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Pressured by COVID-19, U.S. retail sales sank 16.4% in April

By Josh Boak, Associated Press

The sharpest drops from March to April were at clothiers, electronics stores, furniture stores and restaurants.

Officials release edited coronavirus reopening guidance

By Mike Stobbe, Jason Dearen, Associated Press

U.S. health officials have released part of some long-delayed specific guidance that schools, businesses and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns.

WATCH: Pelosi criticizes virus relief package slowdown

By Alan Fram, Associated Press

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is criticizing Republicans for seeking to delay the next round of economic relief. Two days after Pelosi unveiled a new $3 trillion plan, the White House threatened that President Donald Trump would veto the measure.

What’s the key to U.S. economic recovery? Testing, says this Nobel Prize winner

By Paul Solman

As millions more Americans file for unemployment amid an economy crippled by COVID-19, many states are lifting restrictions and reopening businesses. But is that the correct approach to reviving the U.S. economy? Paul Solman talks to Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul…

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3 million more U.S. layoffs intensify fears of lasting damage

By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

Nearly 3 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as the viral outbreak led more companies to slash jobs even though most states have begun to let some businesses reopen under certain restrictions.

Oil and mining businesses had best success in getting pandemic loans, says survey

By Mike Schneider, Associated Press

Of the 75 % of small businesses applying for federal funding during the pandemic, oil extraction and mining businesses had the best success in getting loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, with more than half of businesses surveyed in that…

States, tribe seek to suspend coal sales on U.S. lands

By Matthew Brown, Associated Press

A coalition of U.S. states, environmentalists and an American Indian tribe are seeking to revive a moratorium on coal sales from public lands in the West.

Puerto Rico to spend $2B to fight COVID-19 as concerns grow over allocation

By Dánica Coto, Associated Press

Wanda Vázquez said Thursday that $300 million will be used in part to increase testing, expand contact tracing and help the unemployed affected by a lockdown imposed in mid-March. Many Puerto Ricans also worry that the newest funds available will…

Virus tests hospitals in pockets of U.S. as some states reopen

By Michael Kunzelman, Regina Garcia Cano, Morgan Lee, Associated Press

Coronavirus outbreaks are testing the public health networks in pockets of the U.S., while some states prepare to lift lockdown measures, seeing signs of progress.