DeLand to change housing regulations amid affordable housing ‘crisis’
City commissioners in DeLand have been searching for ways to help residents get affordable housing. During their next meeting, they will vote on a proposed ordinance to loosen developing regulations to hopefully bring in more housing options.
$281M of Florida’s next budget is ‘turkey,’ taxpayer watchdogs say
Florida TaxWatch on Thursday released a list of 166 “turkeys” in a newly passed state budget but suggested that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office should give extra scrutiny to all 1,221 local projects that lawmakers put into the record spending plan.
The Issues Dividing America Ahead of the Midterms, Explained
Though the economy may be the focus of November’s congressional elections, other divisive topics -- some new, some perennial -- will also vie for attention from voters. These so-called wedge issues are being fanned mostly by Republicans, who see little downside in taking on polarizing issues that might motivate conservative voters. The Supreme Court, with six of its nine seats filled by conservative justices appointed by Republicans, seems poised to stir things up even further with upcoming deci
washingtonpost.comBiden bets strong job market will shield economy from slump
Biden Economy FILE - President Joe Biden speaks at the North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington, April 6, 2022. The Biden White House is betting the U.S. economy is strong enough to withstand these threats, but there are growing fears of a coming economic slump among voters and some Wall Street analysts. The Biden White House is betting the U.S. economy is strong enough to withstand these threats, but there are growing fears of a coming economic slump among voters and some Wall Street analysts. One consequence of higher prices is that Americans began to use less oil and gas. But the key message that the White House wants to deliver in response to public fears about the economy is that Biden understands their concerns.
wftv.comBiden bets strong job market will shield economy from slump
Biden Economy FILE - President Joe Biden speaks at the North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington, April 6, 2022. The Biden White House is betting the U.S. economy is strong enough to withstand these threats, but there are growing fears of a coming economic slump among voters and some Wall Street analysts. The Biden White House is betting the U.S. economy is strong enough to withstand these threats, but there are growing fears of a coming economic slump among voters and some Wall Street analysts. One consequence of higher prices is that Americans began to use less oil and gas. But the key message that the White House wants to deliver in response to public fears about the economy is that Biden understands their concerns.
wftv.comBiden bets strong job market will shield economy from slump
Biden Economy FILE - President Joe Biden speaks at the North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington, April 6, 2022. The Biden White House is betting the U.S. economy is strong enough to withstand these threats, but there are growing fears of a coming economic slump among voters and some Wall Street analysts. The Biden White House is betting the U.S. economy is strong enough to withstand these threats, but there are growing fears of a coming economic slump among voters and some Wall Street analysts. One consequence of higher prices is that Americans began to use less oil and gas. But the key message that the White House wants to deliver in response to public fears about the economy is that Biden understands their concerns.
wftv.comAs gas prices rise in the US, countries around the world are feeling pain at the pump even more
According to data from globalpetrolprices.com, 46 countries has gas prices that are $6 a gallon or more, 26 have prices that are at least $7 a gallon while nine countries have gas prices that are $8 a gallon or more.
DeSantis blames Biden for war in Ukraine, inflation, more in response to State of the Union
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his reaction Wednesday to President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union speech, placing blame on the White House for such issues as inflation, rising gas prices and even Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
German government cuts 2022 economic growth forecast to 3.6%
Germany Economy Containers are handled at a logistic port in Duisburg, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. Europe's biggest economy, has picked up unexpectedly after a six-month slide, a closely watched survey showed Tuesday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (Martin Meissner)BERLIN — (AP) — The German government on Wednesday cut its growth forecast for this year, but said that Europe's biggest economy remains “robust” and will return to its pre-pandemic size in 2022. The Economy Ministry predicted that gross domestic product will grow by 3.6%, down from the 4.1% Germany's previous government forecast in late October. On Tuesday, a closely watched survey showed business confidence unexpectedly picking up in January after a six-month slide.
