College graduates face toughest job market in more than a decade as hiring slows

WASHINGTON (AP) — Young people graduating from college this spring and summer are facing one of the toughest job markets in more than a decade. The unemployment rate for degree holders ages 22 to 27 has reached its highest level in a dozen years, excluding the coronavirus pandemic. Joblessness among that group is higher than the overall unemployment rate, and the gap is larger than it's been in more than three decades. That worries many economists as well as officials at the Federal Reserve because it could be an early sign of trouble for the economy. It suggests businesses are holding off on hiring new workers because of rampant uncertainty stemming from the Trump administration’s tariff increases

Key Medicaid provision in Trump's tax cut and spending bill is found to violate Senate rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate parliamentarian has advised a Medicaid provider tax overhaul central to President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill doesn't adhere to procedural rules. It’s a blow to Republicans rushing to finish the package this week. The guidance from the parliamentarian is rarely ignored and forces GOP leaders to consider options. Republicans could try to revise it or strip it from the package. Otherwise, the provision could be challenged during floor votes. Democrats are unified against the Republican president's bill. And even GOP senators warn the tax change would hurt rural hospitals.

US economy shrank 0.5% between January and March, worse than 2 earlier estimates had revealed

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy shrank at a 0.5% annual pace from January through March as President Donald Trump’s import taxes at least temporarily disrupted business, the Commerce Department reported Thursday in a a downgrade from its previous estimate. First-quarter growth sank under a surge of imports as companies in the United States rushed to bring in foreign goods before Trump could impose tariffs on them. The Commerce Department previously estimated that the economy fell 0.2% in the first quarter. The January-March drop in gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — reversed a 2.4% increase in the last three months of 2024 and marked the first time in three years that the economy contracted.

Buy Now, Pay Later loans will soon affect some credit scores

NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of millions of ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ loans will soon affect credit scores for millions of Americans. Scoring company FICO said Monday that it is rolling out a new scoring model that factors the short-term loans into their consumer scores. Previously, the loans had been excluded, though Buy Now, Pay Later company Affirm began voluntarily reporting new pay-in-four loans to Experian, a separate credit bureau, in April. Typically, with Buy Now, Pay Later loans, consumers pay for a given purchase in four installments over six weeks, in a model more similar to layaway than to a credit card.

States can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, the Supreme Court rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — South Carolina's Republican governor is celebrating a Supreme Court ruling allowing states to block the country’s biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid money for health services such as contraception and cancer screenings. South Carolina argued no public money should go to Planned Parenthood, even if it’s not paying for abortions. Planned Parenthood says patients go there for other things, including pregnancy testing. Gov. Henry McMaster says Thursday’s 6-3 ruling is a victory for South Carolina. A research organization that supports abortion rights calls the ruling a “decimation of access to reproductive health care.”

How to manage ADHD at work and turn it into a strength

NEW YORK (AP) — Having ADHD can pose challenges at work. Common symptoms include trouble concentrating and sitting still. Inattention and hyperactivity also may impact memory, planning and organization. Adults with the disorder may find it difficult to meet deadlines and to contribute during meetings. But ADHD can also be a source of creativity and unique contributions. Some people think of having ADHD as a superpower. Experts share tips on how to thrive in the workplace and turn neurodiversity into a strength.

Music history is littered with projects planned, anticipated, even completed — and then scrapped

NEW YORK (AP) — Bruce Springsteen isn't the only musician to complete or launch anticipated album projects, then to see it never see the light of day. Springsteen is releasing the “Tracks II: The Lost Albums” box set with reams of so-called lost music on Friday. There are many reasons for albums to be abandoned. Those include perfectionist or easily distracted artists, nervous record executives, and sometimes material that is literally lost. Dr. Dre, the Beach Boys, Prince, Green Day, Neil Young and others all had their stories. But as Springsteen notes in explaining while one of discs was dropped: “I always put them away, but I don't throw them away.”

Reeling from Trump rebukes, Europe weighs deeper ties with China

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The European Union is reassessing its ties with China strained relations with the United States. Tensions with the U.S., including trade wars and shifting alliances, have pushed EU leaders to explore reducing reliance on Washington. China sees this as an opportunity to strengthen its relationship with Europe, especially as both face economic challenges. EU-China trade is significant, but concerns over trade deficits, human rights, and geopolitical tensions complicate deeper cooperation. An upcoming summit in July may signal future collaboration, though major agreements seem unlikely. Meanwhile, the U.S. warns Europe against closer ties with Beijing, fearing weakened Western unity.

US stocks climb to the brink of a record

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are climbing toward the brink of another record. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Thursday and is just 0.3% below its all-time high, which was set in February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 280 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6%. McCormick helped lead the market after the seller of cooking spices delivered a better-than-expected profit report. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market following a couple of better-than-expected reports on the U.S. economy, including on jobless claims and orders for long-lasting manufactured goods. Stock indexes were mixed across much of Europe and Asia.

GE Appliances moves washing machine production from China to Kentucky with $490 million investment

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — GE Appliances has announced a nearly half-billion-dollar project that will create 800 jobs and shift production of clothes washers from China to its manufacturing complex in Kentucky. The company said Thursday that the $490 million investment positions it to rank as the biggest U.S. manufacturer of washing machines. GE Appliances says the project will move production of a combo washer/dryer and a lineup of front load washers from China to Louisville. It says the new manufacturing lines will open in 2027. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump attempts to lure factories back to the United States by imposing tariffs on foreign goods.