Economy

Polls show that despite a healthy job market, a near-record-high stock market and the steady drop in inflation, many Americans blame Biden for high prices.

Internet giant Google was named in documents Thursday as the company behind the potential new $576 million data center in Cedar Rapids’ Big Cedar Industrial Center.

Consumer prices in the United States picked up last month, a sign that inflation remains a persistent challenge for the Federal Reserve and for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, both of which are counting on a steady easing of price pressures this year.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers produced an analysis indicating that the Biden administration’s efforts overall will eliminate $20 billion in annual junk fees. The analysis found that consumers pay about $90 billion a year in junk fees, including for concerts, apartment rentals and auto dealers.

On Tuesday, fresh retail sales data from Mastercard showed that consumers spent big on gifts, meals and apparel in November and December despite inflation's lingering bite.

Compared with a year earlier, prices were up 3.1% in November, down from a 3.2% year-over-year rise in October.

Over the past few decades, green energy projects have surged in Iowa. And bolstered by federal funding, the future of clean energy looks brighter than ever in the Hawkeye State. But it needs more workers. That’s where registered apprenticeship programs and their “earn while you learn” models come into play.

Thursday's announcement follows this year’s 8.7% benefit increase, brought on by record 40-year-high inflation, which pushed up the price of consumer goods.