For: August 29, 2025

>>Trading Week Winding Down  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street yesterday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 71 points to 45-636.  The S&P 500 rose by 20 points to 65-01.  The Nasdaq gained 115 points to 21-705.  Investors today will be keeping an eye out for the release of the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge - the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index.

>>Global Tariff Exemption Ending

(Washington, DC)  --  The U.S. global tariff exemption for low-cost goods ends today.  It's the nearly century-old "de minimis" exemption, which allowed items worth less than 800-bucks to be shipped to America duty-free, or without having to pay any tariffs.  Japan, India, and many European nations already announced suspensions of U.S.-bound shipments.  Shoppers in the U.S. who order goods from overseas may soon start seeing cancellation notices.

>>AI Poses Greater Threat To Entry-Level Jobs

(Undated)  --  Artificial intelligence is posing a threat to entry level jobs. A Stanford University study found entry-level jobs for workers between 22 and 25 years old have declined by 13 percent since the widespread adoption of the technology. According to researchers, declines in employment are happening in jobs that are "most exposed to AI," which can include software developers, customer service representatives, computer programmers, receptionists and others. Researcher's acknowledged that estimates may be influenced by other factors other but said the "results are consistent with the hypothesis that generative AI has begun to significantly affect entry-level employment."

>>Fed Gov Lisa Cook Sues President Trump

(Washington, DC)  --  Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is filing a lawsuit after President Trump moved to fire her.  The suit is the start of a legal battle between the two sides that will likely end up in front of the Supreme Court.  It follows a Justice Department criminal investigation into the board governor after she was accused of making false statements on home mortgage applications.  Trump has called for the Fed to cut rates for months.  Cook's lawyer has said "Trump has no authority to remove Cook," and the firing "lacks any factual or legal basis."

>>Labor Day Gas Prices Lowest Since 2020

(Undated)  --  Labor Day weekend gas prices are expected to be the lowest since 2020. According to an analysis from GasBuddy, the projected cost of fuel will be three-dollars-and-15-cents per gallon, marking the "cheapest summer" for gas prices since the pandemic. The company's head of petroleum says he is "optimistic that as cooler weather invades, gas prices too, will seasonally cool off." Despite price drops, gas prices in nearly half of all states have risen in the last month due to localized refinery outages.

>>WhatsApp Launches New AI Feature To Improve Messages

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  WhatsApp is rolling out a new AI feature that helps users with writing.  Writing Help lets users get AI-generated suggestions that rewrite messages in, reportedly, a professional, funny or supportive way.  The AI can also rephrase a message to change its tone.  The new writing help feature is an effort to steer users away from ChatGPT to WhatsApp's own in-app technology.  

>>Samsung To Hold Unpacked Event

(Suwon, South Korea)  --  Samsung is holding a virtual event next week to show off something new.  The company isn't saying yet what it plans to announce.  The "Unpacked" event will be streamed live September 4th at 5:30 a.m. Eastern on the company's YouTube page.

For: August 28, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street yesterday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 147 points to 45-565.  The S&P 500 saw a record close, rising 15 points to 64-81.  The Nasdaq gained 45 points to 21-590.

>>Coming Up Today 

(Undated)  --  The weekly look at first-time jobless claims is due out today.  Most analysts expect a slight drop from 235-thousand to 230-thousand initial requests for unemployment benefits last week.  Also on the calendar is a look at the first GDP revision and pending home sales.  The week wraps up Friday with the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index.

>>Nvidia Shares Fall After Earnings Beat Expectations

(New York, NY)  --  Nvidia has been taking a hit ahead of the market open.  Shares were down over three percent in extended trading, even after the chipmaker posted results that topped Wall Street forecasts.  The drop could be tied to Nvidia's data-center segment which came in slightly lower than expected.  

>>Costco No Longer Dispensing Abortion Medication

(Issaquah, WA)  --  Costco will stop dispensing abortion medication at its pharmacies.  The Alliance Defending Freedom and other anti-abortion groups sent letters to Costco, Walmart, Kroger, and others urging them to "resist politicized calls" to start dispensing mifepristone.  Most pharmacy chains, including CVS and Walgreens, haven't stopped dispensing the drug in states where abortion is legal.  The FDA has also not taken steps to change how the drug can be accessed under its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies. 

