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Feds charge eBay $3 million over employees who sent live spiders and cockroaches to couple

By Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press

Online retailer eBay has agreed to pay a $3 million fine to resolve criminal charges over employees who harassed a Massachusetts couple by sending live spiders, cockroaches and other disturbing items to their home.

Energy and housing prices nudged U.S. inflation up, but many other costs rose only mildly

By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press

The persistence of still-elevated inflation helps explain why, despite steady economic growth, low unemployment and healthy hiring, polls show many Americans are dissatisfied with the economy.

Regulators approve new bitcoin funds in move that could spur more investment in cryptocurrency

By Ken Sweet, Associated Press

The Securities and Exchange Commission has reluctantly approved trading of the first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin. But the agency said Wednesday that it is still deeply skeptical about cryptocurrencies and did not approve or endorse bitcoin in its decision.

California Gov. Newsom proposes tapping reserves and cutting spending to close nearly $38 billion deficit

By Adam Beam, Associated Press

The proposal Newsom is laying out Wednesday outlines how he wants to spend taxpayer dollars and other state money for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Carbon pollution is down in the U.S., but not fast enough to meet Biden’s 2030 goal, new report says

By Matthew Daly, Associated Press

The report from the Rhodium Group said the decline is a step in the right direction but far below the rate needed to meet President Joe Biden's pledge to cut U.S. emissions in half by 2030.

U.S. adults across racial groups agree the economy is a top priority, AP-NORC and AAPI Data polls show

By Matt Brown, Linley Sanders, Associated Press

Black, white, Hispanic and Asian adults in the U.S. largely agree that the government should focus on the economy and foreign policy issues in 2024.

Global economy will slow for a third straight year in 2024, World Bank predicts

By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press

Heightened global tensions, arising particularly from Israel's war with Hamas and the conflict in Ukraine, pose the risk of even weaker growth.

Scientists find about a quarter million invisible microplastic particles in a liter of bottled water

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Scientists long figured there were lots of these microscopic plastic pieces, but until researchers at Columbia and Rutgers universities did their calculations they never knew how many or what kind.

Yellen says 100,000 firms have joined a business database aimed at unmasking shell company owners

By Fatima Hussein, Associated Press

Yellen says the database will send the message that "the United States is not a haven for dirty money." She also says Treasury is considering boosting rules related to commercial real estate transactions.

Inflation rose last month in Europe, could keep rising after months of decline

By David McHugh, Associated Press

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned that inflation could tick up in coming months, taking a detour from its recent downward path.