America’s trade imbalance with other nations decreased slightly in 2025, according to new federal data released Thursday, even as President Donald Trump imposed significant tariffs on imports from most countries around the world. The Commerce Department announced that the difference between what the United States exports versus what it imports dropped to approximately $901 billion from $904 billion the previous year.
In positive employment news, fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, with jobless claims continuing at historically low numbers. Weekly unemployment applications for the period ending February 14 decreased by 23,000 to reach 206,000, the Labor Department announced Thursday. This figure came in well below economist predictions of 225,000 new claims. Meanwhile, the total count of Americans receiving ongoing unemployment benefits rose to 1.87 million for the week ending February 7, representing an increase of 17,000 from the prior week.
Homebuyers received welcome news as the typical 30-year mortgage rate dropped to 6.01% this week, marking the lowest point in over three years, according to mortgage purchaser Freddie Mac. The rate declined from 6.09% the previous week and compares favorably to 6.85% from one year ago. This represents the most affordable mortgage rates since September 8, 2022, when rates stood at 5.89%.
Retail giant Walmart reported strong quarterly performance Thursday, crediting low prices and fast delivery options for attracting customers across income levels during the holiday shopping season. However, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer expressed caution about future conditions, citing concerns about consumer confidence, employment stability, and student loan payment difficulties.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit against a regional Coca-Cola bottling company, claiming the business violated male employees’ rights by hosting a women-only networking event. The legal action stems from a complaint by a male worker at Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast regarding a two-day business trip to Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut during September 2024 that included approximately 250 female employees.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced questioning in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday regarding Instagram’s impact on young users. The case involves a 20-year-old plaintiff seeking to hold social media platforms accountable for potential harm to children who use their services. Meta and YouTube remain as defendants after TikTok and Snap reached settlements.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoted his country as a global center for artificial intelligence development during a summit in New Delhi Thursday. Modi emphasized India’s goal to “design and develop in India” while serving worldwide needs. The gathering featured international leaders and technology executives, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Google’s Sundar Pichai, with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres proposing a $3 billion international AI fund.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto finalized a mutual trade agreement with President Trump Thursday during a visit to Washington for the inaugural Board of Peace meeting. The deal eliminates most Indonesian tariffs on American products while establishing a 19% U.S. tariff on Indonesian exports. The White House described the agreement as beneficial for both nations’ economic security.
White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett called for consequences against Federal Reserve economists Wednesday following their research showing that American businesses and consumers bear most of the cost from new tariffs. Hassett’s remarks represent the latest tension between the Trump administration and the traditionally independent Federal Reserve, highlighting ongoing concerns about consumer prices for essentials and major purchases.