>>Apple Announces September Date For iPhone-17 Rollout

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple will hold its iPhone-17 event on September 9th.  One of the versions of the 17 is anticipated to be the thinnest iPhone ever.  Apple is also expected to announce updated versions of the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3.  An AirPods update could also be included at the event.  

>>Boeing Defense Puts Off Strike Talks Until After Labor Day

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Boeing Defense Company is putting off contract talks with striking machinists until after Labor Day.  About 32-hundred members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers went on strike at facilities in the St. Louis area on August 4th after rejecting the company's four-year contract offer.  The congressional Labor Caucus has been urging Boeing to resume talks, and responded on X by saying it's time for the workers to receive the strong contract they deserve.

>>Ford F-150s Recalled Over Rear Axle Hubs

(Dearborn, MI)  --  Ford is recalling more than 100-thousand F-150 pickup trucks.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the rear axle hub bolt may "fatigue and break," which can result in an increased risk of crashes.  Dealers are expected to replace the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies, free of charge. 
 

For Wednesday, August 27th, 2025

>>Stocks Close Slightly Higher As Fed Responds To Cook Issue

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street closed slightly higher Tuesday ahead of quarterly earnings from chip giant Nvidia.  Investors largely shook off President Trump's removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from the central bank's board.  Cook plans to file a lawsuit and the Fed said it will abide by any court decision on the matter.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 135 points to 45-418.  The S&P 500 added 26 points to 64-65.  The Nasdaq rose 94 points to 21-544.

>>Lisa Cook To Sue Over Fed Board Firing

(Washington, DC) -- Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook is moving to file a lawsuit challenging her removal by President Trump. According to an attorney for Cook, "Trump has no authority to remove Cook," and the firing "lacks any factual or legal basis." Cook's removal follows a Justice Department criminal investigation into the board governor after she was accused of making false statements on home mortgage applications by Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte. If Cook does sue, the case could end up being decided by the Supreme Court. 

>>India Slammed With High Tariffs For Buying Russian Oil

(Washington, DC)  --  India is being hit with 50-percent tariffs from the U.S. as punishment for buying oil from Russia.  The tax on imports from India went into effect on Wednesday.  The U.S. and India have yet to reach a trade agreement, and President Trump has been insisting that India stop buying Russian oil while negotiations are underway to end the war in Ukraine.  Vice President JD Vance told "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the U.S. was applying "aggressive economic leverage" on India to "try to make it harder for the Russians to get rich from their oil economy."

>>Consumer Confidence Dips In August

(New York, NY)  --  Consumer confidence dipped in August.  The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell by more than a point from the July reading as consumers became less optimistic about the economy.  The monthly survey noted concerns about tariffs and higher prices including food and groceries rose again in August. Purchasing plans for homes remained stable while discretionary spending for dining out, entertainment and vacations were all down.  

>>Cracker Barrel Drops New Logo

(Lebanon, TN)  --  Cracker Barrel is doing a 180, and ditching its new logo.  Cracker Barrel unveiled its new logo last week that got rid of an older man leaning against a barrel.  The response was mostly negative, and late Tuesday, the company said in a statement, "Our new logo is going away and our 'Old Timer' will remain."  Even President Trump weighed in on the controversy, advising the restaurant chain should "admit a mistake based on customer response."

>>Disney Sues Dish Over Sling TV Packages

(Undated)  --  Disney is suing Dish Network over several new packages offered by Sling TV.  The internet TV service recently introduced passes that allow customers to pay for a week, weekend, or even a single day of live TV.  Disney is now suing Dish Network, which owns Sling, claiming this violates Disney's programming distribution agreements.  Sling customers are currently able to watch Disney and ESPN programming through monthly subscription plans, and Disney claims any shorter subscription violates the agreement between it and Dish Network.

>>Fox And YouTubeTV Carriage Dispute

(Undated) --  Fox Corporation and Google-owned YouTube are engaged in a carriage dispute that could impact viewers. YouTube said it may remove channels including Fox Broadcast Network, Fox News and Fox Sports from its TV streaming platform if it doesn't reach an agreement with Fox Corporation. The renewal date is set for August 27th, and the company has emailed YouTube TV subscribers about the potential fallout with Fox. YouTube said it will provide a ten-dollar credit to users if Fox content does go offline for an extended period, and members can also watch by signing up for Fox's streaming service, Fox One. 

