Money Matters

McGowan says there is a lot of uncertainty right now with inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain issues. It all has to do with the volatility in the market.

For the past 20 years, Disney parks have let guests skip the line with a FastPass for a specific time, at no extra cost. But taking a cue from regional park operators Six Flags and Cedar Fair, Disney will soon start charging for line skipping.

Alabama’s jobless rate dropped slightly to 3.1 percent last month and average wages increased, signs of what the governor’s office says is the state’s continuing recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Teenagers and college students helped fill the labor shortage for some businesses. In a few weeks, they’ll head back to the classroom and some business owners are concerned.

Many small businesses are applying for the next round of financial help from the government to stay afloat, and waiting to find out if they have to pay back the previous COVID-19 relief loan.

The Alabama Department of Revenue, or ALDOR, issued guidance for taxpayers and employers regarding tax relief measures included in Gov. Kay Ivey’s proclamation.

Traveling steak sales are pulling into parking lots across the country, luring lots of budget-conscious shoppers.

Members of the Alabama Legislature will get a 3.76% raise on Jan.1, bringing the 140 lawmakers’ annual pay to $51,734.

The state finance director said Wednesday his office is working under a Dec. 30 deadline to spend more than $800 million remaining from the more than $1.76 billion federal CARES Act money allocated to the state earlier this year.

With the election now over and two months before a new government is seated, some in Alabama’s congressional delegation say more federal help to states for the coronavirus pandemic could be on the way.