Economy Archives

Labor Day 2026: Are American Workers Better Off Than When Trump Took Office?

Labor Day 2026: Are American Workers Better Off Than When Trump Took Office?

WASHINGTON DC - American workers are earning bigger paychecks than when President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. But after accounting for inflation, much of that increase has disappeared. Energy costs have risen sharply. Food and housing cost more. Mortgage rates remain near 7 percent. And in Michigan, the labor force

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-07T12:21:09-04:00September 7th, 2026|Economy, Featured|

Diesel Just Hit A Record $5.85 — Here’s Why Everything In Michigan Could Get More Expensi

Diesel Just Hit A Record $5.85 — Here’s Why Everything In Michigan Could Get More Expensi

The U.S.-Iran war has helped drive diesel prices to record territory, creating another inflation threat for Michigan as higher fuel costs ripple through trucking, agriculture, manufacturing and eventually consumer prices. LANSING - Michigan consumers may be watching gasoline prices this Labor Day weekend. Michigan businesses should be watching diesel. The national average price of diesel

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-06T14:14:08-04:00September 6th, 2026|Economy|

Michigan Has A 4.9% Unemployment Rate — So Why Can’t Businesses Find Workers?

Michigan Has A 4.9% Unemployment Rate — So Why Can’t Businesses Find Workers?

Michigan has hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers. Small businesses say they still can't find qualified people to hire. New employment data help explain why both things can be true at the same time. LANSING - Michigan appears to have a labor-market contradiction. The state's unemployment rate stood at 4.9% in July, compared with 4.1%

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-04T12:50:30-04:00September 4th, 2026|Economy|

Tariffs Could Cost U.S. Families $1,100 A Year — What Michigan Consumers Could Pay

Tariffs Could Cost U.S. Families $1,100 A Year — What Michigan Consumers Could Pay

As tariffs raise prices on vehicles and consumer goods, the cost of President Trump's trade policies is becoming an issue in Michigan's Rogers-El-Sayed U.S. Senate race. ANN ARBOR — President Donald Trump's trade battles are increasingly moving from factory floors and international negotiating tables to someplace much closer to home: the family budget. Current U.S.

By Mike Brennan|2026-08-30T10:37:11-04:00August 30th, 2026|Economy|

Michigan Is America’s No. 6 State For Business — So Why Isn’t Its Economy Growing Faster?

Michigan Is America’s No. 6 State For Business — So Why Isn’t Its Economy Growing Faster?

Part 1 of 2: Michigan has climbed near the top of America's business rankings, but its economy, workforce and population continue to lag national growth. Next week, MITechNews asks Michigan economists and economic-development officials why. ANN ARBOR - Michigan has once again been ranked the sixth-best state in America for business, according to CNBC's 2026

By Mike Brennan|2026-08-29T15:37:06-04:00August 29th, 2026|Economy|

Trump’s Canada Trade War Could Close Michigan Auto Plants, Economist Warns

Trump’s Canada Trade War Could Close Michigan Auto Plants, Economist Warns

Michigan could be hit “coming and going” as Canada prepares retaliatory tariffs and President Trump threatens 50% tariffs on Canadian vehicles and auto parts. DETROIT — President Donald Trump says tariffs on Canada will protect American manufacturing and encourage companies to move production and jobs to the United States. But an escalating U.S.-Canada trade war

By Mike Brennan|2026-08-30T16:11:30-04:00August 27th, 2026|Auto Tech, Economy, Featured|

17 Of Michigan’s 18 Regional Labor Markets Report Smaller Workforces

17 Of Michigan’s 18 Regional Labor Markets Report Smaller Workforces

Michigan's statewide labor force is down 124,000 from a year ago as West Michigan growth slows and tariffs, oil prices and uncertainty squeeze businesses GRAND RAPIDS - Michigan's workforce is shrinking — and the problem stretches across nearly the entire state. Seventeen of Michigan's 18 regional labor markets reported smaller workforces in June than a

By Mike Brennan|2026-08-10T13:47:35-04:00August 10th, 2026|Economy|

MICHIGAN’S NEXT ECONOMY – Pentagon Pushes Weapons Production As Iran War Drains Arsenal — Could Michigan Capture Billions?

MICHIGAN’S NEXT ECONOMY – Pentagon Pushes Weapons Production As Iran War Drains Arsenal — Could Michigan Capture Billions?

GM, Ford and thousands of Michigan suppliers could compete for new defense business — and potentially new manufacturing, engineering, AI and skilled-trades jobs — as Washington races to rebuild depleted weapons inventories. ANN ARBOR - The Iran war has exposed a potentially dangerous weakness in America's military: the United States can fire some of its

By Mike Brennan|2026-08-09T14:10:12-04:00August 9th, 2026|Economy|

Michigan Workers Lose Ground As Jobs Stall And Inflation Eats Wages

Michigan Workers Lose Ground As Jobs Stall And Inflation Eats Wages

DETROIT — Michigan workers are getting squeezed between a weakening job market and rising living costs, with private-sector employment down about 22,000 jobs over the past two years and inflation-adjusted hourly wages still 2.7% below where they were seven years ago. New federal data released Friday add to the warning signs. U.S. employers unexpectedly cut

By Mike Brennan|2026-08-07T14:38:42-04:00August 7th, 2026|Economy, Government/Politics, Politics, Politics/Government|

Pentagon Munitions Concerns Reach White House As Iran War Strains U.S. Arsenal

Pentagon Munitions Concerns Reach White House As Iran War Strains U.S. Arsenal

Analysts warn rebuilding key missile stockpiles could take years, raising questions about America's readiness for a second major conflict WASHINGTON – The United States has enough weapons to continue military operations against Iran, defense analysts say. The larger concern is what happens if another major conflict erupts before America can rebuild its depleted inventories of precision-guided

By Mike Brennan|2026-08-06T18:02:42-04:00August 6th, 2026|Economy, News|