Boston business news from The Boston Report follows the companies, deals, jobs and property decisions that shape the city’s economy. This section covers what is happening downtown and in the neighborhoods: office leasing and vacancy, housing and redevelopment projects, acquisitions of Boston-area companies, and the rules and grants that matter to small business owners. It also looks outward at the markets, trade routes and prices that decide what local businesses pay and earn, from container shipping rates between the United States and Asia to the mergers that move national markets.
Recent coverage includes our Q3 2026 look at the downtown office market, the city’s small business grants and Main Streets programs, wage and sick time rules for small employers, and a report on who profits from higher shipping costs. Every story lists its sources, and where we offer our own view it sits in a section labeled Our Take.
Use the picks below for a quick overview, browse by topic, or scroll to the latest stories, which update automatically. For practical help, see the Boston Small Business Guide; for technology coverage, visit Technology and AI.
Start here: key business stories
Shipping Costs US to Asia Surge: Who Is Profiting and Who Pays
Shipping costs US to Asia are surging in October 2026. See container, tanker, grain and air cargo rates, and who is profiting versus who pays, with sources.
Browse Boston business news by topic
Boston small business
Real estate and development
Markets and economy
Shipping and trade
What we cover
- Boston small business: city grants, licensing and permits, wage and sick time rules, and the local economy as small employers experience it.
- Real estate and development: downtown and Seaport office vacancy, loans and approvals for new housing, and conversions of older buildings.
- Deals and companies: acquisitions, headquarters moves, hiring plans and funding for Boston-area firms.
- Markets, trade and the economy: mergers, shipping costs, energy and national economic data that reach Boston businesses.
Latest Boston business and finance stories
Economics Books Everyone Should Read
Economics is a field that blends theory, history, and data analysis to understand how money, markets, and societies interact. For anyone looking to dive…
March 24, 2026
Understanding Crude Oil Types and Their Uses in Fuel Production
Crude oil is a complex natural resource, varying widely in composition, density, and sulfur content. These variations influence how easily crude can be
March 12, 2026
Report on Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall
Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics is a widely read geopolitical book published in…
March 11, 2026
Elon Musk’s X.com Reshapes U.S. Government Policy Amidst Spending Bill Controversy
In an unprecedented turn of events, Elon Musk’s influence through his social media platform, X.com, has notably impacted U.S. government policy,
December 19, 2024
Elon Musk’s Blueprint for Fiscal Efficiency: Cutting $2 Trillion from U.S. Government Spending
In the midst of the 2024 presidential race, Elon Musk, known for his innovative ventures and critiques of government efficiency, has made headlines with…
October 31, 2024
U.S. Job Market Shows Resilience with Solid Growth Amid Economic Uncertainty: Growth in Key Sectors
The U.S. labor market demonstrated resilience in September 2024, according to the latest Employment Situation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
October 4, 2024How we cover business and finance
We start from published reporting and official sources: company announcements, regulatory filings, city and state documents, and established news organizations. We use AI tools openly to help research and draft, and drafts are checked against their sources before they run. We do not do independent on-the-ground reporting unless a story says so, and we do not give investment advice. Each article links to its sources, and our own analysis is labeled. See our Editorial Policy and Corrections page for the full standards.
Boston business news: frequently asked questions
What does The Boston Report cover in business and finance?
We cover Boston companies, deals, jobs, real estate and small business rules, plus the markets and trade news that affect what local businesses pay and earn. Each story lists its sources.
Where can small business owners find help in Boston?
Start with our Boston Small Business Guide, then read our reports on city grants and Main Streets programs, minimum wage and sick time rules, and the licenses and permits needed to open a restaurant.
What is happening in the downtown Boston office market?
Our Q3 2026 report puts downtown office vacancy at 18.5%, per CBRE. We have also covered an Amazon sublease that puts more than half of One Boston Wharf Road on the market, pushing Seaport office availability to 27.9%.
Why are shipping costs from the US to Asia rising, and who profits?
Our shipping report found that direction matters: Drewry put Shanghai to Los Angeles at $7,624 per container on Oct. 8 but Los Angeles to Shanghai at only $806, and tanker owners are among the biggest winners. See the report for sources and caveats.
Are your business stories written by AI, and is there opinion in them?
We use AI tools openly to help research and draft stories built from published sources, and the founder, Peter Klausz, is responsible for what we publish. Where a piece includes our own view, it sits in a section labeled Our Take. Nothing here is investment advice.
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