Thursday’s business headlines
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Here’s a look at Thursday’s business headlines.
Farmworkers
Farm and meatpacking workers could get bonuses from the federal government.
The AG department says workers on farms and in meatpacking plants who toiled through the pandemic stand to get $600 bonuses.
The USDA is putting $700 million toward a fund for food workers, in recognition of the personal costs many experienced during the pandemic.
Credit
Average credit scores in the U.S. have continued to climb to a 13-year high.
According to Experian, the average Vantage score climbed to 695 in 2021.
The score jump was supported by fewer missed payments, lower credit use rates, reduced balances and total debt levels.
Solar
The U.S. puts a $562 billion price tag on ramping up solar power.
The Energy Department says the U.S. could get 44% of its electricity from solar energy if it pursues an aggressive agenda.
New infrastructure to accommodate solar power, such as transmission lines and storage batteries, would likely be passed on to utility ratepayers.
Jobless claims
The number of people who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time in the U.S. is predicted to come in around 335,000 for the week ending September 5 from 340,000 for the week before.
That would be the lowest since March 2020.
Enhanced federal jobless benefits expired Monday but the latest report will not reflect that.