Apr 30, 6:27 PM (ET) By MARCY GORDON

WASHINGTON (AP) – Riding a crest of populist anger, the House on Thursday approved a bill to restrict credit card practices and eliminate sudden increases in interest rates and late fees that have entangled millions of consumers. The legislation passed by a bipartisan vote of 357-70 following lobbying by President Barack Obama and members of his administration.

The measure would prohibit so-called double-cycle billing and retroactive rate hikes and would prevent companies from giving credit cards to anyone under 18.

If they become law, the new measures won’t take effect for a year, except for a requirement that customers get 45 days’ notice before their interest rates are increased. That would take effect in 90 days.

Apr 30, 8:43 AM (ET) By JEANNINE AVERSA

WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of newly laid-off workers signing up for unemployment benefits posted an expected drop last week, while people continuing to draw aid topped 6.3 million, setting a record for the 13th straight week.

The Labor Department says new applications for unemployment insurance fell to a seasonally adjusted 631,000 last week. That was down from the prior week’s 645,000, which was revised slightly higher from the government’s initial estimate.

Economists expected a small increase in new claims.

The number of people continuing to draw unemployment benefits jumped to 6.3 million, the highest on records dating back to 1967 and steeper than economists expected.

Apr 29, 7:36 AM (ET) By JEANNINE AVERSA

WASHINGTON (AP) – The recession’s grip on the country may be letting up a bit. The government is set to release a report Wednesday expected to show the economy shrank at a pace of 5 percent in the first three months of this year. If Wall Street analysts’ forecasts’ are correct, the figure – while still extremely weak – would be viewed as a hopeful sign that the worst of the recession – in terms of lost economic activity – may be past.

“The recession is easing up,” said John Silvia, chief economist at Wachovia. “We’re probably bottoming out here in the first half of this year.”

Apr 28, 11:12 AM (ET) By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK (AP) – Hopeful signs that the worst may be over for the economy boosted Americans’ moods in April, sending a closely watched barometer of sentiment to the highest level since November.

The New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose more than 12 points to 39.2, up from a revised 26.9 in March. The reading marks the highest level since November’s 44.7 and well surpasses economists’ expectations for 29.5.

The consumer confidence survey showed a substantial improvement in consumers’ short-term outlook, including even their assessment of the job picture.

Apr 28, 6:19 AM (ET) By ANDREW TAYLOR

WASHINGTON (AP) – A budget pact reached on Capitol Hill would give an endorsement to President Barack Obama’s agenda by his 100th day in office while putting off a series of difficult decisions on health care, global warming and taxes.

House-Senate negotiators on Monday night announced the agreement on a $3.5 trillion budget outline for 2010, with votes expected in the full House and Senate by Wednesday.

The budget plan, although nonbinding, would give Democrats a stronger hand in advancing Obama’s health care initiative this fall by allowing it to go forward without threat of GOP stalling tactics in the Senate.

Apr 27, 3:42 AM (ET) by HARRY DUNPHY

WASHINGTON (AP) – The global financial crisis could become “a human and development calamity” for many poor countries, the World Bank said, urging donor nations to speed delivery of money they have pledged and consider giving more.

Developing countries, its main constituency, face “especially serious consequences with the crisis driving more than 50 million people into extreme poverty, particularly women and children,” the bank said Sunday.

Bank President Robert Zoellick said some of the poorest economies are being hit by “second and third waves of the crisis.” He said no one knows how long it will last or when recovery will begin.

Apr 26, 8:01 AM (ET) By MATTHEW LEE

BEIRUT (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reassured the Lebanese people Sunday that Washington supports “voices of moderation” and will never make a deal with Syria that undermines the country’s interests.

Clinton spoke on a surprise visit to Beirut ahead of a critical June 7 election that could see the pro-U.S. Lebanese government ousted by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies, possibly paving the way for renewed Syrian influence over the country.

“The people of Lebanon must be able to choose their own representatives in open and fair elections without the specter of violence or intimidation and free of outside interference,” Clinton told a news conference in Beirut after meeting with President Michel Suleiman.

Apr 25, 4:23 AM (ET) By ROB GILLIES

TORONTO (AP) – Chrysler and the Canadian government had told Canadian Auto Workers they wanted concessions that would make the automaker’s labor costs competitive with that of non-unionized Toyota in Canada.

On Friday night they got what they asked for as Chrysler and union negotiators reached a tentative labor agreement, CAW President Ken Lewenza said.

The deal would save Chrysler about $240 million Canadian ($198 million) a year, Lewenza said. Labor and management said the cuts amounted to the $19 an hour in savings the company was seeking.

“This agreement meets the benchmark that was set by the federal government to guide our bargaining,” Lewenza said. He said the deal left base wages and pensions untouched though.