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China’s Economy Stumbles in the Fog of Covid War

China’s economic engine has shuddered in recent months, hurt by lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of Covid. Housing sales sagged. Many shops and restaurants in some cities shuttered, some […]




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Japan’s Economy Shrank 1 Percent as Consumers Fled Covid

TOKYO — Last December, after two years of stop-and-go growth, Japan’s economic engine seemed like it might finally be revving up. Covid cases were practically nonexistent. Consumers were back on […]




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China’s Covid Lockdowns Stir Memories of a Planned Economy

Yang Wenhui should be a proud example of China’s rise from economic rubble to global powerhouse.Growing up poor, he ate so much cabbage that he didn’t touch it again for […]




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Pandemic’s Economic Impact Is Easing, but Aftershocks May Linger

The pandemic’s grip on the economy appears to be loosening. Job growth and retail spending were strong in January, even as coronavirus cases hit a record. New York, Massachusetts and […]




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January 2022 Jobs Report: Strong Gains Show Resilient Economy

A record-setting spike in coronavirus cases kept millions of workers at home in January and disrupted businesses from coast to coast. But it couldn’t knock the U.S. job-market recovery off […]




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Why the January Jobs Report May Disappoint, and Is Sure to Perplex

The January jobs report is arriving at a critical time for the U.S. economy. Inflation is rising. The pandemic is still taking a toll. And the Federal Reserve is trying […]




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U.S. Economy Grew 1.7% in 4th Quarter, Capping a Strong Year

A Gallup survey conducted this month found that Americans view the economy more negatively than positively — with only 29 percent saying that the economy is improving, while 67 percent […]




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Omicron’s Economic Toll: Missing Workers, More Uncertainty and Higher Inflation (Maybe)

Covid-related absences are creating headaches for businesses that were struggling to hire workers even before Omicron. Restaurants and retail stores have cut back hours. Broadway shows called off performances. Airlines […]




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Zero-Covid Policy Shakes Hong Kong’s Economy and Its ‘Soul’

HONG KONG — Perry Lam felt confident that his business had weathered the worst of the pandemic. Several rounds of bar closures in Hong Kong had dimmed the city’s vibrant […]