wftv.comUS posted smallest monthly deficit in 2 years in December
WASHINGTON — (AP) — The U.S. last month posted its smallest monthly budget deficit in two years thanks to a rebounding economy that helped boost tax receipts, coupled with slower spending as some COVID relief programs ended. The Treasury Department reported Wednesday that the December deficit of $21.3 billion was the smallest monthly deficit since a $13 billion shortfall in December 2019. In the October-December period, government revenues were up 30.1% compared to the same period a year ago. Government spending during that period rose by a much smaller 3.8% compared to the same period a year ago to $1.43 trillion. The December deficit of $21.3 billion compared to a deficit in December 2020 of $143.6 billion.
wftv.comUK economic growth held back by supply chain problems
LONDON — (AP) — The British economy slowed down during the third quarter of the year as widespread supply chain problems hobbled the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, official figures showed Thursday. The increase was slightly below market expectations and lower than the second quarter's 5.5% boost. The third-quarter result means the British economy remains 2.1% below where it was before the pandemic struck in March 2020. Over the summer, Britain witnessed an array of supply chain problems tied to disruptions caused by the pandemic and Britain’s departure from the European Union. That was evident in the recent long lines seen at gas stations amid a shortage of truck drivers.
wftv.comJapan passes 50% vaccination rate, may ease limits in Nov.
Virus Outbreak Japan FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2019, file photo, newly appointed Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) (Eugene Hoshiko)TOKYO — (AP) — Japan’s government says more than 50% of the population has been fully vaccinated. The government is studying a roadmap for easing restrictions around November when a large majority of the population is expected to be fully vaccinated. That would allow fully vaccinated people and those who test negative to travel, gather for parties or attend mass events. Japan last Friday extended the ongoing state of emergency in Tokyo and 18 other areas until Sept. 30.
wftv.comFed's Powell: There's no returning to pre-pandemic economy
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday that the U.S. economy has been permanently changed by the COVID pandemic and it is important that the central bank adapt to those changes. “We're not simply going back to the economy that we had before the pandemic,” Powell said at a Fed virtual town hall for educators and students. Powell said that, while it is not yet clear if the delta variant of COVID will have further impact on the economy, the country has already seen significant changes since the pandemic began shutting the country down in March 2020.
news.yahoo.comUS retail sales rose 0.6% in June
Americans spent more last month on clothing, electronics and dining out as the economy opened up and there were fewer pandemic-related restrictions. U.S. retail sales rose a seasonal adjusted 0.6% in June from the month before, the U.S. Commerce Department said Friday. The increase was a surprise to Wall Street analysts, who had expected sales to fall slightly last month. Sales at bars and restaurants rose 2.3%, according to Friday's report. Clothing store sales rose by 2.6%, and sales at electronic shops were up 3.3%.
wftv.comUK economy remains 3.1% smaller than pre-pandemic level
LONDON — (AP) — Official figures show that the British economy rebounded further in May following another easing of lockdown restrictions, though the increase was about half that expected by economists. The Office for National Statistics said Friday that the economy grew by 0.8% during May. Though the British economy has now grown for four months in a row, May's increase was lower than April's 2.3% and below market expectations for a 1.5% rise. Despite the run of growth, the British economy remains 3.1% smaller than it was in February 2020, the month before the government first put lockdown measures in place to try to contain the coronavirus. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
wftv.comUK economy edges to pre-pandemic levels as lockdown eased
Britain Economy FILE - In this Monday, April 12, 2021 file photo, people sit, drinking and eating, outside cafes and pubs in Soho, central London, on the day some of England's coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased by the British government. The easing of lockdown restrictions in April helped the British economy grow at its fastest rate since July 2020 and recoup further ground lost during the coronavirus pandemic, official figures showed Friday June 11, 2021. The four nations of the U.K. — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — have been lifting lockdown restrictions in stages after new coronavirus infections fell sharply and vaccines were rolled out rapidly. Despite the growth recorded in April, the British economy remained 3.7% smaller than it was in February 2020, before the U.K.'s first virus lockdown. The British economy is expected to regain more ground over the summer as remaining restrictions are lifted.
