Economy

There was lots of good news on the economic front this week. Consumers are spending more money and fewer people are getting laid off.

Calls about "extended auto warranties" blow up our phones over and over. But where did these calls begin? And what are they actually offering?

The resounding vote against forming a union at an Amazon warehouse in Alabama is a blow to the labor movement. It has glimmers of hope but in the private sector unions are rare and mostly weak.

Science labs across the country are running low on crucial equipment. Our Planet Money team investigated what is behind the supply shortage.

Mobile home owners right now are twice as likely as other homeowners to be behind on housing payments. And some are losing their homes over small amounts of rent they owe for land the home sits on.

ABC News named Kimberly Godwin as president. She will be the first Black American leader of a major broadcast news division. Her hiring comes at a time of significant turnover in TV news post-Trump.

It's been a catastrophic 12 months for movie theaters. It has also been a banner year for diversity at the Oscars — but it's going to take some work to make it permanent.

Retail sales soared in March, as vaccinations and $1,400 relief payments boosted shoppers' outlook. New state unemployment claims also fell to their lowest level since the pandemic took hold.

Retail sales jumped nearly 10% in March, as shoppers, flush with $1,400 relief payments, are feeling more confident about venturing out. Weekly unemployment claims dropped to a pandemic low.

As automakers from General Motors to Volkswagen bet big on an electric future, fears are rising about whether the world's supply of batteries can keep up.