Only half of Massachusetts small business owners whose operations are still closed said they are confident they will ever reopen, indicating lingering uncertainty months after forced shutdowns began to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to a new poll.
The first COVID-19 vaccine tested in the U.S. revved up people’s immune systems just the way scientists had hoped, researchers reported Tuesday – as the shots are poised to begin key final testing.
It’s become all the rage right now to compare our current coronavirus-driven downturn to the Great Depression. But a closer look at what actually happened during the Great Depression provide some rays of hope.
Cities will always bounce back. But, for now, Massachusetts’ urban economies appear fragile, and the forces that keep them humming are in danger of dissipating.
With Massachusetts diners able to return to indoor dining last week, life is feeling like it’s finally starting to return to “normal.”
African Americans still earn barely 60 cents for every $1 in white income. They have 10 cents in wealth for every $1 whites own. They remain more than twice as likely to live in poverty. And they’re about as likely to own a home as they were when Richard Nixon was president.
The Senate on Wednesday passed legislation to make it easier for businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic to take advantage of a payroll subsidy program that’s been a central part of Washington’s response to the corresponding economic crisis.
After approving nearly $3 trillion to help stem staggering losses for businesses and workers, Republicans say they want to see if that aid is sufficient as unemployment claims slow and shelter-in-place orders are eased.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expressed optimism Sunday that the U.S. economy can begin to recover from a devastating recession in the second half of the year, assuming the coronavirus doesn’t erupt in a second wave.
With four days remaining until Gov. Charlie Baker is due to put details on his economic reopening plan, the business community is growing more antsy about how it will all work.
Greater Boston’s residential real estate market is showing initial signs it could be coming back to life, with new listings up on a week-over-week basis for the second week in a row.
Gov. Charlie Baker said he’ll have more to say Monday about lifting the state’s stay-at-home advisory that has been in place since March 23.
Greater Boston rents may decline nearly 1 percent by the end of the year, a new report from Yardi Matrix has found.
The state’s goal is to have some business reopen May 18, pending the completion of new guidelines, Gov. Charlie Baker said.
In a sign homebuyers in other parts of the country the country may be recovering from the shock of the coronavirus, purchase mortgage applications increased for the second week in a row, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Employers need at least 10 days to prepare for the state’s reopening the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce said, and flagged testing, child care and transportation as the three major barriers to reopening amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday gave florists, as well as many other “non-essential” businesses, a green thumbs up to bring back a limited number of employees to fulfill online and phone orders for delivery, as long as they follow proper safety measures and keep the doors locked to customers.
After spending the last few days hearing from groups representing more than a million workers, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito on Monday cautioned against viewing May 18 as a “magical date” on which the state’s businesses will fully bounce back into operation following weeks of mandated closures.
The total number of unemployment claims filed in Massachusetts since the coronavirus pandemic began hit 722,363 at the end of last week.
Gov. Charlie Baker would not say Friday afternoon whether he plans to extend the economic shutdown currently due to expire May 4, but he detailed what he will be looking at when it comes time to make that decision.