wftv.comFederal Reserve survey sees economy growing at faster pace
Federal Reserve Beige Book FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2020 file photo, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell appears before the Senate Banking Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Federal Reserve reports that the U.S. economy grew at a somewhat faster pace from early April to late May despite adverse effects from supply chain disruptions. The Fed’s latest survey of economic conditions around the nation released Wednesday, June 2 2021, said that several Fed districts reported positive effects on the economy from increased vaccination rates and relaxed social distancing measures. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool, File) (Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON — (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a somewhat faster pace in April and May despite disruptions that choked supplies to the nations manufacturers, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday. In the Fed's latest survey of economic conditions around the nation, several of the central bank's districts reported increased vaccination rates and relaxed social-distancing measures were having a positive impact on the economy.
wftv.comUK economy showed resilience ahead of big lockdown easing
The Office for National Statistics also said Wednesday May 12, 2021, that the economy even managed to grow by 2.1% in March when the country began easing some restrictions. The overall first quarter figures provide further evidence that businesses and consumers have adapted to the constraints of lockdown by increasing their online activities. In the second quarter of 2020, when the first lockdown was in place, the British economy contracted by a fifth. Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said the March performance is “a promising sign of things to come.”Despite the March bounceback, the British economy remins 8.7% smaller than it was on the eve of the pandemic. The Bank of England even thinks that the British economy will have recouped all its COVID-related losses by the end of this year.
wftv.comUK economy shrinks by only 1.5% in Q1 despite lockdown
LONDON — (AP) — Official figures show that the British economy contracted by 1.5% in the first quarter of 2021, a relatively modest contraction given that the country was in the midst of a strict lockdown to combat a second wave of the coronavirus. The Office for National Statistics also said Wednesday that the economy even managed to grow by 2.1% in March when the country began easing some of the restrictions. The overall first quarter figures provide further evidence that businesses and consumers have adapted to the constraints of lockdown by increasing their online activities. In the second quarter of 2020, when the first lockdown was in place, the British economy contracted by a fifth. Still imports from Europe remained sluggish in the first three months of the year, outstripped by non-EU imports for the first time on record.
wftv.comEconomy grew by 1.6 percent in first quarter, showing signs of boom to come
The U.S. recovery likely found its rhythm in the first three months of 2021, according to early forecasts of data to be released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis this morning. It appears likely all Covid-19-era losses will be recovered by the middle of this year.
washingtonpost.comU.S. economy is 'on the brink' of a complete recovery, says Richmond Fed's Barkin
Pedestrians walk outside the New York Stock Exchange in the U.S. The U.S. economy is recovering from the Covid-19 recession, but some economic "scarring" may take a long time to heal, said Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Barkin. Economic scarring refers to damage left behind by crises that will suppress growth prospects over the medium or long term. "I'm hopeful we're on the brink of completing this recovery," Barkin said Monday at the Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference that's being held virtually this year. The U.S. economy contracted by 3.5% in 2020 compared to a year ago, estimated the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
cnbc.comPandemic prompts state to offer break on overdue traffic fines and other fees for low-income residents
Lightfoot’s plan created a six-month payment plan that reduces required down payments and gives those with ticket debt more time to pay. The plan also allowed people to request a 24-hour extension to pay their fines in full or get on a payment plan after their vehicles are locked with a Denver boot, though the plan does not ban use of the controversial device that has been the bane of many motorists’ existence.
chicagotribune.comWithout stimulus, employment might not reach pre-pandemic level until 2024
Without stimulus, employment might not reach pre-pandemic level until 2024 New analysis from the Congressional Budget Office predicts the U.S. economy will return to its pre-pandemic peak in the middle of 2021, but the number of people employed won't return to previous levels until 2024. Maya MacGuineas, the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, joins CBSN's "Red & Blue" host Elaine Quijano to discuss what she thinks the federal government should do to aid the economy.
cbsnews.comU.S. GDP booms at 33.1% rate in Q3, better than expected
The gain came after a 31.4% plunge in the second quarter and was better than the 32% estimate from economists surveyed by Dow Jones. "It's obviously good news that the economy bounced back in the third quarter," said Eric Winograd, senior economist at AllianceBernstein. "There's still a lot of work to do here and the pace of improvement ... is going to slow. That is part of the reason that the pace of growth is going to slow from here." The economy has been in a technical recession since February, as first-quarter growth declined at a 5% pace.
