Report shows hiring at lowest since 2009 as economists turn to alternative data during shutdown blackout

Job fair signage as job seekers arrive at the Appalachian State University internship and job fair in Boone, North Carolina, US, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. Allison Joyce | Bloomberg | Getty Images Unemployment changed little in September, while layoff and hiring rates both slowed, according to separate labor market reports Thursday. The jobless level…

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Russia will raise taxes to pay for the Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting on development of ‘new regions’, annexed from Ukraine, at the Kremlin, June 30, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. Contributor | Getty Images Russia is set to hike taxes on businesses and consumers as the government looks for ways to support military spending while its war-focused economy creaks at the…

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The ACA, immigrants and health care

The federal government will shut down early Wednesday, in large part because of a debate between Republicans and Democrats over enhanced Obamacare subsidies and whether some immigrants should get those financial benefits. Republicans claim Democrats want to give health care to “illegal immigrants.” Democrats, in turn, say that’s a lie. Democrats say they are only…

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State of play as deadline looms

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks to members of the media alongside fellow Republicans during a press conference following Republicans weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 3, 2025. Nathan Howard | Reuters As congressional Democrats push to tie extending Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies to the government funding…

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