U.S. industrial production jumps 1.6%
U.S. industry operated at 74.5% of capacity in December, still below the pre-pandemic rate of 76.9% in February.
Associated Press
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U.S. retail sales fall for third straight month
Some retailers have already indicated that they had an unhappy holiday season. Department store chain Nordstrom, lingerie seller Victoria’s Secret and clothing retailer Urban Outfitters all said sales fell during the holidays.
Biden announces $1.9T pandemic rescue plan
President-elect Joe Biden unveiled a stimulus plan Thursday intended to speed up vaccines and pump out financial help to those struggling with the pandemic’s prolonged economic fallout.
Powell signals Fed will keep aiding economy with bond buying
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell sought Thursday to tamp down any concerns that the Fed might soon withdraw some of its support for the U.S. economy and stressed that any such pullback would be signaled far in advance.
Petco goes public again as spending on dogs, cats soars
It’s the third time Petco has gone public since it was founded in 1965 as a mail-order veterinary supplies business. Both times Petco was bought and taken private, most recently in 2006.
Instacart, others push incentives to get workers vaccinated
As vaccinations continue across the U.S., some companies are offering financial incentives to encourage their workers to get the shots.
Trump backers seek online refuges after big tech backlash
Online supporters of President Donald Trump are scattering to smaller social media platforms, fleeing what they say is unfair treatment by Facebook, Twitter and other big tech firms looking to squelch what they label misinformation and threats of violence.
Mortgage rates poised to rise as U.S. Treasury yields surge
Long-term bond yields, which can influence interest rates on mortgages and other consumer loans, are climbing this month amid expectations of higher U.S. government spending on pandemic relief and an economy recovery as more people get vaccinated for COVID-19.
U.S. unemployment claims jump to 965,000 as virus takes toll
In Indiana, 18,812 people filed initial unemployment claims in the week ended Jan. 9, up from an adjusted number of 14,796 the previous week.
Risky driving: U.S. traffic deaths up despite virus lockdowns
A study found that 65% of drivers treated at trauma centers who were hurt in serious crashes had drugs or alcohol in their systems last year. It was 50.6% before the pandemic, NHTSA said.
Indiana’s delegation splits along party lines on impeachment
The state’s seven Republican House members voted against impeachment, while the two Democrats favored the impeachment of Trump for a history-making second time.
Twitter CEO defends Trump ban, warns of dangerous precedent
Extreme measures such as banning Trump highlight the extraordinary power that Twitter and other Big Tech companies can wield without accountability or recourse, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey wrote.
Majority of House members vote for 2nd impeachment of Trump
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Republican leader would not agree to bring the chamber back immediately, all but ensuring a Senate trial could not begin at least until Jan. 19.
U.S. budget deficit up 60.7% in first 3 months of budget year
The Treasury Department reported Wednesday that three months into the budget year, the deficit was $216.3 billion higher than the same October-December period a year ago.
They need to chill. Tips for turning seeds into trees
The reason for the lack of growth was that apple seeds, like the seeds of many other trees native to cold climates, need pre-treatment before they will germinate or grow well.
Consumer prices up 0.4% in December, led by higher gas prices
Inflation for all of 2020 rose a modest 1.4%, well below the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Analysts believe inflation will remain subdued with the U.S. economy still unable to break out of a pandemic-induced downturn.
U.S. to require all arriving passengers to get COVID-19 test
The new measures are designed to try to prevent travelers from bringing in newer forms of the virus that scientists say can spread more easily.
Colts’ Castonzo announces retirement after injury-filled season
When Anthony Castonzo first arrived in Indianapolis in 2011, he figured he’d be a short-timer. He wound up starting at left tackle for the next decade.
Stocks notch modest gains on Wall Street
Banks and other financial companies added to recent gains as Treasury yields marched higher for the sixth straight day amid expectations that the economy will pull out of its slump after a powerful recovery sweeps the globe later this year.
Emmert: NCAA still expecting to get pay issue done in 2021
NCAA President Mark Emmert’s remarks came during his state of college athletics address at the NCAA’s annual convention, which is being held virtually this week because of the COVID-19 pandemic.