The economic fallout from the war with Iran is driving up the cost of buying a home, even as other housing market trends in many parts of the country favor home shoppers this spring. Mortgage rates, which had been trending lower heading into this year, have been rising as the conflict stokes inflation fears. That threatens to put a damper on home sales during what’s traditionally the busiest time of the year for the housing market. At the same time, home shoppers who can afford to buy this spring are likely to benefit from more properties on the market and lower prices than a year ago in many metro areas.

United Airlines is raising checked bag fees starting Friday. The move comes as higher fuel costs ripple through the airline industry. Most travelers flying within the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Latin America will now pay $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for a second. That's $10 more than before the Iran war started Feb. 28. United says it’s their first baggage fee increase in two years. Some customers like loyalty members will still get a free bag. JetBlue also raised fees this week. Airlines say rising crude oil prices are pushing up operating costs. United on Friday also announced a pricing change coming this month for its front cabins. Three new tiers will offer different perks for premium passengers, similar to economy.

American employers added a surprisingly strong 178,000 new jobs last month, rebounding from a dismal February. And the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3%. The Labor Department reported Friday that hiring marked a rebound from the loss of 133,000 jobs in February. The job gains were about three times what economists had forecast. The unemployment rate was down from 4.4% in February. But uncertainty surrounding the war with Iran — and its impact on energy prices — is clouding the outlook for the labor market.

The White House is releasing details of President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget, including a $1.5 trillion defense spending request. That's the largest of its kind in decades. The Republican president had indicated even before the war against Iran that he wanted to increase defense spending to modernize the military. He's also calling for a 10% cut in non-defense discretionary spending. The president’s annual budget does not carry the force of law. Instead, it reflects an administration’s priorities and provides a road map to Congress, which handles spending issues. But Congress is free to reject it and often does.

A California producer of raw milk and cheese products is recalling some of its products under pressure from federal officials. Raw Farm said Thursday it is voluntarily recalling more than a half-dozen varieties of its cheddar cheese made from raw milk. Previously the company had refused repeated requests from the Food and Drug Administration to issue a recall. The FDA is conducting an inspection of the company's facilities after identifying multiple cases of E. coli food poisoning tied to the firm's products. Raw Farm said in a statement that FDA has not detected the bacteria in its products. The company said it issued the recall “under protest.”

A U.S. aircraft has gone down in Iran, marking the first loss of American aircraft in Iranian territory. One crew member has been rescued, according to one U.S. official and one Israeli official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive ongoing military operations. It's unclear if the jet was shot down or crashed. Iran has fired on targets across the Middle East, escalating tensions. The situation has affected global markets and oil prices. Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif suggests negotiations to end the conflict, proposing limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.