
Stocks nosedive as investors fret over signs of U.S. economic slowdown
CBSN
Stocks tumbled after fresh economic signals raised concerns about the outlook for U.S. growth.
The Department of Labor on Thursday released data showing that initial claims for unemployment benefits rose to 249,000 last week, topping analyst forecasts and reaching the highest level since August of 2023. Although layoffs around the country remain modest, some investors worry that the recent jump in jobless claims could be a prelude to a sharper drop in payrolls later this year.
New purchasing managers data also shows that manufacturers are weakening as they grapple with higher interest rates, while a growing number of companies reporting corporate earnings are pointing to softer consumer spending.

Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church, a megachurch in Southlake, Texas, has been indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, stemming from alleged incidents dating back to the 1980s, the Oklahoma attorney general's office announced Wednesday. We are aware of the actions being taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for their actions. We continue to pray for Cindy Clemishire and her family, for the members and staff of Gateway Church, and for all of those impacted by this terrible situation.