All Economy
First LookAs oil prices rise, drillers spend: Chevron buys Hess for $53 billionMajor oil drillers are looking for new investments as oil prices surge. Chevron buying Hess Corporation for $53 billion comes less than two weeks after Exxon Mobile said it would acquire Pioneer Natural Resources for about $60 billion.聽
How world averted a grain shortage, despite Ukraine warIn place of last year鈥檚 panic over rising prices, global wheat prices are falling. While food insecurity remains, especially in conflict zones, the progress is a sign of the farm sector鈥檚 resilience.
First LookWorkplace gender gap study earns Claudia Goldin historic Nobel winClaudia Goldin helped explain the historical roots of the workplace and wage gaps faced by women around the world.聽She is the third woman to be awarded聽the Nobel economics prize, and the first to be the sole winner.聽
Big Tech monopolies? Amazon suit broadens an antitrust revival.Are consumers harmed by the dominance of Amazon, Google, and Facebook?聽Their market power stirs renewed antitrust activism, even if the charges against them may be difficult to prove.
First LookHealth care workers on strike in five states. What do they want?More than 75,000 nurses and technicians are picketing Kaiser Permanente hospitals in five states, pushing for staff and wage increases. Appointments and non-urgent procedures may be temporarily delayed, but聽hospitals and emergency rooms will stay open.
Behind impasse in Congress: Rising deficits, record debtThe risk of a government shutdown has elements of political theater.聽But behind the unfinished drama are difficult challenges of debt and deficits.
Cover Story鈥楤idenomics鈥� boosts blue-collar jobs and green energy. Do voters care?Good jobs and reliable infrastructure propel prosperity. People notice when they鈥檙e missing but don鈥檛 always remember them in the voting booth.聽
FocusRebuilding after wildfire: Help is scarcest for those who need it mostAfter a major wildfire, low-income residents are the ones who find insurance and loans hardest to access. That鈥檚 a challenge for the whole community.
Workers expand strike against automakers amid dueling visionsStriking U.S. autoworkers say their pay has stagnated while executive compensation has soared. The companies emphasize the uncertainty to be faced in a period of innovation and transition.
First LookMurdoch, controversial media giant, to be succeeded by son at Fox NewsRupert Murdoch, the Australian media magnate whose creation of Fox News made him a force in American politics, is stepping down as leader of both Fox Corp. and News Corp. His son, Lachlan Murdoch, will control both companies.
Why 鈥榦ut of control鈥� tipping persists 鈥� for nowSurveys show Americans are souring on tipping, especially as technology permits more frequent requests, aka 鈥渢ip creep.鈥�
First LookHistoric auto worker strike hits all three Detroit automakersThousands of auto workers walked out at midnight Friday after contract negotiations failed to make progress. The limited strike, which currently affects three Midwest assembly plants, is the first to affect all three Detroit automakers聽simultaneously.
UAW strike: Why a Detroit labor dispute runs through the SouthLabor unions have been winning big pay gains this year. In the auto industry, nonunion factories in the South and the rise of electric vehicles have complicated the situation.
The ExplainerIs the 鈥榢ing of search鈥� too dominant? Inside US lawsuit against Google.Is Google using its clout to maintain a monopoly over internet search? An antitrust lawsuit has big implications for competition in the tech industry.
First LookUnited Auto Workers union is poised to strike. Why now?About 146,000 U.S. auto workers are set to go on strike this week against any automaker that hasn鈥檛 reached an agreement with the United Auto Workers union by the time contracts expire on Sept. 14. The union is asking for 46% in raises, among other demands.
Summer of labor: Why unions win pay hikes and new cloutSome old narratives about labor unions and blue-collar decline no longer seem to apply, as workers win pay hikes and make their voices heard.
First LookChina鈥檚 economic slump: Why is it happening?China鈥檚 exports tumbled significantly in July, adding pressure on the ruling party to buoy the economy. Demand for Chinese exports has slowed as interest rates have gone up and consumer spending in developed nations has dipped.
First LookHollywood is still on strike, so why are some movies being made?Although the actors and writers strikes have shut down nearly all Hollywood films from major production companies, some independent productions are being granted union waivers to continue. The move has proved confusing and divisive to those on picket lines.
First LookThe US lost its pristine credit rating. What does that mean?Citing an 鈥渆rosion of governance,鈥� Fitch Ratings became the second major credit-rating firm to bump the United States government鈥檚 top-notch triple-A assessment.聽The downgrade may have little impact on financial markets or interest rates.
First LookLights off for incandescents: Edison bulbs ruled a relic of the pastThomas Edison鈥檚 pioneering incandescent light bulb is fading into history in favor of more efficient and longer-lasting LED bulbs. New federal rules governing energy efficiency went into effect, ending the manufacture and sale of incandescent bulbs.
