Business

Civilian unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, for black Americans and for the overall U.S. population (January 2000 to May 2018)

Economy

The Most Surprising Number In Friday's Jobs Report

6:36pm June 01, 2018

by Charlotte Norsworthy

Black unemployment fell to a record low 5.9 percent, suggesting that African-Americans are benefiting from the booming economy. And the gap between white and black unemployment has never been smaller.

The Big Caveat With The Labor Department's Jobs Report

5:55pm June 01, 2018

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Friday is jobs day, when the monthly employment report comes out, but those numbers come with a big asterix, including the massive margin of error, and the revisions. But what does this say about the reports as an economic indicator?

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Economy

To Err Is Human, To Revise Divine

5:28pm June 01, 2018

The monthly jobs report. Economists watch it, financial markets move on it, but it may not be as accurate as you'd think.

Coal stockpiled at a power plant. A draft plan circulating in Washington would require power grid operators to buy electricity from struggling coal plants over the next two years to prevent them from shutting down.

President Trump Orders Help For Coal And Nuclear Plants

5:26pm June 01, 2018

by Jeff Brady

President Trump has ordered Energy Secretary Rick Perry to take immediate steps to help financially troubled coal and nuclear power plants.

U.S. Tariffs On European Steel And Aluminum Lead EU To Open Case With WTO

5:08pm June 01, 2018

The European Union opened a case against the United States at the World Trade Organization on Friday. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks to Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics about the mechanics of arbitrating an international trade dispute.

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The EU will take its complaint over new U.S. tariffs to the World Trade Organization, according to Cecilia Malmström, the European commissioner for trade. Malmström spoke at a news conference Friday in Brussels.

U.S. Steel And Aluminum Tariffs Are 'Illegal,' EU Trade Commissioner Says

2:06pm June 01, 2018

by Bill Chappell

The European Union will take its case to the World Trade Organization. The U.S. tariffs are "pure protectionism," Europe's top trade commissioner said as the measures took effect on Friday.

Truckers Strike Paralyzes Brazil's Economy

Politics & Government

Friday News Roundup - International

1:54pm June 01, 2018

Is the summit with North Korea back on?

A "help wanted" sign hangs on a window of a restaurant in New York City. The U.S. economy gained a stronger-than-expected 223,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate edged down to an 18-year low.

Economy

Unemployment Rate Drops To 3.8 Percent, Lowest Since 2000

1:52pm June 01, 2018

by Chris Arnold

The economy gained a stronger-than-expected 223,000 jobs and the unemployment rate edged down to an 18-year low. President Trump hinted at a strong report more than an hour before its release.

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Employeess at Boeing's factory in North Charleston, S.C., will be represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union.

Boeing Workers At South Carolina Plant Vote To Unionize

1:26pm June 01, 2018

by Bill Chappell

The flight line workers will be represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, despite intense resistance from Boeing.

A digital license plate made by Bay Area company Reviver Auto is displayed at the company's headquarters on May 30 in Foster City, Calif. The plates have the ability to track cars and play ads.

National

Digital License Plates Roll Out In California

12:13pm June 01, 2018

by James Doubek

New digital license plates operate like a Kindle on the back of your car. They can show personalized messages, but also ads. Privacy advocates worry about the implications of their tracking ability.