Here are the AP's top business stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom's Coverage Plan.

US consumer confidence declines again as Americans fret over prices, job market

SUMMARY: U.S. consumer confidence declined again in September as Americans' pessimism over a inflation and weakening job market grew again. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell by 3.6 points to 94.2 in September, down from August's 97.8. That's a bigger drop than analysts were expecting and the lowest reading since April, when President Donald Trump rolled out his sweeping tariff policy. A measure of Americans' short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market fell to 73.4, remaining well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. Consumers' assessments of their current economic situation dipped by 7 points to 125.4.

WORDS: 436 - MOVED: 09/30/2025 10:15 a.m. EDT

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Europe's top central banker says economy holding up better than expected in face of Trump tariffs

SUMMARY: Europe's economy is holding up better than expected in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariffs - in part because the European Union didn't retaliate with self-defeating tariffs of its own, the head of the European Central Bank said Tuesday. Christine Lagarde said the impact of Trump's trade war on growth and inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency had also been softened by a stronger euro and by swift conclusion of a trade deal with Trump that capped tariffs at 15% and took away uncertainty that threatened to delay or disrupt business investment.

WORDS: 586 - MOVED: 09/30/2025 9:30 a.m. EDT

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US job openings barely budged in August at 7.2 million

SUMMARY: U.S. jobs openings were essentially unchanged million last month amid economic uncertainty arising from President Donald Trump's trade policies and an impending government shutdown. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that job openings blipped up to 7.23 million from  7.21 million in July. Economists had forecast a drop to 7.1 million. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed that layoffs fell month. But so did the number of poeple quitting their jobs -- which is a sign of confidence in their prospects. Job openings remain at healthy levels but have fallen steadily since peaking at a record 12.1 million in March 2022 as the U.S. economy roared back from COVID-19 lockdowns.

WORDS: 358 - MOVED: 09/30/2025 10:14 a.m. EDT

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Wall Street coasts toward the end of another winning month

SUMMARY: U.S. stocks are coasting toward the finish of Wall Street's latest winning month. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% Tuesday but remains on track for a fifth straight winning month after setting a record last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 27 points, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2%. Oil-related companies fell again as the price of crude added more losses to its weak week. Treasury yields eased in the bond market ahead of a couple reports coming later in the morning on consumer confidence and on the number of job openings across the country.

WORDS: 581 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 11:55 p.m. EDT

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Spotify founder steps down from CEO role

SUMMARY: Spotify has announced that founder Daniel Ek is stepping down as CEO to become executive chairman. The company, based in Stockholm, says Chief Product and Technology Officer Gustav Söderström and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström will become co-CEOs. They will transition into their new roles on January 1. Ek says the change aligns titles with how the company has been operating since 2023. Spotify has more than 700 million subscribers and a vast library of content. The announcement caused Spotify shares to fall more than 3% in premarket trading.

WORDS: 336 - MOVED: 09/30/2025 9:07 a.m. EDT

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Lin-Manuel Miranda gave millions to Puerto Rican artists after Hurricane Maria. He's pledging more

SUMMARY: Lin-Manuel Miranda and his family have helped Puerto Rican arts recover after Hurricane Maria. The Flamboyán Arts Fund, a $22 million initiative, has supported 110 arts organizations and 900 artists since 2019. The fund was fueled by Miranda's "Hamilton" run in Puerto Rico, raising $15 million. The initiative aims to support the archipelago's long-term recovery and highlight its cultural contributions. The Miranda Family Fund and Flamboyán Foundation are expanding the fund with an additional $10 million. They aim to strengthen Puerto Rico's arts ecosystem and amplify its culture to the world.

WORDS: 1139 - MOVED: 09/30/2025 8:18 a.m. EDT

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In their words: Lin-Manuel Miranda on his connection to Puerto Rico - and love for Bad Bunny

SUMMARY: Lin-Manuel Miranda has a deep connection to Puerto Rico, where he spent childhood summers. Those experiences shaped his artistic journey. After Hurricane Maria hit in 2017, Miranda felt compelled to support Puerto Rican artists. He wrote "Almost Like Praying" to raise money for relief efforts. In 2019, he raised $15 million through a two-week run of "Hamilton" in San Juan. The funds supported the Flamboyan Arts Fund, aiding 110 arts organizations and 900 artists. Miranda and collaborators are now committing another $10 million to continue the effort, emphasizing the importance of investing in Puerto Rican art and culture.