>>General Motors Recalling Over 23K Corvettes

(Detroit, MI)  --  General Motors is recalling over 23-thousand Chevrolet Corvettes.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the vehicles were recalled because of a fuel leak issue that increases the risk of a fire during refueling.  The recall affects Corvette models from years 2023 to 2025.  NHTSA says roughly point-one-percent of the vehicles recalled have the defect.

For: August 26, 2025

>>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower to start off the trading week yesterday.  Stocks slid after Friday's rally as investors looked ahead to fresh economic data and Nvidia's quarterly earnings on Wednesday.  The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge -- the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index -- is due out on Friday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 349 points to 45-282.  The S&P 500 lost 27 points to 64-39.  The Nasdaq lost 47 points to 21-449.  Investors today will be keeping an eye out for the latest data on consumer confidence.  Also set for release is the S&P Case-Shiller home price index.  

>>President Trump Pledges Tariffs On Countries With Digital Taxes

(Washington, DC)  --  Substantial tariffs on countries that do not remove digital taxes are coming, according to President Trump.  Posting on Truth Social Monday, Trump said he's going to restrict chip exports to those nations as well.  Digital taxes are imposed by several countries on companies like Meta, Amazon and Alphabet.  Countries that impose digital taxes argue that companies like Amazon operate within their borders, taking huge profits from citizens while paying nothing to the government.

>>Trump Say He's Removing Fed Governor Lisa Cook

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says he is removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from her position.  Trump said on Truth Social there is sufficient reason to believe Cook made "false statements" on one or more mortgage agreements.  The statement went on to say that in light of what Trump called Cook's "deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter" that he has no confidence in her integrity.  Cook said in a statement last week that she had "no intention of being bullied to step down.

>>New Home Sales Fall In July 

(Washington, DC)  --  Sales of new single-family homes slowed more than expected in July.  Government figures show new home sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 652-thousand units last month.  Industry analysts say it's another sign the housing market is struggling as mortgage rates remain high.  The average sales price of new houses sold in July was just over 487-thousand dollars.  New home data is seen as an indicator of the broader economy. 

>>Southwest Airlines Strict Policy For Plus-Size Passengers

(Dallas, TX)  --  Southwest Airlines is changing its seating policy for larger customers.  Passengers who cannot be accommodated in a single plane seat will be required to purchase a second seat ahead of time and can then request a refund after the flight.  Under the new policy, refunds can only be issued if both seats were in the same fare class; the refund request is made within 90 days; and the plane would have taken off with "at least one" extra open seat.  The changes are part of Southwest's broader shift to assigned seating, and it is set to take effect on January 27th of next year. 

>>No Progress Reported After Boeing Resumes Negotiations With Machinists Union

(St. Louis, MO)  --  There are no reports of progress being made after Boeing resumed negotiations with its striking machinists union on Monday.  Over three-thousand St. Louis-area Boeing employees went on strike on August 4th after failed negotiations over a new contract.  Heading into the talks, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers President Tom Boelling said he was hopeful the two sides could work something out so everyone can move on.  Another return to the table is possible sometime this week.  

>>SpaceX Cancels Launch Due To Weather

(Starbase, TX)  --  The tenth launch of the Starship prototype has been delayed again.  SpaceX canceled last night's launch attempt due to bad weather.  An expected launch on Sunday was also canceled after what SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said was a liquid oxygen leak.  Another attempt is expected this evening.

>>Cracker Barrel Addresses Logo Design Changes 

(Lebanon, TN)  --  Cracker Barrel is ensuring customers that while its look may be changing, its values are not.  The restaurant chain sparked pushback last week after redesigning its beloved logo to remove Uncle Herschel sitting in a rocking chair, but the company says its "old timer" will still be on its menu, road signs, and inside its country store.  Cracker Barrel expects to complete 25 to 30 location remodels this year with features including a brighter color scheme, less decor on the walls, and new tables and chairs.  While the company also announced that new dishes are joining the restaurant's staple items, customers can still expect the same hard work, family, and scratch-cooked food made with care.  

