Katie Surma –

Asia Brown, right, and co-worker Lekia Wilson grab bottles of bleach as they shop at Pete's Fresh Market in Oak Park on March 19, 2020.

By the numbers: A snapshot of Chicago’s economy six months into the pandemic

January 21, 2021 at 12:52 p.m.

The coronavirus pandemic quickly inflicted damage on Chicago's economy as government shutdowns and social distancing restrictions forced business slowdowns and closures. During a six-month period, hundreds of thousands of area...

Amy Nedoss and her husband Joe sit together in their newly remodeled backyard space, Nov. 5, 2020, in Evanston. She hired Nick Lawson as her contractor for this project, who has seen a bump in business because of the pandemic, both for his work as a contractor and landscaper.

Time to relive the garage parties of your youth. Chicagoans are remodeling outdoor spaces to socialize safely as winter approaches.

November 19, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

After spending months working from home in tight quarters with her two college-aged children, Katie Wrobel began to worry about how the three would make it through winter confined in...

Empty United Airlines ticketing counters are seen Oct. 14, 2020, in Terminal 1 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. United is facing a lawsuit over a promotion that offered a 10% discount to 18- to 22-year-olds.

United Airlines faces age discrimination claims for offering discount only to travelers ages 18 to 22

November 4, 2020 at 3:27 p.m.

United Airlines customers have filed a lawsuit alleging they were the victims of age discrimination, saying they were excluded from a 10% discount offered to 18- to 22-year-olds. The suit,...

Pandemic recession becomes ‘shecession’ as more working moms are forced to quit jobs

November 2, 2020 at 11:32 a.m.

As a social service provider, Colleen Zavodny knows how important it is to take care of her mental health, but the coronavirus pandemic has tested her like nothing else. "I've...

Beam Suntory president and CEO Takeshi Niinami said the company is expected to invest $1 billion in Kentucky over the next five years. The money will come from Japan, Jim Beam's fastest growing market.

Chicago-based maker of Jim Beam agrees to pay $19.6 million in foreign bribery case

October 28, 2020 at 12:20 p.m.

The Chicago-based maker of Jim Beam has agreed to pay about $19.6 million to settle federal criminal charges alleging it paid bribes to Indian government officials to do business in...

Chicago Black executive sues Nielsen, alleging discrimination. She was treated as ‘a walking, talking EEOC charge,’ her lawyer says.

October 28, 2020 at 10:06 a.m.

A longtime Nielsen Holdings executive tasked with improving the company's outreach to Black consumers has filed a civil rights lawsuit alleging the market research firm discriminated against her. Cheryl Grace,...

Customer Ben Armstrong shops Oct. 22, 2020, at Potash Market in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. Potash Market has had trouble securing some products like cleaning products, foil, paper products and sugar.

Chicago-area grocers stock up to ward off shortages as COVID-19 cases rise. ‘We’re always chasing one thing to the next.’

October 25, 2020 at 7:34 a.m.

After shelves were emptied of goods like toilet paper, canned food and hand sanitizer at the start of the pandemic, Chicago-area grocery stores and suppliers are stocking up to avert...

David Haghnaji, owner of Campus Gear in downtown Evanston, stocks another of his locations, The Locker Room, across from Ryan Field, with new Northwestern gear Oct. 15, 2020, ahead of the Big Ten football season.

Big Ten football is back, but COVID-19 crowd bans leave college towns struggling

October 27, 2020 at 3:45 p.m.

During the summer, Campus Gear owner David Haghnaji bought about 200 boxes of sweaters, T-shirts and knickknacks emblazoned with Northwestern University's wildcat logo, despite uncertainty about whether there would be...

Amazon Prime Day may drive nearly $10 billion in sales. ‘We’re going to be in a state of continual sales going forward to Christmas.’

October 13, 2020 at 7:24 p.m.

There's Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that's long been considered the beginning of holiday shopping. And then there are Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, which just may move...

Emily Anderson shops for cards and gifts at Foursided Card Gift & Vintage in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.

Got stamps? The pandemic is fueling a boom for greeting cards offering cheer — and some are pretty cheeky.

October 13, 2020 at 10:23 a.m.

Early this year, Lynda Junge watched her Downers Grove wedding invitation business grind to a halt as the coronavirus pandemic caused couples to postpone their nuptials. On a whim, she...

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