For: May 11, 2026
>>Watching Wall Street (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Friday with all three major indexes posting weekly gains. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hit new records as tech stocks rallied in the last trading session of the week. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 12 points to 49-609. The S&P 500 rose 61 points to 73-98. The Nasdaq jumped 440 points to 26-247.
>>Noteworthy Economic Reports
(Undated) -- Coming up in the business week ahead, the spotlight falls on the consumer price index on Tuesday as the key inflation gauge is closely watched by the Federal Reserve, which sets interest rates. Also closely watched by the Fed is the producer price index which follows on Wednesday. The last major reports of the week come Thursday with retail sales data and weekly jobless claims.
>>Energy Sec On Suspending Federal Gas Tax
(Undated) -- Energy Secretary Chris Wright says President Trump is open to all ideas to help lower gas prices. When asked if that could include suspending the federal gas tax, Wright told NBC's "Meet the Press" the administration supports "all measures that can be taken to lower the price at the pump and lower the prices for Americans." His comments come as drivers across the country are seeing steep prices at the pump. Triple-A reports the national average for a gallon of regular gas sits at four-dollars and 52-cents. Drivers in California are still paying the most in the nation at over six-dollars a gallon on average.
>>Most Consumers Making Impulse Buys
(Undated) -- Despite inflation and rising costs, four out of five consumers said they've made an impulse buy in 2026. A new survey from marketing agency PartnerCentric found that more than half of shoppers say their budget is tighter this year. Gen Z and Millennial consumers are the most likely to have made an impulse buy, with food being the top category. Clothes came in a close second followed by electronics. The head of PartnerCentric credits the desire for a small reward when things get expensive and stressful.
>>Fast Food Chains Emphasize Value Amid Soaring Gasoline Prices
(Undated) -- Fast food chains are leaning more heavily into their value menus to try to lure customers squeezed by soaring gasoline prices. Restaurant Business editor-in-chief Jonathan Maze says those companies are also paying close attention to what's going viral on social media as they try to entice consumers to spend their limited dollars with them. He says "value is a very big deal right now" with folks feeling the pressure of inflation. According to Maze, roughly three in four fast food visits are based on some form of deal. It comes as gas prices are up about a dollar-40 a gallon from a year ago, with Triple A putting the new nationwide average at over four-50 a gallon. McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell are reporting strong sales to start the year. But other chains, including Papa John's and Shake Shack, have not done as well.
>>Nike Class Action Tariff Refund Lawsuit
(Undated) -- Nike is facing a new class action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to refund tariff-related costs. In the proposed lawsuit, consumers claim Nike should not be allowed to keep "significant" refunds it may receive. This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the president lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose certain tariffs. Nike has said it paid roughly one billion dollars in tariffs on imported goods as a result of those actions. Plaintiffs allege the company hiked prices on some footwear and apparel by up to ten dollars.