WORDS: 909 - MOVED: 09/30/2025 9:23 a.m. EDT

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Thousands of jobs at risk in Africa as US trade deal expires

SUMMARY: A major US-Africa trade deal, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), will terminate as scheduled on Tuesday, ending duty-free access to U.S. markets for thousands of African products. Leaders from Kenya and other African nations have been pushing for a renegotiated AGOA while also scrambling to sign their own bilateral trade agreements with the U.S. In Kenya, where the textile and apparel sector has boomed under the agreement, there is fear that the lack of a new trade deal will bring new competition and blanket tariffs that will lead to significant job losses.

WORDS: 834 - MOVED: 09/30/2025 9:17 a.m. EDT

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DoorDash is expanding into restaurant reservations and robot deliveries

SUMMARY: DoorDash is adding restaurant reservations and robot deliveries to its menu in some U.S. markets. The San Francisco-based company, already the largest U.S. delivery provider, announced its expansion plans Tuesday, saying it wants to bring even more business to the merchants it works with. DoorDash said it will soon begin offering restaurant reservations in its app in New York and Miami. Other cities will follow later this year. The company also plans to begin offering deliveries in the Phoenix area with its own autonomous robot, called Dot. DoorDash said the robot, which is 4.5-feet tall, can travel up to 20 miles per hour on streets, sidewalks and driveways.

WORDS: 714 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 7:20 p.m. EDT

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Prices for home remodeling outpaced inflation in the second quarter due to labor costs

SUMMARY: The cost of home repair and remodeling is rising faster than inflation, according to a new report. Data analytics company Verisk's Repair and Remodeling Index shows a 3.4% increase in the April-June quarter compared to last year, outpacing the 2.7% rise in inflation. The index tracks over 10,000 home improvement products. Labor costs, especially for labor-intensive projects like tile flooring and bathroom remodeling, are driving the increase. Nearly all categories saw cost hikes. Homeowner spending on maintenance rose in the first half of this year but is expected to slow in 2026 amid slower new home construction.

WORDS: 545 - MOVED: 09/30/2025 8:08 a.m. EDT

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How Electronic Arts' $55 billion go-private deal could impact the video game industry

SUMMARY: In what could become the largest-ever buyout funded by private equity, video game maker Electronic Arts has agreed to be acquired in a deal valued at $55 billion. And beyond the potentially record-breaking price tag, the deal could bring wider shifts in the gaming world. Electronic Arts owns popular titles like Madden NFL, Battlefield and The Sims -- and going private could grant the company more freedom in developing and distributing these games. It also marks the latest move from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF to invest in gaming. If the transaction gets the greenlight, PIF would join Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners, which run by U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, as Electronic Arts' new owners.

WORDS: 1280 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 4:47 p.m. EDT

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Google's YouTube to pay $24.5 million to settle 2021 lawsuit by Donald Trump over account suspension

SUMMARY: Google's YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump over his 2021 account suspension following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. According to documents filed in federal court in California, $22 million of the settlement will be contributed to the Trust for the National Mall and the rest will go to other plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union. The settlement does not constitute an admission of liability, the filing says. Google confirmed the settlement but declined to comment beyond it.

WORDS: 187 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 6:19 p.m. EDT

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How major US stock indexes fared Monday, 9/29/2025

SUMMARY: Wall Street drifted a bit higher after a day of mixed trading. The S&P 500 added 0.3% Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.5%. All three are near their all-time highs set a week ago. Technology stocks recovered some of their losses from last week, while oil companies sank with the price of crude. This week's highlight for Wall Street is scheduled for Friday, when the latest monthly update on the job market is due. The hope is for modest numbers that will keep the Federal Reserve on track to cut interest rates.

WORDS: 221 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 4:22 p.m. EDT

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Wall Street ticks higher as technology stocks lead the way

SUMMARY: Wall Street ticked higher as technology stocks recovered some of their losses from last week. The S&P 500 added 0.3% Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5%. All three are near their all-time highs set a week ago. Modest gains for Amazon and other Big Tech stocks helped lift the market. They offset losses for oil companies, which dropped as crude prices slumped. This week's highlight for Wall Street is scheduled for Friday, when the latest monthly update on the job market is due. The hope is for modest numbers that keep the Federal Reserve on track to cut interest rates.

