Economy

Senate President Steve Sweeney talked about a variety of issues related to the state budget, including the possibility of reviving a revenue boosting bill that Gov. Christie has already vetoed three times.

A new report by the Economic Policy Institute's Economic Analysis and Research Network finds the income gap between the top one percent of wage earners in New Jersey and the other 99 percent is getting wider.

The snowy and very cold winter has put somewhat of a freeze on economic activity, but the effects shouldn't hurt most businesses in the long run. Once New Jersey and the rest of the nation begin to thaw, it's expected many affected businesses will see some of their losses recovered.

States across the country, including New York, are finding new and innovative ways to lure corporations, entrepreneurs, investors and developers, something the Garden State isn't doing enough of according to state business leaders.

While snow plowing companies and hardware stores have seen a weather-related "bounce" in sales, restaurants are finding it harder to fill up their tables.

Cold weather and higher-than-usual amounts of snowfall across much of the country have hampered post-holiday shopping and spending in the beginning of the year.

Many financial experts were predicting a strong economic bounceback at the beginning of 2014, but so far the job creation report has been disappointing, the stock market has been on a roller coaster ride and consumer spending has slowed.

The unemployment rate in New Jersey is 7.3 percent, but that could be heading south in 2014.

Treacherous weather conditions in New Jersey and across the country don't only have an effect on the roads and schools. Frigid temperatures, and one storm after another, also send a shock into the overall economy.

What will or should be the most pressing issue for New Jersey in 2014? The top lawmaker in the legislature said this year should be all about job creation and economic growth.