All Economy
FocusA robotaxi, a collision, and the bumpy road to an AI futureA collision in San Francisco was initiated by humans but also highlights safety hurdles for driverless cars 鈥� and regulation鈥檚 role in public trust.
First LookAntitrust suit stalls JetBlue deal in bid to save low-cost SpiritJetBlue鈥檚 effort to buy Spirit Airlines has momentarily stalled because of an antitrust lawsuit in federal court. Justice Department officials say the deal will hurt flyers who rely on Spirit鈥檚 rock-bottom fares.
First LookDeal reached: GM reaches tentative agreement with UAW to end strikeAn agreement between General Motors,聽Ford, and Jeep-maker Stellantis and the聽United Auto Workers union would include 25% general pay raises and cost of living adjustments.聽UAW President Shawn Fain聽called the deal 鈥渁 turning point in the class war.鈥�
First LookWashington's fix for empty downtown offices? Convert them to housing.The Biden administration is encouraging cities to convert聽empty office buildings into housing units, making billions of federal dollars available, as downtowns continue to struggle with few in-person workers compared to before the pandemic.
First LookFord cut a deal with UAW. It could set tone for GM, Stellantis talks.Striking auto workers have reached a tentative contract with Ford after six weeks of talks. The deal still has to be approved by the union, but does not apply to the other two automakers, where work stoppages continue.
Why striking UAW is so public about wanting more 鈥� despite big offersThe United Auto Workers union has won big concessions in its strike so far. Yet it鈥檚 demanding more 鈥� and publicly, rather than behind closed doors. Experts say it鈥檚 to impress nonunion autoworkers and win them over.
First LookAs oil prices rise, drillers spend: Chevron buys Hess for $53 billionMajor oil drillers are looking for new investments as oil prices surge. Chevron buying Hess Corporation for $53 billion comes less than two weeks after Exxon Mobile said it would acquire Pioneer Natural Resources for about $60 billion.聽
How world averted a grain shortage, despite Ukraine warIn place of last year鈥檚 panic over rising prices, global wheat prices are falling. While food insecurity remains, especially in conflict zones, the progress is a sign of the farm sector鈥檚 resilience.
First LookWorkplace gender gap study earns Claudia Goldin historic Nobel winClaudia Goldin helped explain the historical roots of the workplace and wage gaps faced by women around the world.聽She is the third woman to be awarded聽the Nobel economics prize, and the first to be the sole winner.聽
Big Tech monopolies? Amazon suit broadens an antitrust revival.Are consumers harmed by the dominance of Amazon, Google, and Facebook?聽Their market power stirs renewed antitrust activism, even if the charges against them may be difficult to prove.
First LookHealth care workers on strike in five states. What do they want?More than 75,000 nurses and technicians are picketing Kaiser Permanente hospitals in five states, pushing for staff and wage increases. Appointments and non-urgent procedures may be temporarily delayed, but聽hospitals and emergency rooms will stay open.
Behind impasse in Congress: Rising deficits, record debtThe risk of a government shutdown has elements of political theater.聽But behind the unfinished drama are difficult challenges of debt and deficits.
Cover Story鈥楤idenomics鈥� boosts blue-collar jobs and green energy. Do voters care?Good jobs and reliable infrastructure propel prosperity. People notice when they鈥檙e missing but don鈥檛 always remember them in the voting booth.聽
FocusRebuilding after wildfire: Help is scarcest for those who need it mostAfter a major wildfire, low-income residents are the ones who find insurance and loans hardest to access. That鈥檚 a challenge for the whole community.
Workers expand strike against automakers amid dueling visionsStriking U.S. autoworkers say their pay has stagnated while executive compensation has soared. The companies emphasize the uncertainty to be faced in a period of innovation and transition.
First LookMurdoch, controversial media giant, to be succeeded by son at Fox NewsRupert Murdoch, the Australian media magnate whose creation of Fox News made him a force in American politics, is stepping down as leader of both Fox Corp. and News Corp. His son, Lachlan Murdoch, will control both companies.
Why 鈥榦ut of control鈥� tipping persists 鈥� for nowSurveys show Americans are souring on tipping, especially as technology permits more frequent requests, aka 鈥渢ip creep.鈥�
First LookHistoric auto worker strike hits all three Detroit automakersThousands of auto workers walked out at midnight Friday after contract negotiations failed to make progress. The limited strike, which currently affects three Midwest assembly plants, is the first to affect all three Detroit automakers聽simultaneously.
UAW strike: Why a Detroit labor dispute runs through the SouthLabor unions have been winning big pay gains this year. In the auto industry, nonunion factories in the South and the rise of electric vehicles have complicated the situation.
The ExplainerIs the 鈥榢ing of search鈥� too dominant? Inside US lawsuit against Google.Is Google using its clout to maintain a monopoly over internet search? An antitrust lawsuit has big implications for competition in the tech industry.