Aybek Izzatov

The Illinois Paradox: Inside the $1.2 Trillion Economy Where Small Business Is Losing Even While the State Wins Illinois' economy just crossed $1.2 trillion, growing nearly 6% in 2025 and outpacing the national average — a headline number that would suggest a golden era for the state's businesses. But beneath the macro data lies a sharper, more complicated story: small business optimism in Illinois trails t...

The Squeeze and the Survival Blueprint: How American Households and Local Businesses Are Adapting to a New Economic Reality According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.5% year-over-year in June 2026, down from a peak of 3.8% in April, with core inflation (excluding food and energy) holding at 2.6%. On paper, nominal wage growth of roughly 3.8% has technically outpaced inflation. But...