By Bernard E. Anderson, Ph.D.
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Professor Emeritus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and Senior Economic Advisor, National Urban League

Inflation, as measured by the personal consumption expenditure (PCE) index, has slowed significantly, declining from a peak of 7.2 percent in June 2022 to just 2.3 percent over the 12 months ending in October 2024. Core PCE, which excludes food and energy, also eased to 2.8 percent, down from a high of 5.6 percent in February 2022. The data suggest continued progress in stabilizing the economy while avoiding the feared "hard landing."

NEW YORK, NY (December 6, 2024) — As the Biden-Harris administration nears the end of its term, the National Urban League reflects on the transformative economic progress achieved under President Joe Biden’s leadership. Taking office in January 2021 amid significant economic challenges, the administration delivered on its promise to foster an equitable recovery and create opportunities for historically underserved communities.

KeyBank and the KeyBank Foundation proudly announced an investment of $300,000 the Indianapolis Urban League or IUL (Indianapolis, IN) to expand its Entrepreneurship Center Program (ECP).

The ECP was established in 2021 to support entrepreneurs in developing, launching, sustaining, and expanding minority-owned small businesses in Central Indiana and the surrounding counties. This comprehensive program offers both current and prospective small business owners access to in-person and virtual workshops, short-term industry-recognized training credentials, individualized coaching, and resources to help maximize revenue, reduce costs, enhance profitability, and create job opportunities.

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) staff and volunteers distributed over $100,000 in food to families on Tuesday, Nov. 26. 

Urban League's President Michael McMillan said many families are struggling with inflation even with both parents working.

“The cost of food and the cost of what they had been having to survive, whether it's flour, whether it's eggs, milk, cheese, bread, or any number of things–people's income has not matched inflation," said McMillan. "So there are people that are working that are still unable to take care of themselves and their family – People just in general just don't make enough to cover the daily existence – How could we not come together and give something so that everybody can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving holiday?”

On nights like Tuesday, where temperatures drop below freezing, the City of Austin opens its overnight cold weather shelters — but this year there’s a new crew helping run the show.

It comes after a city audit released roughly a year ago showed flaws in how the city was staffing those shelters, including using Parks and Recreation Department employees and other staff with little to no training.

Now, a Central Texas nonprofit, the Austin Area Urban League or AAUL (Auston, TX), does a bulk of the staffing. They’ve worked with the city previously, but taken over staffing this year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 25, 2024) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial unveiled the organization's new "Main Street Tax Initiative" during his recent testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs’ Economic Policy Subcommittee.

“The Main Street Tax Initiative is a roadmap to ensure our tax system reflects our shared values of fairness, equity, and opportunity,” Morial aid. “By expanding critical tax credits, restoring key deductions, and creating targeted incentives, this plan provides the tools needed to uplift hardworking Americans, reduce poverty, and foster economic growth in undercapitalized communities.”

More than 15 years since its founding, Airbnb continues to be an economic lifeline for people around the world with 40 percent of hosts saying the income from hosting helps them stay in their homes. To help ensure more people can benefit from the economic opportunities of hosting and homeownership, Airbnb is expanding partnerships with leading organizations through the Airbnb Housing Council and the Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy.

In January 2024, we launched the Airbnb Housing Council as part of our commitment to partner with governments and communities on the housing challenges they face. Chaired by former mayor of Baltimore Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Council brings together leading independent housing organizations and experts to advise Airbnb on policies, partnerships and initiatives we can support that not only help spur housing supply but also prioritize inclusion and access for all communities.

Michelle Merriweather, President and CEO at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle, WA) was recently named the CEO of the Year by Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis (St. Louis, MO). Chosen from among the 92 Urban League affiliates from across the country, the award outside of being recognized by the National Urban League is one that recognizes the hard work and impact that other Urban League affiliate CEOs are having across the country.

According to Merriweather, who joined ULMS in 2015, the award is an acknowledgment by her peers that she is indeed carrying out the mission of the Urban League that is both meaningful and impactful in the community that she serves.

“It means a lot. St. Louis Urban is literally the gold standard, they are the largest urban league in the country and for Michael McMillan, their CEO, to see me and recognize the work we are doing truly meant a lot,” said Merriweather.