Marketplace Morning Report

A 16% drop in retail sales for April. Federal regulators have raised a question about the accuracy of a new COVID-19 test that produces rapid results. Data that one vaccine from Oxford is working in monkeys. How farmers in the Northwest are doing as spring harvests come in.

As states ease restrictions, businesses begin making plans for reopening. And some of those plans call for the employees to enforce social distancing. Have oil prices bottomed out, with more people moving around? Pawnshops are seeing more business.

From the BBC World Service: Bars and restaurants in much of Europe and Australia have started to welcome back customers. Germany heads into recession as the economy shrinks 2%. How mass transit systems around the world are trying to get back up and running.

Almost 3 million more people filed for unemployment last week. Some groups are getting hit harder than others. And, British cheesemakers lost a lot of business with the closing of restaurants. Direct-to-consumer sales are alleviating some of their surpluses.

Gig workers are eligible for unemployment benefits, but they might be getting less money than others just because of how their jobs are classified. And, Marketplace’s podcast “The Uncertain Hour” has a new season out now on public policy and “A History of Now.”

From the BBC World Service: New Zealand’s finance minister unveils a “once-in-a-generation” budget to support the country’s businesses as they start reopening. Spain introduces a 14-day quarantine for all foreign visitors. British cheesemakers’ call for public support.

Jerome Powell took the rare step of urging Congress and the White House to spend more money to prop up the economy. Big brands are reportedly cutting back spending for TV ads. County officials in Michigan have temporarily stopped foreclosing on properties for unpaid taxes.

House Democrats have a fresh stimulus bill that would double the amount of aid the government has already spent, to $6 trillion. Uber wants to buy Grubhub. Understanding the continued health insurance coverage known as COBRA.

From the BBC World Service: The British economy shrank by 2% during the first three months of the year. Also, India announces $266 billion worth of stimulus measures for businesses. Shoppers in Chile share concerns about safety during the virus.

How will government officials respond to Elon Musk’s declaration that he’s opening up Tesla’s assembly plant in Northern California? Moods among small businesses are the lowest since 2008. Substance use treatment goes virtual during COVID-19.