WORDS: 852 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 12:16 a.m. EDT

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Video gamer Electronic Arts to be bought in largest-ever private equity buyout valued at $55 billion

SUMMARY: Electronic Arts, the maker of video games like "Madden NFL," "Battlefield," and "The Sims," is being acquired by an investor group including Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund in the largest private equity-funded buyout in history. The investors, who also include a firm managed by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, and the private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, valued the deal $55 billion. EA stockholders will receive $210 per share. The deal far exceeds the $32 billion price tag to take Texas utility TXU private in 2007, which had shattered records for leveraged buyouts. EA rose 4.5% Monday after jumping 15% on Friday.

WORDS: 904 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 8:26 a.m. EDT

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Progressive nonprofits condemn Trump's targeting of George Soros and his foundations

SUMMARY: Dozens of progressive nonprofits condemned President Donald Trump's general attacks on his political opponents and a specific report of a potential investigation into billionaire George Soros' philanthropy. The statement follows a New York Times report that the U.S. Department of Justice directed prosecutors to consider possible charges against Open Society Foundations. The foundations have rejected Trump's accusations that they fund violent protest. Interfaith Alliance was one of the nonprofits that signed onto the statement. Its president and CEO, Paul Brandeis Raushenbush said nonprofits, and especially religious groups, need to stand up for the people and groups that the administration targets.

WORDS: 532 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 3:25 p.m. EDT

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AI is transforming how software engineers do their jobs. Just don't call it 'vibe-coding'

SUMMARY: One of the hottest markets in the artificial intelligence industry is selling chatbots that write computer code. Some call it "vibe-coding" because it encourages an AI coding assistant to do the grunt work as human software developers work through big ideas. Others dislike that term. But there's no question these tools are transforming the job experience for many tech workers amid an intense rivalry between leading AI companies to make the best one. Anthropic, maker of the Claude chatbot that's popular with software developers, just released its latest model. A number of other companies are pitching competing tools to big businesses.

WORDS: 1207 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 1:47 p.m. EDT

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Trump takes his tariff war to the movies announcing 100% levies on foreign-made films

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is slapping a 100% tax on movies made outside the United States - a vague directive aimed at protecting a business that America already dominates. Claiming that movie production "has been stolen'' from Hollywood and the U.S., Trump posted said he would be imposed the 100% tariff on "any and all movies" made outside of the U.S. The president first issued the threat back in May. It's still unclear how these tariffs would operate, since movies and TV shows can be transmitted digitally without going through ports. Also unclear is what it would mean for U.S. movies filmed on foreign locations --  or what legal basis the president would claim for imposing the tariffs.

WORDS: 1139 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 1:07 p.m. EDT

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CSX railroad replaces CEO after investor pressure and poor performance as Union Pacific merger looms

SUMMARY: CSX railroad replaced its CEO less than two months after an investment fund urged it to either find another railroad to merge with to better compete with the proposed transcontinental Union Pacific railroad or fire outgoing CEO Joe Hinrichs. The outgoing CEO came to the railroad in 2022 after a long career with Ford and focused on repairing CSX's relationship with its unions after a bitter contract fight. But Ancora Holdings said CSX's performance deteriorated under Hinrichs. Hinrichs resigned to clear the way for Steve Angel to become CEO. Angel also comes from outside the rail industry although earlier in his career he oversaw GE's locomotive building unit.

WORDS: 585 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 11:24 a.m. EDT

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Lufthansa Group to cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 with help of AI, sees stronger profits ahead

SUMMARY: Lufthansa Group has announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs by 2030, focusing on administrative roles. The company aims to achieve this through artificial intelligence, digitalization, and consolidating work among its member airlines. Most of the job cuts will occur in Germany. Announcing its strategic plans during a presentation in Munich on Monday, the company said it is seeing strong demand for air travel and expects increased profitability by the end of the decade. Lufthansa is also preparing for the largest fleet modernization in its history, adding over 230 new aircraft by 2030.

WORDS: 298 - MOVED: 09/29/2025 4:59 a.m. EDT

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