Drop in exports widens nation's trade gap The trade deficit in the U.S. widened in April to the highest level in more than a year as exports fell more than imports. The gap grew 0.6 percent to $40.29 billion, the most since December 2008, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The increase signals that trade will subtract from economic growth this quarter.
Applications for jobless benefits decline Initial unemployment claims fell by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 456,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the third straight drop. However, claims haven't moved below where they stood in January. At the same time, the tally of laid-off workers continuing to claim jobless benefits fell by 255,000 to 4.5 million. That's the largest decline in almost a year.
FBI will investigate iPad security breach A security breach that exposed the e-mail addresses of thousands of users of Apple Inc.'s iPad has sparked a probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The move came after AT&T Inc., which provides wireless service for the tablet device, acknowledged that a security flaw on its website had exposed e-mail addresses of many people who purchased the iPad, which Apple first made available for sale two months ago. A group that calls itself Goatse Security claimed responsibility for the breach to a writer for the Gawker blog on Wednesday and said it was able to access about 114,000 e-mail addresses for iPad users.
Boeing workers back after monthlong strike Boeing Co. workers who assemble C-17 planes returned to work in Long Beach, Calif., after a monthlong strike that shut down production of the military cargo jets in a stalemate over benefits. Union members voted 823-544 Wednesday in favor of the nearly five-year contract that was reached after federal mediators stepped into the standoff last week. The new deal extends Boeing's last proposal by one year and reduces employee health care contributions from the previous offer, which caused nearly all 1,700 unionized workers to walk out May 11.
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