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WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans appear to be spending again. The government says consumers boosted spending last month by four-tenths of one percent, the largest gain in four months. The rise in spending came even though income growth was flat in March. That's the poorest showing in more than a year, and a reflection of the fact that job gains slowed down sharply during the month. The spending numbers suggest that consumers could still help boost an economy that barely grew in the first quarter.
NEW YORK (AP) — A weak batch of earnings reports is sending the stock market slightly lower in early trading. Bond prices fell after some mostly encouraging news on the U.S. economy, including a drop in claims for unemployment benefits. They fell last week to the lowest level in 15 years.
FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — Police in Ferguson, Missouri, are investigating burglaries of a discount store and a cellphone business near where protesters took to the streets for a second night. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says last night's break-ins took place a night after looting, fires and gunfire broke out during demonstrations in the St. Louis suburb. Several dozen people marched last night to protest the recent death of Freddie Gray while he was in Baltimore police custody. The demonstrators also referenced last summer's fatal shooting by a white Ferguson police officer of 18-year-old Michael Brown.
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A relief agency says congestion at the airport in Nepal's capital -- along with blocked roads, fuel shortages and difficult terrain -- are slowing down the pace of aid delivery in the aftermath of Saturday's deadly quake. The group Oxfam says it is looking at ways to transport essential goods overland from India. Heavy rainfall is also a problem. According to the U.N., Saturday's earthquake -- which killed more than 5,000 people -- has displaced about 2.8 million Nepalese. Over 70,000 homes are believed to be destroyed.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Government regulators want to know more about the hand cleaners that are commonly used in hospitals, doctors' offices and nursing homes to kill germs and prevent infections. The Food and Drug Administration is asking manufacturers to submit additional information to help establish the safety and effectiveness of the products -- including information on the long-term effects of their daily use on the skin.
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