At its core, a trade war happens when countries impose tariffs or other trade barriers on each other in retaliation. It’s basically an economic showdown. The goal? To protect domestic industries, but it often backfires. Countries hit each other with higher import taxes, and these costs trickle down to businesses and everyday consumers. When the […]

During the long and tranquil period for inflation that ended with COVID, 18 states passed legislation requiring employers to pay a minimum wage that automatically increases every year to protect their lowest-income workers from inflation. With inflation surging to 7 percent in 2021 and running even higher this year, the cost-of-living increases are paying up. […]