Stocks suffered a broad selloff today - the major indices sliding anywhere from 1.75% to 3.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 560 points, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite skidded 478, and the S&P 500 lost 96.
U.S. oil prices moved higher again today. April crude rose 31 cents to settle at $63.53 a barrel - a 21-month high.
Some positive news regarding Louisiana’s employment picture: New claims for jobless benefits declined sharply last week - more than 15% -- to about 5,500. Nationally, first-time claims dropped more than 13%.
Good news for Costco employees: the warehouse-club chain will boost its starting wage to $16 an hour, up a dollar from the current rate. That puts Costco’s starting rate above that of rivals including Amazon and Target - their starting pay remains at 15 bucks. Walmart’s is still $11, though it recently announced plans to give many employees raises in mid-March.
