Business News

February US wholesale prices unchanged showing inflation easing, though trade wars threaten trend

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale inflation decelerated last month, suggesting that price pressures are easing. The Labor Department reported Thursday that its producer price index — which tracks inflation before it reaches consumers — was unchanged from January after rising 0.6% the month before.  The readout comes as President Donald Trump ramps up his trade with a wide range of U.S. trade partners. 

IRS swaps its chief counsel for a lawyer friendly with DOGE, AP sources say

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service’s acting chief counsel, William Paul, has been removed from his role at the agency and replaced by Andrew De Mello, an attorney in the chief counsel’s office who is deemed supportive of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to two people familiar with the plans who were not authorized to speak publicly. 

Vaccinating poultry could help cut soaring egg prices but US remains hesitant

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Vaccines could be a key means of suppressing bird flu and avoiding the slaughter of millions of chickens, which is blamed for egg prices averaging nearly $5 a dozen. But the move has been delayed in part because of concerns it could jeopardize chicken exports that totaled nearly $4.7 billion last year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to spend $100 million to study bird flu and consider vaccines and other strategies to fight the disease in concert with meat chicken, egg and turkey groups. Chicken meat producers remain the most resistant to vaccines.

One Tech Tip: Wasting too much time on social media apps? Tips and tricks to curb smartphone use

LONDON (AP) — If you’ve got a smartphone, you probably spend too much time on it. It can be hard to curb excessive use of smartphones and social media, which are addictive by design but there are tips and tricks. First, delete any apps you’ve been wasting time on. You can always install them if you need to. Also, both iPhones and Android devices have onboard controls to help regulate screen time. Change your phone display to grayscale from color so that it doesn’t look so exciting. There are also many third-party apps, like Jomo, Opal, Forest, Roots and LockMeOut that are designed to cut down screen time.

FTC reverses its request for a delay in an Amazon trial, says it has resources to litigate the case

A lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission has walked back his comments about a lack of resources and staff turnover interfering with the agency’s preparations for a trial involving Amazon’s Prime program. FTC lawyer Jonathan Cohen asked a federal judge during a hearing on Wednesday to delay the September trial and relax deadlines in the case, citing budgetary and staffing shortfalls. But Cohen did an about-face later in the day, telling a U.S. District judge in a brief letter that the statements he made in court were incorrect. In a statement sent to The Associated Press on Thursday, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson also said “the attorney was wrong.”

Spirit Airlines exits bankruptcy protection as travel demand slows

NEW YORK (AP) — Discount carrier Spirit Airlines has emerged from bankruptcy protection. The budget airline — known for its no-frills, low-cost flights on a fleet of yellow planes — said this week that its parent, Spirit Aviation Holdings, exited Chapter 11 after finalizing debt restructuring. The reorganization plan, which received the court greenlight last month, aims to bring the carrier back to profitability and boost resources to compete with rivals. Spirit filed for bankruptcy back in November, following years of struggles and mounting debt as it failed to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Florida-based company was particularly hit hard by rising operating expenses and stiffer competition.

Don’t click on those road toll texts. FBI issues fresh warning about the smishing scam

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is warning Americans not to respond to scam road toll collection texts after receiving more than 2,000 complaints this month. The texts impersonating state road toll collection agencies are attempting to get phone users to reveal financial information, such as credit or debit cards or bank accounts. They’re so-called smishing scams — a form of phishing that relies on SMS texts to trick people into sending money or share sensitive information.