Business Economics and Finance

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne)  --  Tens-of-thousands of Tennesseans are still getting unemployment checks one year after the pandemic began forcing layoffs and furloughs.

State labor officials say nearly 55,000 state residents received jobless benefits this past week. Another 10,000 filed first time claims for unemployment aid during the week that ended Saturday.

That’s roughly two to three times higher than average weekly claims before the pandemic began.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne)  --  You’ve got to move fast if you want to buy a home in Nashville.

Real estate company RE/MAX says in its latest Housing Report that Music City homes currently remain on the market for an average of just 21 days. That’s the third lowest Days on Market average in the nation’s 53 largest metro area.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne)  --  Unemployment headed higher in Tennessee this past week, even as national jobless numbers dropped slightly.

The State Department of Labor reports initial unemployment claims fell last week across the U.S, but first time Tennessee jobless claims spiked sharply higher.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) — Nashville Electric is offering new assistance to Metro customers behind on their power bills.

WTVF quotes an NES spokesperson saying the Tennessee Valley Authority has made $16 million available as so-called “rate reduction credits.” NES is passing the full amount on to customers as grants.

Delinquent customers can get up to $650 toward their past due. NES says it currently has some 42,000 customers behind on their power bills, thanks in large part to the pandemic.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) — There was a sobering reminder this week of just how badly mid-state businesses have been hurt by the pandemic.

Ryman Hospitality’s Gaylord Opryland is one of Nashville’s largest employers. The company also owns Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry, and WSM-AM radio.

Ryman released its third quarter financial statement on Tuesday.