Don Lee writes economic stories out of Washington, D.C. Since joining the Los Angeles Times in 1992, he has served as the Shanghai bureau chief and in various editing and reporting roles in California. Lee previously worked at the Kansas City Star. He is a native of Seoul, Korea, and graduated from the University of Chicago.
Latest From This Author
The surge in borrowing costs hasn’t been a knockout blow for consumers and small businesses, but the pain is real and very personal.
June 28, 2024
In a surprisingly strong economic report, California employers stepped up hiring in May and the state unemployment rate fell for the first time since 2022.
June 21, 2024
The economy has shown some signs of cooling, though job growth remains strong and average wage gains are running slightly above the rate of inflation.
June 12, 2024
After strikes by actors and writers last year, Los Angeles’ entertainment economy is struggling to stage a comeback as production activity, employment and box office revenue are down.
June 10, 2024
Carlsbad-based Rubio’s said it would keep operating 86 remaining restaurants in California, Arizona and Nevada. Employees say they were given no notice.
June 3, 2024
Stubbornly high inflation and interest rates are taking an increasing toll in California. New data show that millennials are feeling the pinch hardest of all.
May 24, 2024
California posted another anemic month of job growth in April, and the state’s unemployment rate remained the highest in the land, at 5.3%.
May 17, 2024
The latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics isn’t likely to lift the grim mood that much of the public has toward an otherwise solid economy.
May 15, 2024
In the wake of the new $20 minimum wage for industry workers, quick-service restaurants in California are accelerating and expanding their use of technology.
May 1, 2024
For the second month in a row, California posted the highest unemployment figure in the country. And it was one of only two states with a jobless rate above 5%.
April 19, 2024