NPR News: 04-30-2026 10AM EDT
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What economic indicators are affecting the stock market today?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. Stocks opened mixed this morning as the Commerce Department reported an uptick in first quarter economic growth. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped about 430 points in early trading.
The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2 percent in the first three months of the year. That's a little bit slower than forecasters had expected, but a marked improvement from the final three months of last year, when growth was hampered by the six-week government shutdown. Consumer spending grew at an annual rate of 1.6 percent during the first quarter. Business investment was up sharply as companies continue to pour money into data centers and artificial intelligence. The ongoing stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz continues to push crude oil prices higher. AAA says retail gasoline prices jumped another 7 cents overnight to a national average of $4.30 a gallon for regular. Scott Horslake, NPR News, Washington.
The Pentagon estimates the war with Iran has cost the U.S. $25 billion so far. That number emerged yesterday when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified to a House committee and sparred with Democrats on the panel. NPR's Greg Myhre reports.
Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee pressed Secretary Hegseth on the cost of the war and how it might end. A combative Hegseth repeatedly pushed back, saying the biggest adversary at the moment was the, quote, "...reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans." Committee members asked Hegseth if he understood the economic burden the war was imposing on American consumers. In one exchange, Hegseth responded, What would you pay to ensure Iran doesn't get a nuclear bomb? What would you pay? Hegseth testifies again today before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington.
Iran's supreme leader has released a written statement. He has pledged to secure the Persian Gulf. This comes as both Iran and the U.S. blockade the Strait of Hormuz. Duri Buskaran reports from Istanbul.
Iran's supreme leader, Moshtaba Khamenei, struck a hard line in a wide-ranging written speech. It was read aloud by a state television anchor. He lambasted what he called foreigners who greedily commit atrocities, saying they have no place in the Strait of Hormuz. In his words, except at the bottom of its waters. The leader also pledged to protect Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. Khamenei has not been seen in public since he was injured in the airstrike that killed his father. the former supreme leader, on the first day of the war. For NPR News, I'm Derry Buscarin in Istanbul.
The House of Representatives has narrowly passed a blueprint to pave the way for funding federal immigration enforcement programs. They're part of the Department of Homeland Security. But DHS has been partly shut down since mid-February. Democrats want changes in federal immigration operations after agents killed two American protesters. It's NPR. Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills is suspending her campaign for the U.S. Senate. She has been hoping to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. But Mills has to win a Democratic primary first. She says while she has the passion and commitment, she doesn't have the resources. Mills also faces a strong rival in Democrat Graham Plattner. The former marine and oyster farmer has won support despite controversy over past online statements.
and a tattoo deemed anti-Semitic. Plattner apologized and had the tattoo changed. New research suggests artificial intelligence may not be the cost saver many companies expected. NPR's Windsor Johnson reports the study found global IT spending should reach about $6.3 trillion this year, partly driven by investment in AI.
The study was conducted by Gartner, a firm that tracks global technology spending. Analyst Whit Andrews says while companies are using AI to improve efficiency, the financial picture is still unclear.
What might be true is that a lot of people have spent more on AI than they did on people, and that they're asking themselves what they might have gotten if that money had gone towards people, but more thoughtful and deliberate mix.
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