>>Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Hits Menus Today 

(Seattle, WA)  --  Starbucks fans can finally get their hands on a Pumpkin Spice Latte.  The coffee giant is bringing the PSL back to stores starting today.  It marks the latest the popular fall drink has gone on sale since 2022.  

For: August 25, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply higher to end the week on Friday.  Stocks rallied with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting an all-time high after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled the central bank could begin cutting interest rates next month.  Big tech shares soared on Powell's comments with Meta, Alphabet and Amazon all advancing more than two percent.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 846 points to 45-631.  The S&P 500 rose 96 points to 64-66.  The Nasdaq climbed 396 points to 21-496.

>>Global Mail Carriers Suspend U.S. Deliveries Over Tariff Uncertainty

(London)  --  Postal services around the world are halting some deliveries to the U.S. over confusion about new import duties on parcels.  Global mail carriers based in Britain, France and Germany are among those temporarily suspending shipments to the U.S. starting this week.  President Trump signed an executive order last month abolishing the trade loophole which had allowed goods valued at less than 800-dollars to enter the U.S. duty free.  Under the new rules, personal gifts worth less than 100-dollars will be exempt, but all other packages will face the same tariffs as imports from their country of origin.

>>Boeing To Resume Negotiations With Machinists Union

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Boeing is set to resume negotiations with its striking machinists union today.  International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers President Tom Boelling said he is hopeful the two sides can work something out so everyone can move on.  Over three-thousand St. Louis-area Boeing employees went on strike on August 4th after failed negotiations over a new contract.  Boelling says informal talks between the two sides paved the way for today's meeting.  

>>Trump Says Intel CEO Agreed to Give US a 10% Stake

(New York, NY)  --  The federal government now owns a ten-percent stake in a major chip company.  President Trump said Friday that the CEO of Intel has agreed to give the U.S. a stake worth ten-billion dollars.  Two weeks ago, Trump had called for the immediate resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, following reports claiming he was connected to China.  Trump announced the new agreement on Truth Social, and called it "a great Deal for America."   Intel's stock rose seven-percent on Friday.

>>Survey Asks Americans Their Money Milestones 

(Undated)  --  A new survey from a retirement services provider shows Americans are not all that realistic when it comes to financial milestones.  Empower asked nearly one-thousand Americans to set target ages for six life milestones: retirement saving, landing a dream job, earning six figures, buying a home, becoming debt-free and retiring.  Most people said the age to start saving for retirement is 27 and landing your dream job should happen at 29.  Respondents said you should earn six figures by 35, buy your first home at 30, become debt-free at 41 and retire at 58.  Almost half of those surveyed wished they had began saving sooner while nearly one quarter said they felt behind in reaching money milestones.  Many others said they have no set timeline for reaching big financial goals.  

For: August 22, 2025

>>Trading Week Winding Down  

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 152 points to 44-785.  The S&P 500 dropped by 25 points to 63-70.  The Nasdaq lost 72 points to 21-100.

>>Federal Reserve Chair Powell To Speak At Jackson Hole 

(Jackson Hole, WY)  --  Investors will be watching for any clues on interest rates as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell delivers remarks today at the annual Jackson Hole economic symposium.  Powell's speech will no doubt be dissected for any hints on possible interest rate cuts.  The Fed meets again in September, and many economists expect a rate cut.  President Trump has been a harsh critic of Powell over his refusal so far to cut rates.

>>Steak 'n Shake Chimes In On Cracker Barrel Logo Uproar

(Indianapolis, IN)  --  Steak 'n Shake is weighing in on the Cracker Barrel logo controversy.  The Cracker Barrel logo used to show an old man sitting next to a barrel, but on Tuesday the restaurant chain unveiled a new logo without the classic image.  The rebrand caught the attention of their competitor, Steak n' Shake, which posted on social media Wednesday that Cracker Barrel was eliminating their "heritage" from their logo, "in a cheap effort to gain the approval of trend seekers."  In an earlier post, the burger chain said, "At Steak n Shake, we have gone back to basics," and added, "oh yeah, you can also now pay with Bitcoin."

