News

Arizona unemployment rate drops to 8.9%, still at twice pre-COVID levels

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Valley posted one of the steepest unemployment drops in the country in May.

Tips for avoiding coronavirus scams

Whenever there is uncertainty, scammers try to take advantage of the fear and confusion. This is no different during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How faculty and alumni are leading during the COVID-19 crisis

Explore our latest insights, ideas, and information in response to the global health pandemic.

Stay motivated when feedback is scarce

Our sense of self is largely rooted in how other people perceive us. This is what makes limited feedback and fewer kudos so challenging for many of us, according to Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship Blake Ashforth.

Negative interest rates: What they are, how they work, and whether they're coming to the US

A bank might not actually charge savers a negative rate, but it might levy a 'storage fee' that exceeds any positive interest earned, according to Professor of Economics Dennis Hoffman, who's the director of the Seidman Research Institute.

Phoenix real estate entered 2020 on a high, which should ease the pandemic's market impact

How much the Valley's housing market cools will depend on how many people receive benefits from the government stimulus package and if those benefits are enough to help people avoid credit problems, evictions, foreclosures, and taking on more credit-card debt.

'A little bit of chaos': How food supply chain is — and is not — working

Supply Chain Management Professor of Practice Hitendra Chaturvedi talked with Mark Brodie, co-host of KJZZ's The Show, about the implications of meat suppliers testing positive for COVID-19 and farmers dumping milk and letting crops rot.

What unemployment claims tell us about coronavirus job losses

Millions of U.S. workers have filed unemployment applications each week since disruptions became widespread from the coronavirus pandemic. A survey by economics researchers provides more timely and accurate jobless information than the Labor Department's weekly report.

Virtual reality, 'experience zones' part of post-pandemic shopping, ASU professor says

Many big-box retailers like Pier 1, J. C. Penney, and Nordstrom are announcing a permanent closure of some or all of their stores. What will retail shopping look like after the crisis?

Arizonans desperate for extended benefits as DES attempts to keep up with claims

More than 653,000 Valley workers filed for unemployment assistance since the pandemic shut down the state. The Department of Economic Security is struggling to keep up with the high volume of claims — and the demand for help is expected to keep coming.