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Economy
Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
6:06pm
Mon Jun 10

Report: Future U.S. Economic Growth In Jeopardy Due To Youth Unemployment Crisis

More than 10 million Americans under the age of 25 are out of work or underemployed.

And a new recently-released report from the Center for American Progress warns that the youth unemployment crisis will deliver a significant and long-lasting blow to the country's future economic growth if lawmakers do not adequately address it soon.

"The labor market has failed these kids," said Jack Wuest, executive director of the Chicago-based Alternative Schools Network. "And the private sector doesn't want to deal with them."

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Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
4:38pm
Fri Jun 7

Half Of America’s Seniors Have Dangerously Low Incomes, New Report Shows

Nearly half of the country’s senior citizens are economically vulnerable, a new report from the Economic Policy Institute finds.

About 19.9 million, or 48 percent, of America’s seniors have incomes that are less than two times the supplemental poverty line, according to the report.

Jo Reed, director of the Elder Economic Security Initiative at Wider Opportunities for Women, said it is often poorly understood just how economically vulnerable older adults are, particularly women and people of color. Senior debt levels are also reaching record levels, she explained.

“We want to call attention to this reality, and based on this do everything we can to ensure that there are programs and policies in place that bolster the economic security for our elderly,” Reed said.

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PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
3:59pm
Fri Jun 7

Walmart Workers Call For A Living Wage, Better Work Conditions (VIDEO)

When Larry Born’s privately-owned retail business closed its doors during the recession in 2009, he sought employment at Walmart. He said he didn’t know it at the time, but he walked into a “predatory employer” that pays “slave wages.” Born was one of nearly 100 people who protested outside Chicago’s Walmart Express store, at 570 West Monroe St., to demand better wages and improved working conditions for the employees of the world’s largest retailer.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
10:11am
Fri Jun 7

Consumer Advocates Say Payday Lending Worsens Debt, Call For Federal Ban

Consumer advocates are calling for a ban on all types of payday lending, saying that without regulatory federal laws, millions of borrowers charged triple-digit annual percentage rates (APR) will continue to be trapped in never-ending cycles of debt.

“Payday lenders destroy wealth in the middle class,” said Robert Lawless, co-director of the University of Illinois Program on Law, Behavior and Social Science.

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