Scott Horsley

Exports were down during the month, while imports were up.

For all of 2025, the trade deficit was just over $900 billion.

That's down from the previous year, but only by about two-tenths of one percent.

New applications for unemployment benefits dipped last week as 206,000 people applied for aid.

The modest numbers suggest that while U.S.

employers are not adding a lot of jobs, they're not laying a lot of people off either.

Walmart reported another strong quarter of sales and profits as even upscale shoppers go looking for discounts.

The retail giant issued a cautious forecast, though, about what's ahead.

Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

Stock and vaccine maker Moderna opened higher after the FDA changed course and said it will review the company's new flu vaccine.

Last week, the agency had rejected the shot, which, like Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, is built around messenger RNA.

Health Secretary Robert Kennedy has been critical of mRNA and other vaccines, even though the technology is credited with saving millions of lives during the pandemic.

Homebuilders broke ground on more homes in December than they did the month before, but homebuilding activity for all of 2025 remains subdued.

A new survey from the National Association of Homebuilders shows builders' confidence is slumping, as many would-be buyers struggle to afford new homes.

Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

Warner Bros.

says it's still backing a sale of its studio and streaming services to Netflix, but the company's given rival bidder Paramount Skydance an extra seven days to sweeten its offer.

Paramount has until Monday to come up with a better bid.

People are not eating their Wheaties as much as the cereal's maker would like.

General Mills lowered its sales forecast for the year, saying nervous shoppers are dialing back their purchases of cereal, snacks, and dog food.