HARDY, Va. (WDBJ) – The Booker T. Washington National Monument had 24,200 visitors in 2024 and those visitors spent $1.7 million in communities nearby, according a report from the National Park Service. “People come to Booker T. Washington National Monument to learn about the life and legacy of one of America’s most influential educators and […]

This article was originally published on Waging Nonviolence. As people across the United States face massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other vital programs, many are asking: What happens when the systems we rely on fail us? And what happens when our communities are torn apart by toxic inequality, political fragmentation and declining social trust? The […]

Gold edged lower on Friday after stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data cast doubt on the Federal Reserve’s rate cut outlook and lifted the dollar, while investors awaited U.S. inflation data due later in the day for further direction. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold GOLD declined 0.2% to $3,741.71 per ounce as of 0033 GMT. Bullion rose 1.7% […]

Despite the rebound, economists caution that trade-related distortions mean the data overstate the economy’s underlying health, with growth expected to slow to around 1.5% in the second half.  | Photo Credit: Eduardo Munoz The U.S. economy grew faster than previously estimated in the second quarter amid strong consumer spending and business investment, though momentum appears […]

summary In Episode 441 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, about the profound transformations underway in the global economy driven by America’s transition away from being the world’s primary insurance provider for international security to its most enterprising racketeer. In a recently published Foreign […]

Investment in artificial intelligence, increased government borrowing, de-globalization, and other factors could in coming years push up the neutral rate of interest that guides both monetary and fiscal policy, suggests a paper to be discussed at the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (BPEA) conference on September 25. The paper, by Lukasz Rachel of University College […]

  EDITOR’S NOTE: This was initially published in the Sept. 17, 2025 edition. Some information may be outdated.  A pair of officials from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity led a presentation recently unveiling a strategic plan for Fillmore City. The free study is part of a state economic development pilot program to help strengthen […]

AUD/USD forecast remains up as the pair climbs near 0.6630 amid stronger-than-expected Australian CPI data. The Fed remains cautious on rate cuts, with Powell stressing inflation risks, while Bowman advocates for faster easing to protect the labor market. The RBA is seen as more hawkish than the Fed, with Barclays forecasting the AUD/USD to break […]

Missouri: The September RMI for the state sank to 44.8 from 53.5 in August. The farmland price index for September slumped to 46.1 from 52.7 in August. The state’s new hiring gauge for September declined to 53.2 from 63.2 in August. According to USDA 2024 data, Missouri produced $13.6 billion of farm commodities, accounting for 2.7% […]

The global economy is preparing for another year of sluggish growth as profound structural disruptions, from trade and technology to resources and international institutions, reshape the landscape. According to the World Economic Forum’s latest Chief Economists’ Outlook, released on Tuesday, nearly three-quarters (72%) of surveyed chief economists expect the global economy to weaken in 2026, […]