The indicators in the April payrolls report tell a near-universal story: America's workers continue to experience the strongest labor market in years — and, by some measures, the best on record.
Why it matters: There is a lot of doom and gloom about the economy, stirred up further in recent weeks by bank failures that raise questions about knock-off economic effects.
But the details of the latest jobs report should put those worries to rest: The labor market is still strong, with plenty of opportunities for workers.
The unemployment rate for Black Americans fell below 5% for the first time ever in April.
By the numbers: The rate peaked at 16.8% in May 2020, and since then has fallen by an astonishing 12.1 percentage points to 4.7% now (though the decline was driven, in part, by a drop in labor force participation among Black workers).
Global food prices rose in April for the first time in a year, according to new figures released Friday by the United Nations' food agency.
Driving the news: Food commodity prices increased about 0.6% in April from March, according to the UN's food price index, which tracks the cost of major food commodities.
Why it matters: With a market value of more than $2.6 trillion, Apple is the most heavily weighted stock in S&P 500 index. Meaning, it influences this measure of the market more than any other.
Nearly half of Americans say they're worried about the safety of the money they have in the bank, a level of anxiety last seen during the financial crisis in 2008, per a Gallup survey out Thursday.
Why it matters: Though most of these folks likely have their money in FDIC-protected bank accounts — where it's safe — the survey results are a sign of diminishing confidence in the finance system, magnified by weeks of relentlessly grim headlines.
The current banking stress will amplify long-term trends toward consolidation, meaning banks are going to keep getting bigger.
The latest: Shares of regional banks continued to drop Thursday, after Canada's Toronto Dominion Bank gave up on a bid for Memphis, Tenn. based regional lender First Horizon, amid the tumult shaking U.S. banks.
Democratic lawmakers unveiled a new bill this week that would allow victims of workplace racial discrimination to file cases in public court, instead of being forced into arbitration.
Why it matters: Forcing these cases into secretive courts — essentially private courtrooms shielded from public view — makes it harder to hold companies or individuals accountable when they violate workers' civil rights, opponents of arbitration argue.
New York and California officials are jointly investigating the NFL over allegations of workplace discrimination and a "hostile work environment" at football league offices, the states' attorneys general announced Thursday.
Driving the news: New York Attorney General Letitia James and California A.G. Rob Bonta are investigating potential violations of federal and state pay equity laws and anti-discrimination laws, as the NFL faces several pending lawsuits filed by women who used to work for the league.
The Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging Utah's new age verification law.
How it works:The state law, which took effect Wednesday, requires adult websites to verify the age of their users in order to access their platforms.
Drew Barrymore announced Thursday that she won't host this weekend's MTV Movie & TV Awards to show "solidarity" with the Writers Guild of America strike.
The big picture: The actress is the latest celebrity to take action to support the writers, who are seeking fair compensation and streaming residuals after negotiations for a labor deal with Hollywood studios broke down.
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