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1. Jobs report beats projections
Jobs growth in the U.S. beat economists' expectations for April, adding 115,000 positions, CNBC reports. The unemployment rate stayed at 4.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While the number was down from the unexpectedly high 185,000 recorded in March, it more than doubled the projection of 55,000 from the Dow Jones consensus estimate.
Wage growth was softer than expected, though, with average hourly earnings "increasing 0.2% for the month and 3.6% on an annual basis, compared with respective estimates for 0.3% and 3.8%."
2. Oil prices jump back up
Renewed tensions in Iran, with concerns about the current ceasefire holding, have pushed up oil prices again on Friday, the BBC reports.
The news agency notes the global Brent oil price went up 3% to $103 for a period this morning. Prices were closer to $70 a barrel before the war in Iran began.
3. High spenders boost Host's first quarter
The largest U.S. hotel real estate investment trust, Host Hotels & Resorts, enjoyed a first quarter where rooms revenue came in "meaningfully better than expected," CoStar News' Bryan Wroten reports.
The biggest tailwind for this growth was high-end travelers, and that's giving executives hope for the rest of 2026.
“Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, we are optimistic about the travel environment,” President and CEO Jim Risoleo said. “High-end consumers continue to prioritize experiences, and supply across our markets and chain scales remains at historically low levels.”
4. Expedia reports strong quarter despite geopolitical upheaval
Expedia Group reported its "best first quarter start" in three years amid the backdrop of geopolitical conflict that some worry could cast a pall on international travel, Wroten reports.
CEO Ariane Gorin said it grew bookings by 13% year over year, revenue by 15% and expanded earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization by nearly 6 points.
“Momentum from late 2025 carried through February, delivering our best first quarter start in three years,” she said. “In March, we hit a more challenging macro environment with the conflict in the Middle East and travel advisories in Mexico.”
The war in Iran had a bigger impact on Expedia' business in Europe and Asia than the Middle East, which accounts for under 2% of the company's bookings.
5. What could happen to Spirit's fleet
While the lost airlift from Spirit Airlines suddenly shuttering isn't good for the travel industry or consumers, NPR reports there is some hope that the 90 planes in Spirit's fleet scattered across the country could be flying again, perhaps soon.
Roughly two thirds of those planes are leased, according to court filings, and they could soon be moved to other air carriers.
"Some are already probably in the pipeline to be leased again. Some are going to have the engines removed, moved on to different airframes and those aircraft are going to get leased. Some are going to get parted out. Some, nobody knows," said Steve Giordano, the managing partner of the Nomadic Aviation Group.
In terms of the owned planes in the fleet, Spirit is looking to liquidate them to "monetize anything it can" as it works through bankruptcy.