cnbc.comIMF revises its global GDP forecast higher, but warns the economy 'remains prone to setbacks'
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday turned slightly more positive on the global economy for this year, but warned of a "long, uneven and uncertain" recovery. The global economy is now projected to contract by 4.4% in 2020 — an upward revision from an estimate of -4.9% made in June. The IMF's projection assumes that social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic will continue into 2021, and that local transmission will fall everywhere by the end of 2022. However, it warned that the coronavirus crisis is far from over. The IMF projected "only limited progress" going forward and cut its GDP (gross domestic product) growth expectations for next year to 5.2%, from an estimate of 5.4% made in June.
cnbc.comSome nursing home residents arent getting their stimulus checks. Heres why
[RELATED: IRS to add hotline, callers can ask questions about stimulus checks]But heres the deal: those economic impact payments are, according to the CARES Act, a tax credit, Greisman wrote. And tax law says that tax credits dont count as resources for federal benefits programs, like Medicaid. So: when Congress calls these payments tax credits in the CARES Act, that means the government cant seize them. Which means nursing homes and assisted living facilities cant take that money from their residents just because theyre on Medicaid. You can go right here to get the federal tax law that says refunds arent considered a resource in federal benefits programs.
854 new cases of COVID-19 reported as Florida enters full phase 1 of reopening
Ron DeSantis called full phase one of his plan to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. Under full phase one all provisional openings instated on May 4 remain, but some guidelines have loosened and some have been added. [READ MORE: Heres what changes now that Florida is entering full phase one of reopening]Floridas Full Phase 1 begins Monday, May 18. pic.twitter.com/bhX9dKiFwj Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 15, 2020As the state moves towards furthering the reopening process, the Florida Department of Health reported 854 news cases of COVID-19 since Sunday, as well as 24 new deaths. These new statistics bring the total number of coronavirus cases reported since the disease was first detected in the state from March 1 to 46,442 and the death toll to 1,997.
Heres how the coronavirus is affecting Central Floridas real estate market
ORLANDO, Fla. Like pretty much every industry, the latest numbers show the real estate market is not immune to the coronavirus. The pandemic kind of caught up to us a little bit, Orlando Regional Realtor Association President Reese Stewart said. The overall median price of all types of Orlando homes sold in April 2020 was $263,750, a 12.2% increase from the April 2019 median price of $235,000 and 4.0% above the March 2020 median price of $253,500. Stewart told News 6 the number of homes up for sale did drop 3% compared to a year ago. Chris Creegan, the owner of Creegan Property Group, shifted his real estate business because of the pandemic, utilizing virtual walk-throughs and a personal touch in the era of COVID-19.
How China could use this moment to charge ahead with its geopolitical agenda
China, the world's second largest economy, is under threat as the pandemic wipes out jobs and slows productivity and growth. But even with the economic setback, that's not stopping Beijing from doubling down on its geopolitical agenda. China could be using diplomatic outreach, while skirting any responsibility for the crisis, as a way to move forward with its geopolitical plans, Economy said. I think the Trump administration will be looking to China to buy American, to fulfill the promises that it made," she said. In the meantime, the People's Republic of China has rolled out significant measures to offset the economic impact of the pandemic.
cnbc.comThe economy is improving, so why are Americans feeling so down?
The economy is improving, so why are Americans feeling so down? Steady job-creation this year has failed to quell people's anxiety about their financial prospects and the broader direction of the economy. CBS News' Lauren Lyster reports.
cbsnews.comWill the economy change much during the year's second half?
Will the economy change much during the year's second half? The economy contracted nearly three percent during the first quarter of the year. CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger explains what to expect in the second half of the year.
cbsnews.comU.S. economy shrinks for first time in three years
U.S. economy shrinks for first time in three years The harsh weather this past winter is getting much of the blame for a slowdown in the economy, but most economists believe it sets the economy up for a strong rebound this quarter. Anthony Mason reports.
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