>>Apple Apologies For Ad Showing Musical Instruments Crushed By Hydraulic Press

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple is apologizing for its new iPad ad after a lot of blowback from artists.  The company says the ad was meant to show how much the iPad can do, despite being so thin and small.  It showed a record player, a piano, a camera, a drawing board, and other tools used by artists getting crushed by a hydraulic press and turning into the shape of the iPad Pro.  An Apple marketing executive told Ad Age  "We missed the mark with this video, and we're sorry." 

 

>>Consumer Sentiment Drops On Inflation Concerns

(Ann Arbor, MI)  --  Consumer sentiment hit its lowest level in six months.  The University of Michigan's early reading for May fell 13 percent thanks largely to a jump in inflation expectations.  The survey's chief economist called the drop in sentiment "statistically significant."  The survey noted consumers expressed fears that inflation, unemployment and interest rates may all be moving in an unfavoravle direction in the year ahead. 

 

>>Report: McDonald's Working To Roll Out $5 Value Meal

(Chicago, IL)  --  McDonald's is reportedly working on a new five-dollar value meal as consumers pull back on fast-food spending.  According to CNBC, the proposed meal could feature a McChicken or McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink.  The move comes after company CEO Chris Kempczinski recently said McDonald's has to be "laser-focused" on affordability to attract diners.  

 

>>Some Apple Store Workers Vote To Authorize Strike

(Towson, MD)  --  Union officials say Apple Store workers in Towson, Maryland are "overwhelmingly in favor" of authorizing a strike.  The announcement was made on Saturday by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, who represents the workers at the Towson Town Center store.  Workers at the store are seeking improvements in wages and scheduling, as well as other concerns.  The vote allows the union members who are negotiating with Apple to schedule a strike if a resolution isn't reached through talks and negotiations.

 

>>Nearly Half Of Master's Degrees Have Negative ROI

(Undated)  --  A new study is finding that a master's degree might not be a worthwhile investment.  New analysis by the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity says that over 40-percent of master's degrees aren't financially worth getting.  The study looks at career earnings at graduation and a decade later, while adjusting for factors such as drop-out rate.  The study found that over 75-percent of four-year bachelor degrees have a positive ROI.