Business

U.S. drug makers see big profits — but many pay taxes far below the corporate rate

6:13pm April 12, 2024

by Sydney Lupkin

Drugmakers make big profits in the U.S. But many pay taxes far below the 21% corporate tax rate. Pfizer's effective tax rate is so low it's getting a big refund despite booking $59 billion in revenue.

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, back left, tour the assembly building during a visit to the Honda Aircraft facility in Greensboro

North Carolina welcomes a historic visitor in Japan's Prime Minister Kishida

5:51pm April 12, 2024

by Makiya Seminera, Associated Press

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida cemented economic links and cultural amity with North Carolina on Friday, following up time in Washington during his official U.S. visit by checking up on benchmark Japanese companies building in the ninth-most populous state and later planning to speak with students.

'The Indicator From Planet Money': Can an old law bring down grocery prices?

5:22am April 12, 2024

President Biden's strike force, whose aim is to crack down on unfair or illegal pricing by corporations, could get a boost via a dusty piece of law that some are looking to revive.

Broadband firms must publish all the fees and specifics of their internet plans

5:22am April 12, 2024

by Alina Selyukh

Broadband companies are now required to publish details about internet plans in the form of "nutrition labels" as part of a bid to improve transparency for consumers.

National

How a personal injury lawyer found himself taking on the realty industry

5:44pm April 11, 2024

by Amanda Aronczyk

A lawsuit could change how realtors are paid, potentially lowering costs for buyers and sellers. Here's how a personal injury lawyer unexpectedly took on the U.S.'s biggest professional organization.

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Edmund Garcia, an Iraq War veteran, stands outside his home in Rosharon, Texas. Like many vets, he was told if he took a mortgage forbearance, his monthly payments wouldn't go up afterward.

The VA has its fix for a home loan debacle, but many vets who got hurt won't get help

3:18pm April 11, 2024

The VA halted foreclosures after an NPR investigation found thousands of vets were facing foreclosure and it wasn't their fault. Now the VA's unveiling a rescue plan that leaves some out in the cold.

About a third of all taxpayers are expected to file their returns in the last two weeks before the April 15th deadline.

Five things to know as the tax deadline looms

2:40pm April 11, 2024

by Scott Horsley

April 15th, the deadline to file your income taxes, is just around the corner. Filings so far this year are on track with last year's, while the average refund is slightly larger.

A sign seeking job applicants is seen in the window of a restaurant in Miami, Florida, on May 5, 2023.

National

White-sounding names get called back for jobs more than Black ones, a new study finds

2:27pm April 11, 2024

by Joe Hernandez

Economists sent 83,000 fake job applications to a slew of major U.S. companies, and found that the typical firm favored white applicants over Black ones by around 9%.

How Big Food co-opted the anti-diet movement for profit

5:25pm April 10, 2024

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Sasha Chavkin of The Examination about a new investigation that reveals how major food brands are co-opting the anti-diet movement to sell products.

In this photo illustration, a pack of Lunchables is displayed on Wednesday in San Anselmo, Calif. Consumer Reports is asking for the Department of Agriculture to eliminate Lunchables food kits from the National School Lunch Program after finding high levels of lead, sodium and cadmium in tested kits.

Consumer Reports asks USDA to remove Lunchables from schools' lunch menus

2:56pm April 10, 2024

The group found high levels of sodium and the presence of heavy metals in meal kits it tested. A Kraft Heinz spokesperson said all of its products meet strict safety standards.