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.

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.

Why ‘temporary’ income tax hike, retirement tax won’t fix Illinois pensions

By Justin Carlson

02/24/2023

A Chicago civic group suggests either increasing the state’s personal and corporate income taxes for 10 years or implementing a retirement tax to help pay for the state’s worst-in-the-nation pension debt. Here are the problems with that plan.

High-tax Illinois loses people, low-tax states gain in 2022

By Justin Carlson

01/25/2023

Low-tax states attract the majority of movers, while high-tax states push them away. Illinois takes nearly 13% of all money made in the state as taxes, and lost 141,656 residents in 2022.

Illinoisans pay highest cellphone taxes in nation

By Dylan Sharkey

12/28/2022

Smartphone owners in Illinois pay the highest taxes in the nation

TAGS: cell phone tax, Illinois, taxes

Illinois holiday travelers face hike on nation’s No. 2 gas taxes

By Patrick Andriesen

12/16/2022

Plenty of Illinoisans will be on the road this holiday season, with record-high travel across the nation. Filling up for the trip is pricey in Illinois and will get even pricier after Jan. 1.

TAGS: gas tax

Springfield’s ‘bad Santas’ can’t kick sin tax habit

By Dylan Sharkey

12/07/2022

Bad habits are tough to break, and Illinois lawmakers can’t ditch their habit of depending on sin taxes to raise revenue.

TAGS: sin taxes

Report: 40% of Illinois small businesses behind on November rent

By Patrick Andriesen

12/01/2022

A new survey found Illinois reported the third-highest increase in small business rent delinquency nationwide during November, with 40% of respondents unable to pay rent on time or in full.

TAGS: small business

Illinois Thanksgiving travelers pay 2nd-highest gas taxes in nation

By Dylan Sharkey

11/23/2022

AAA predicts nearly 55 million people will travel for Thanksgiving this year, only 2% less than Thanksgiving travel in 2019. Illinoisans hitting the road should try to fill up in other states.

TAGS: gas tax, Thanksgiving

Nearly 40% of small businesses delinquent on October rent

By Patrick Andriesen

11/04/2022

A survey found 37% of U.S. small businesses were delinquent on October rent, with inflation and rising costs absorbing “most sales gains.”

Tax Foundation

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

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

Why ‘temporary’ income tax hike, retirement tax won’t fix Illinois pensions

High-tax Illinois loses people, low-tax states gain in 2022

Illinoisans pay highest cellphone taxes in nation

Illinois holiday travelers face hike on nation’s No. 2 gas taxes

Springfield’s ‘bad Santas’ can’t kick sin tax habit

Report: 40% of Illinois small businesses behind on November rent

Illinois Thanksgiving travelers pay 2nd-highest gas taxes in nation

Nearly 40% of small businesses delinquent on October rent

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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