US Factory Employment Drops to 5-Year Low as Manufacturing Slump Deepens
The drop in hiring came amid a broader deterioration in operating conditions. Both surveys reported soft orders and reduced output as factories cut back on inventories and workers. ISM's employment index slid 1.6 points to 43.4 percent—its lowest reading since June 2020 and well below the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction—marking the sixth straight month of job losses in the sector.
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NBC News
28 minutes ago
- NBC News
Delta Air Lines assures U.S. lawmakers it will not personalize fares using AI
WASHINGTON - Delta Air Lines said on Friday it will not use artificial intelligence to set personalized ticket prices for passengers after facing sharp criticism from U.S. lawmakers and broad public concern. Last week, Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner and Richard Blumenthal said they believed the Atlanta-based airline would use AI to set individual prices, which would 'likely mean fare price increases up to each individual consumer's personal 'pain point.'' Delta said it has not used AI to set personalized prices but previously said it plans to deploy AI-based revenue management technology across 20% of its domestic network by the end of 2025 in partnership with Fetcherr, an AI pricing company. 'There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized prices based on personal data,' Delta told the senators in a letter on Friday, seen by Reuters. 'Our ticket pricing never takes into account personal data.' Senators praised Delta's commitment not to use AI for personal pricing but expressed many questions and want more details about what data Delta is collecting to set prices. 'Delta is telling their investors one thing, and then turning around and telling the public another,' Gallego said. 'If Delta is in fact using aggregated instead of individualized data, that is welcome news.' Delta declined comment on Gallego's statement. The senators cited a comment in December by Delta President Glen Hauenstein that the carrier's AI price-setting technology is capable of setting fares based on a prediction of 'the amount people are willing to pay for the premium products related to the base fares.' Last week, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said using AI to set ticket prices could hurt consumer trust. 'This is not about bait and switch. This is not about tricking,' Isom said on an earnings call, adding 'talk about using AI in that way, I don't think it's appropriate. And certainly from American, it's not something we will do.' Democratic lawmakers Greg Casar and Rashida Tlaib last week introduced legislation to bar companies from using AI to set prices or wages based on Americans' personal data and would specifically ban airlines raising individual prices after seeing a search for a family obituary. They cited a Federal Trade Commission staff report in January that found 'retailers frequently use people's personal information to set targeted, tailored prices for goods and services -- from a person's location and demographics, down to their mouse movements on a webpage.' The FTC cited a hypothetical example of a consumer profiled as a new parent who could intentionally be shown higher-priced baby thermometers and collect behavioral details to forecast a customer's state of mind. Delta said airlines have used dynamic pricing for more than three decades, in which pricing fluctuates based on a variety of factors like overall customer demand, fuel prices and competition, but not a specific consumer's personal information. 'Given the tens of millions of fares and hundreds of thousands of routes for sale at any given time, the use of new technology like AI promises to streamline the process by which we analyze existing data and the speed and scale at which we can respond to changing market dynamics,' Delta's letter said.
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
Millennial hustle culture defined my early career. My daughter made me realize I needed to shift my priorities.
As a toddler, my daughter started mimicking some of my hustle culture tendencies. That's when I decided I had to change my priorities. As a toddler, my daughter started mimicking some of my hustle culture tendencies. That's when I decided I had to change my priorities. Courtesy of Ann Dunning. As a toddler, my daughter started mimicking some of my hustle culture tendencies. That's when I decided I had to change my priorities. Courtesy of Ann Dunning. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Some years back, I overheard my then-toddler tell her dolls that she was sorry that she couldn't talk because she was on a work call. It was something I had said to her more than once before, and my heart sank. That moment stopped me in my tracks and shifted my perspective on parenting. I decided that I didn't want hustle culture or toxic productivity to be something that I passed down to her. I wanted my daughter to see success differently, which meant I needed to make some major changes. My work ethic has always been strong When you grow up in a Latin family like I did, or you're an immigrant kid, you're likely to see family members working around the clock. There's a common saying that all immigrants have 12 jobs. That stereotype is not an understatement in my community. I grew up understanding that rest is a privilege — for the rich. Working multiple jobs or around the clock is just something that you do to feed your family. This immigrant work ethic helped me get far in my career in San Francisco's tech and startup ecosystem, where hustle culture and things like the 996 work method are common, not to mention my millennial drive. Toxic productivity took hold of me While hustling may help you get ahead, it has a darker side. It can harm your relationships and mental and physical health. After a few years of working what seemed nonstop, I ended up with stomach problems, nighttime teeth grinding, crazy periods, and anxiety. My self-worth was wrapped up in toxic productivity; it was the way I coped with the emotional ups and downs of life. I thought this was what being an American was all about. Related stories Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Things got a bit better when I had my baby during the pandemic, but old habits die hard. I am a consultant focusing on growing technology businesses and CPG brands, and juggle multiple clients at a time. When you are your own boss, work boundaries often go out the window. My daughter saw me work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. most days. It was during those times I'd say, "Sorry, I can't, I have a work call." Hustle sounds like hard work and raw ambition, but now I know it's actually just a corporate status symbol that glamorises a lack of free time. It can mask insecurity, corporate or startup exploitation, or trauma, as I learned from Dr. Mariel Buqué, a Columbia University-trained psychologist when I interviewed her for my book about Latinas and hustle culture. For immigrants and BIPOC people, hustle is sometimes a necessity, and a way out of your social class. I wanted something different for my daughter Many people say hustle is needed to build a business, but there are plenty of startup CEOs and billionaire investors who prioritize family and wellness. I wanted my daughter to avoid chronic anxiety, over-caffeinated, frantic days, perfectionism, and having her career tied to her self-worth. Her doll play showed me that I was modeling behavior that wasn't healthy. I introduced slower mornings, set boundaries for work, and took on fewer clients. Some hours of the day, I just can't work, because my daughter needs me. I do recognize there is a lot of privilege in that. My daughter, now 5, hopefully won't need to hustle much because she will have an easier time in life than me. I hope her future self works hard and builds things or loves her career, but I want her to stop working at 5 p.m. and enjoy her family. I still work hard, and love my job — and I'll always have deadlines. But I know when to clock out, because now I have a little one who needs me more.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Dem senator agrees with GOP that Trump's making progress on trade war
Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman admitted that his party had gotten it wrong about President Donald Trump's tariffs, saying that, so far, the U.S. trade war is 'going well.' Asked by Fox News Digital whether he thought the Trump administration was winning the trade war, Fetterman responded, 'Absolutely.' Advertisement 'I'm a huge fan of Bill Maher, and I mean, I think he's really one of the oracles for my party, and he acknowledged it, it's like, hey, he thought that the tariffs were going to tank the economy, and then he acknowledged that it didn't,' said Fetterman. 'So, for me,' he went on, 'it seems like the E.U. thing has been going well, and I guess we'll see how it happens with China.' This comes as Trump is increasing the tariff on Canada from 25% to 35% beginning on Friday, after the U.S. neighbor to the north failed to help curb the imports of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The White House noted that Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to increase the tariff in an effort to hold Canada accountable for its role in the flow of illicit drugs into the U.S. Advertisement 3 Sen. John Fetterman admitted Democrats are wrong about President Trump's tariffs, claiming that the trade war is 'going well.' AP Additionally, Trump signed another executive order on Thursday to modify the reciprocal tariff rates for some countries to further address the United States' trade deficits. The action reflects Trump's efforts to protect the U.S. from foreign threats to national security and the economy by securing 'fair, balanced and reciprocal trade relationships,' the White House said. Earlier this year, Trump announced an additional 10% tariff on all countries as well as higher tariffs for countries the U.S. has large trade deficits with. Advertisement The tariffs became effective on April 9. Since then, Trump and his team have since made several trade deals with several countries. The U.S. struck a deal with the European Union in which the EU agreed to purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy and make new investments of $600 billion by 2028. The EU also agreed to accept a 15% tariff rate. Advertisement The U.S. also made a deal with Japan, which agreed to invest $550 billion in the U.S. to rebuild and expand core American industries. 3 President Trump has raised the tariff rate on Canada from 25% to 25%. / MEGA Japan also agreed to further its own market to U.S. exports, and like the EU, Japan agreed to a baseline 15% tariff rate. However, many Democrats are digging in their heels against Trump's tariffs strategy, saying the negative effects are still on the horizon. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., forecast that, despite the increased revenue, 'within a few weeks or months, you'll start seeing significant increases in most things you buy. And also, you will see disruption in terms of a lot of our industries, because they're not able to access product or supply.' 'When you have across-the-board tariffs, it does operate like a national sales tax, and I think people are going to be more and more hurt,' predicted Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. 'This is the president who said he was going to come in and reduce prices. Prices are going to rise, and they're going to rise more over time,' said Van Hollen. Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren said that 'Donald Trump may beat his chest and say, 'Man, I made him take a 15% tariff or 25% tariff,' but also understand that every one of those trading partners is now looking hard all around the rest of the world to find other customers, because Donald Trump is signaling loud and clear that the United States under Donald Trump is not a reliable trading partner. And that's not good for any of us.' Advertisement Warren also claimed that Trump's tariffs are the reason the Federal Reserve has not lowered U.S. interest rates. 3 Fetterman still remains isolated from his party, taking Trump's side in the trade war, as many Democrats argue that negative effects are still on the horizon. AP 'Jerome Powell said last month that he would have lowered interest rates back in February if it hadn't been for the chaos that Donald Trump was creating over trade. And the consequence has been that American families have, for six months now, been paying more on credit cards, more on car loans, more home mortgages, all because Donald Trump has created chaos,' she said. Meanwhile, Republicans whom Fox News Digital spoke with urged the president to double down on his tariff strategy. Advertisement 'I think it's exactly the right approach. It's what I have been urging the president to do, and I think the successes he's winning are big wins for America,' said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. In response to Democrats still predicting economic fallout because of the tariffs, Cruz sarcastically remarked, 'I'm shocked, shocked that Democrats are rooting for the economy to do badly under President Trump.' 'It'd be nice if some Democrats would put their partisan hatred for Trump aside and actually start working together for American workers and American jobs. Unfortunately, I don't see a whole lot of Democrats interested in doing that right now,' said Cruz. Advertisement Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., while agreeing that the tariffs have been successful, voiced that he hopes the goal is to ultimately achieve reciprocal zero percent tariffs between the U.S. and its trade partners. 'Clearly, the president got a good deal from one perspective. The Europeans just caved, they did. Fifteen percent tariffs on them, zero on us, commitment to invest in our country. But the part of the deal I like the most, the E.U. and the president agreed that a whole bunch of goods would be tariff-free. That is, no American tariffs and no E.U. tariffs. It's called reciprocity, and ideal reciprocity is zero on both sides,' he explained. 'That's what I would like us to achieve in all the trade deals,' Kennedy explained. 'Let the free enterprise system work. May the best product at the best price win. That, to me, would be the perfect situation.' Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
