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Let’s just shut up about the ‘millionaires tax’ for a while

It will take a couple of years, at least, to know whether the state’s new 4 percent tax on high earners has been a blessing or a bane. Until then, everyone is spinning opinions, not facts.

Federal Reserve minutes: Policymakers saw a longer path to rate cuts
Minutes of the May 1 meeting, released Wednesday, showed that officials also debated whether their benchmark rate was exerting enough of a drag on the economy to further slow inflation.

Boston takes a shot at another round of liquor licenses
The Massachusetts House is expected to move on a bill this week to create the biggest batch of new licenses since the end of Prohibition.

Meet Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton, which now owns Putnam Investments

With the economy and markets in flux, Johnson is wary of inflation but bullish on Bitcoin and Putnam's future in Boston.

Larry Edelman
Massachusetts employers cut jobs for a second straight month in April
The state shed 500 jobs last month, following a drop of 4,100 jobs in March. It was the first back-to-back employment loss since the start of the pandemic.

A familiar face is among the two finalists for Massport CEO job
Former Mass. Transportation Secretary Rich Davey and Miami transportation chief Eulois Cleckey are in the running to run the agency.

Larry Edelman | Trendlines
The stock market is hot again
Investors pushed the market to a new peak on optimism that inflation will cool enough to allow the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.

‘It looks really optimistic’: Boston tourist attractions anticipate strong 2024 summer season
Meet Boston, the city’s visitors bureau, anticipates nearly 2.6 million international visitors in 2024, right behind the prepandemic visitor level of close to 2.7 million people.

Latest Headlines in Economy

US inflation eased last month in the first slowdown of 2024

The decline likely offers a tentative sigh of relief for officials at the Federal Reserve as well as President Joe Biden’s re-election team.

Wholesale price increases accelerated in April as inflation remains sticky

Measured year over year, producer prices rose by 2.2 percent in April, up from 1.8 percent in March and the biggest increase in a year.

Larry Edelman | Trendlines

‘Demographics are going to catch up with us’: Mass. economy needs more workers to keep growing

The state’s GDP increased by an annualized 1.8 percent in the first three months of the year despite higher inflation.

US employers scaled back their hiring in April, adding 175,000 jobs

The lower-than-expected number could be seen as supporting rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year.

Larry Edelman | Trendlines

Why are people leaving Massachusetts? Here’s where the state is falling short — and what the impact is.

A Boston University analysis tallies Massachusetts’ strengths and weaknesses compared with the 11 states where most Bay State exiles end up.

Federal Reserve says interest rates will stay at two-decade high until inflation further cools

The Fed issued its decision in a statement after its latest meeting, at which it kept its key rate at a two-decade high of 5.3 percent.

US consumer confidence slumps to lowest level since July 2022

Confidence now stands at the lower end of its recent range as consumers contend with elevated inflation, high borrowing costs, and a gradually cooling labor market.

Larry Edelman | Trendlines

As inflation picks up, small businesses are feeling the squeeze

The cumulative impact of higher prices is mounting.