains, but still missing 1-in-5 jobs

Illinois gas taxes help push prices near all-time high

Champaign-Urbana loses 5,300 jobs in February as most Illinois metros gain

Nearly all Illinois metro areas lost population in 2021

Only 1 Illinois metro area fully recovered its pandemic-related job losses

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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