We break down complex business news to help you understand how money moves in Chicago and how it affects you.
Money guides
While it’s too early to tell when home loans will become more affordable, even a modest drop can make refinancing an attractive option.
Got a consumer problem? Help is out there. Keep this list for the next time you have an intractable issue with a retailer or service provider.
It’s not uncommon to receive an unexpected windfall this time of year thanks to a bonus from work or a tax refund. Whatever the circumstances, it’s easy to make costly mistakes.
When big storms hit, basements fill with stormwater and sewage. But there are steps that you and also government can take to help stay above water.
Understanding the different labels on egg cartons can be confusing with some descriptions even misleading, according to experts.
The way inflation is measured masks certain costs that add to the prices that consumers pay every day. Not surprisingly, higher costs mean lower consumer confidence, no matter what Americans are told about an improving economy.
Lab tests of hemp products sold in Chicago showed wildly varying levels of THC and unexpected cannabinoids in edibles and flowers. Lawmakers are calling for the items to be regulated.
Apple’s $29 AirTags have become popular items since their 2021 release, helping users keep tabs on the location of anything from keys to luggage.
Open bills you receive in the mail, read them and report any discrepancies to Medicare and other health partners, Mary Mitchell writes.
High-cost consumer loans with interest high as 200% have plummeted since a state law passed in March 2021 put a ceiling on interest rates at 36%.
Housing & Development
Illinois’ Black residents are nearly eight times more likely to be homeless than its white residents, University of Illinois Chicago study found.
Loop's weekend foot traffic exceeds level before pandemic, but retail vacancies still at record high
The Chicago Loop Alliance released its latest report on the Loop, finding that it offered some signs of a revival.
A Chicago couple has invested at least $4.2 million into building a home on a lot once owned by the wife of convicted political fixer Tony Rezko.
MV Realty targeted people who had equity in their homes but needed cash — locking them into decadeslong contracts carrying hidden fees, the Illinois attorney general says in a new lawsuit.
We all love sports teams, but regular people don’t own the buildings or the land they frolic upon. We just pay homage to the teams — and to the power-laden who own them.
Some towns say they’re already overburdened. Nonprofit organizations working to help migrants say suburbs could pass the money to them.
The Logan Square restaurant’s take on the pan-fried noodle dish, a popular street food in Malaysia, stays true to its roots.
Launched within the last four years, Alexander James, Bull Young Bourbon and Renard Whiskey are carving out space in a historically exclusive industry.
The abrupt closure of the grocers affects dozens of local vendors — from those selling cold brew to Japanese rice balls.
In a vote Monday, 98% of voters at UChicago moved in favor of representation by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), which represents staffers at Northwestern.
Parachute, their beloved dining gem in Avondale, is dead. But the pioneering duo have set their sights on what comes next.
He fed hungry steelworkers from the nearby U.S. Steel South Works plant, taking off just two days a year — Christmas and Thanksgiving. But his kids would join him and help out at the restaurant.
More business news
A U.S. lawsuit against financial firm Think Finance alleged the firm deceived borrowers into repaying loans they did not owe. The CFPB’s victims relief fund will disburse $384 million to 191,000 customers across 17 states.
The Wall Street Journal said the sale could fetch between $3 billion to $5 billion.
The plaintiff’s lawyers argue the drug degraded into NDMA when exposed to hot, humid conditions. A Boehringer Ingelheim executive testified refrigeration was never required in any stage of production, transport or sale.
Once the richest person in Illinois, Ken Griffin pulled out in 2022, months after complaining about the city’s crime, saying “there is nowhere, where you can feel safe.”
The Small Business Administration released its annual scorecard measuring how well federal agencies meet their small business contracting goals each year.
The executive, a medical doctor who oversaw drug safety for decades at drugmaker GSK, repeatedly pushed back on the claim that the popular heartburn drug causes cancer.
Five event production companies, nearly all based in Chicago, will be throwing the official parties for the Democratic National Convention in August.
The contract would include raises across the union body — including annual wage increases — a new minimum wage of $19.23, insurance for part-time employees, two weeks of paid leave for gender-affirming care, a union rights clause and protections against layoffs, among other things.
Chicago riders may now find a blue check mark under their name, as part of Uber’s rider verification process.
In an open letter, staff cited work-life imbalance, financial struggles and lack of communication from management, among other grievances, as reasons for unionizing.
Before sentencing Helen G. Caldwell, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said, “The only difference between Ms. Caldwell and a bank robber is that she didn’t have a mask and a gun.”
Owners Javier and Lidia Galindo have operated Apollo’s 2000 for more than 35 years. Now, they’re ready for the venue to enter its next era as a city-designated landmark.
The company, known for its ice cream stores and milk packaged in glass bottles, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Philip Clement, who succeeds Michael Fassnacht, is tasked with promoting Chicago as a destination for businesses.
There are a few ways to make sure you have enough coverage before a car accident puts you at risk.
Since the 1990s, countless shoppers have scored eye-popping deals on a range of goods found in giant cardboard boxes and on warehouse-style shelves.
“I just feel like I’m going to die paying off my student loans,” said one high school counselor in Southeast Chicago after the president introduced a plan to aid nearly 25 million more student loan borrowers. But a borrower in Pilsen said the program could “radically change my life.”
The new required pricing labels are modeled on nutritional labels and are meant to help consumers comparison shop and avoid junk fees.
A substitute ordinance brings more transparency to Johnson’s $1.25 billion housing and economic development plan — but also led to questions from City Council members about what should be subject to Council approval.
Union members picketed at 17 airports worldwide, including O’Hare, a week after the Chicago-based airline reported that executives received large pay hikes.
Kove, a West Loop technology company, alleged in a 2018 lawsuit that Amazon Web Services used its patented technology as a building block for its hugely profitable cloud services.
The Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards unanimously passed an ordinance that would allow the Ricketts family — owners of the Cubs — to install new rooftop signs near Wrigley Field.
The governor announced the second phase of the Illinois Grocery Initiative, which includes a round of grant funding for new grocers in food deserts.
How is the economy doing? And how does the U.S. financial system really work? Goolsbee answers those questions and more.
Any increase in restaurant costs can mean the difference between keeping the doors open or closing for good. And many tipped workers already make far more than minimum wage.
If you bought meat, poultry, pork or seafood sold by weight or bagged citrus fruits at Walmart, you could be eligible to claim up to $500. Here’s what you need to know.
Los trabajadores de Authentico Foods dijeron que los despidos era una represalia por haberse organizado y quejarse de las condiciones de trabajo.
The state has become one of an increasing number of states that have added financial literacy to its core curriculum, but experts say more could be done.
Nearly every major web browser has a private mode. Here’s a look at what they do and don’t do for surfers.
The deal includes a 15% wage increase and improved health care and retirement benefits, the union said. It was ratified a day before the current contract expires.
The opening day for the market featured double the number of early season vendors, many of whom sold out in the market’s first few hours as crowds flocked to purchase farm fresh produce.
The MacArthur Foundation weighed in on the announced cuts to the public media company this week. Meanwhile, a City Council member was harshly critical of the move.
City’s Black entrepreneurs recall Dale’s generosity and support.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s “Cut the Tape” report takes aim at bureaucracy that bogs down building in the city.
The Chicago Public Library and other systems have long had unions, but now the organizing is happening against a backdrop of unprecedented pressure on workers.