In brief: Consumer sentiment surges, survey finds

WASHINGTON – Consumer sentiment rose this month to the highest level since January, suggesting that spending will strengthen this year.

The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index rose to 96.1 this month from 90.7 in May. The June reading was the highest since January’s 98.1. The index is up from 82.5 a year ago.

For the first six months of 2015, consumer optimism improved at the fastest pace since 2004, three years before the Great Recession, said Richard Curtin, chief economist for the Michigan survey.

He said the readings are consistent with a 3 percent increase in consumer spending this year. That would be the fastest pace since 2006.

Uber won’t relent, awaits court ruling

PARIS – France’s president wants Uber’s cheapest car service shut down and its vehicles seized, but Uber refuses to stop the service until a ruling by the country’s top court.

The standoff, and a violence-marred taxi strike that upended Paris travel, reflects larger tensions in France over how to regulate fast-moving technology and stay globally competitive while ensuring labor protections.

France’s top security official, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, said Friday that Uber is facing multiple investigations. He spoke to RTL radio a day after striking taxi drivers attacked Uber livery cars and set fire to tires on a major artery around Paris.

Uber’s cheapest service, called UberPop in France, was banned here, but Uber officials insist they will continue their activities until France’s highest court rules on the service.

French President Francois Hollande said Friday, “The UberPop group must be dissolved and declared illegal, and the vehicles must be seized.” But he said that the executive branch can’t do that without further action through the courts.

Gender-neutral restrooms on way

NEW YORK – Aiming to curb gender bias and harassment in New York City, officials are readying a plan that would require businesses to convert some restrooms to gender-neutral facilities.

Legislation is being introduced that would require publicly available, single- occupancy restrooms in both public and private buildings to be designated as gender- neutral. It also would amend the language of some city laws, including the plumbing code, which requires separate lavatories for men and women.

“This is a very important issue,” said New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, whose office recommended the changes. “It’s time to help individuals who identify as transgender to use the bathroom without fear of consequence.”

The law would require businesses to place new signage on existing restrooms to identify them as gender-neutral. It would not apply to multistall lavatories.