ECONOMIC POLICY

With as little as seven weeks left, GOP races to ready debt ceiling bill

Ideologically divided House Republicans are preparing a budget proposal that is likely to stall in the Democratic-led Senate.

By Tony Romm and Leigh Ann CaldwellApril 15, 2023

Montana lawmakers pass first-in-the-nation TikTok ban

Montana’s legislature gave final approval on Friday to the nation’s first complete ban on TikTok operating in a state, sending a bill to the governor that would forbid sales of the app and bar it from operating in Montana.

By Erica WernerApril 14, 2023

U.S.-China split shadows hopes for lifting debt load from global economy

The IMF and World Bank are struggling to find a path amid increased tension between the world’s two largest economies.

By David J. LynchApril 13, 2023

GOP eyes new work requirements for millions on Medicaid, food stamps

The party’s leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), have publicly endorsed new rules in entering a fierce debate over the debt ceiling.

By Tony Romm and Rachel RoubeinApril 11, 2023

Calif. pauses mortgage aid program in less than two weeks because of demand

State officials thought funding would last months for a home-buying program to provide qualified applicants with money for 20 percent down payments.

By Erica WernerApril 7, 2023

Walmart to add EV charging to thousands of stores by 2030

Walmart plans to add the EV charging stations to stores coast-to-coast, more than quadrupling its current network of roughly 280 locations.

By Jeanne WhalenApril 6, 2023

Heartland lawmakers push bans on Chinese purchases of American farms

With relations between the United States and China near a 40-year low, Chinese ownership of American farmland has suddenly flared into controversy.

By David J. LynchApril 4, 2023

The company that needed $545 million for paychecks when SVB collapsed

The Silicon Valley Bank crisis could have mushroomed well beyond tech when Rippling, which distributes other companies’ payroll money, had its funds frozen.

By Jeanne WhalenApril 2, 2023

New list of EVs eligible for tax credits to be released next month

Stricter qualification rules will apply as the Biden administration takes into account how and where the vehicles are built.

By Jeanne Whalen and Steven MufsonMarch 31, 2023

Social Security funding crisis will arrive in 2033, U.S. projects

Unless Congress acts, the program won’t be able to pay out full benefits. Medicare’s hospital fund will face the same problem in 2031.

By Jeff Stein and Amy GoldsteinMarch 31, 2023

House GOP eyes bill to cut spending, raise debt ceiling amid stalemate

McCarthy’s ultimatum — delivered with a jab at Biden over his age — appeared to unite his fractious conference and heightened the odds of a political showdown.

By Tony Romm and Marianna SotomayorMarch 30, 2023

Biden to push new banking rules after Silicon Valley Bank collapse

White House plans are still in flux. A House panel will examine SVB’s failure on Wednesday.

By Jeff Stein and Rachel SiegelMarch 29, 2023

Biden administration warns of ‘damaging’ effects from GOP budget plans

Republicans seek to trim federal spending by $130 billion, but agencies warn that could delay Social Security, snarl travel and furlough FBI agents.

By Tony Romm and Marianna SotomayorMarch 29, 2023

Biden stuck between China hawks, young voters as TikTok pressure mounts

The administration faces national security concerns over the app’s ownership — and a possible backlash over a ban.

By Jeff Stein, Cristiano Lima and Taylor LorenzMarch 28, 2023

The initial banking crisis is easing. Another may be around the corner.

Commercial real estate could become a problem for midsized banks.

By Jeff SteinMarch 27, 2023

Work from home has downtowns empty. A solution? Live in a former office.

SF is one of several cities trying to revitalize their downtowns by turning abandoned offices into homes, a nice idea that is tricky in practice.

By Linda Chong and Erica WernerMarch 27, 2023

Hundreds of banks would be vulnerable in SVB-style runs, researchers say

Economists at Stanford, University of Southern California, Columbia and Northwestern found that because of rising interest rates hurting the value of certain assets such as bonds, U.S. banks hold $2 trillion less in assets than they appear to have on paper.

By Erica WernerMarch 24, 2023

U.S. could sanction Chinese firms if Beijing sends arms to Russia

American officials have options for targeted financial moves in response to any military support.

By David J. LynchMarch 21, 2023

Big banks may get bigger as crisis swamps ‘too big to fail’ worries

The crisis is only going to further concentrate the power of big banks in the United States, the opposite of what many believe is in the country's best interest.

By David J. LynchMarch 19, 2023

After Silicon Valley Bank collapse, Washington asks: Is it to blame?

Fifteen years after a financial meltdown sent the country into a recession, policymakers had vast power to probe a failing firm — yet missed signs of a crisis.

By Tony Romm and Jonathan O'ConnellMarch 17, 2023