>>Boeing Strike Continues

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Thousands of Boeing workers in the St. Louis area remain on strike as another work week comes to a close.  About 35-hundred members of the Machinists and Aerospace Workers' Union walked off the job earlier this month following failed negotiations over a new contract.  The striking workers are mainly responsible for the building of fighter jets and weapons systems.

>>LA Fitness Sued By FTC Over Cancellation Policy

(Irvine, CA)  --  The operators of LA Fitness are being sued by the Federal Trade Commission.  The FTC says the company, and its subsidiaries, makes it nearly impossible for customers to cancel memberships and related services.  The agency also says Fitness International, illegally charged customers hundreds of million of dollars in unwanted recurring fees because of the cancellation difficulties.  The FTC is working to stop the company from those practices and get customers some money back. 

>>Apple TV+ Price Hikes

(Cupertino, CA)  --  The cost of Apple TV-Plus is going up.  The streaming service will now cost 13-dollars per month after previously costing 10-bucks per month.  The new price went into effect Thursday for new subscribers while existing customers will see the price hike over the next 30 days.  Apple TV-Plus is the only major streaming service without a cheaper ad-supported option.  This is the first price increase for Apple TV-Plus since October 2023.

>>Starbucks Expanding Test Of Coconut Water Beverages

(Undated)  --  Starbucks is expanding its test of coconut water beverages.  The coffee giant will be testing two new drinks, Coco Matcha and Coco Cold Brew.  The drinks layer matcha foam or cold brew foam over coconut water.  More than 400 stores nationwide will carry the beverages as the company leans into health and wellness.  Meanwhile, it's almost PSL season at Starbucks with the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte set to return to menus this coming Tuesday.

For: August 21, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning on Wall Street after stocks closed mixed yesterday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 16 points to 44-938.  The S&P 500 fell by 15 points to 63-95.  The Nasdaq dropped by 142 points to 21-172.

>>Fed Tariff, Inflation And Labor Market Concerns

(Washington, DC)  --  Federal Reserve officials are concerned over tariffs, inflation and labor markets.  Recently released minutes from the Fed's July meeting show a divided board after two governors voted against the decision to hold rates steady, marking the first time multiple governors rejected a rate decision in more than 30 years.  The governors also noted rising threats to the economy that would warrant monitoring as well as the possibility of facing "difficult tradeoffs" due to more persistent inflation and a weakened labor market.  President Trump has pressured the Fed for months to cut rates, routinely criticizing Chairman Jerome Powell. 

>>Federal Reserve To Meet In Jackson Hole

(Jackson Hole, WY)  --  Investors may get a clue for any possible interest rate cut as the Federal Reserve's conference in Wyoming starts Thursday.  That's where Jerome Powell will likely deliver his last address as Fed chair.  Powell's speech on Friday in Jackson Hole will be dissected for any hints on possible interest rate cuts.  The Fed meets in September, and many economists expect a rate cut.  President Trump has been a harsh critic of Powell over his refusal so far to cut rates.

>>Target CEO Stepping Down After 11 Years

(Minneapolis, MN)  --  The CEO of Target is stepping down from the position after more than a decade.  Brian Cornell will depart from the retail giant after a continued decline in sales over backlash from its retraction of diversity, equity and inclusion hirings. Target has selected its current chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke, as Cornell's replacement.  However, Cornell will stay with the company in an executive chairman role.

>>Google Unveils New Pixel Models With AI Features

(New York, NY)  --  Google is unveiling several new products.  The tech giant used a star-studded event to showcase its new suite of products which includes four Pixel-Ten phones, the Pixel-Four Watch and a revamped set of Pixel ear buds.  Products are set to include new AI features designed to help users retrieve information, automatically create videos and snap better photos.  Google has steadily layered AI capabilities into its Pixel products since 2023 as it moves to compete with Apple.    

>>Caremark Ordered To Pay 290-Million In Medicare Scheme

(Philadelphia, PA)  --  CVS Health's pharmacy benefit manager, Caremark, will pay almost 290-million-dollars for overcharging Medicare for prescriptions more than ten years ago.  A federal judge gave the order this week after the company was found liable in June.  Caremark was accused of manipulating how drug costs were reported, leading to false reports back in 2013 and 2014.  

>>Delta And United Windowless 'Window Seats' Lawsuit

(Undated)  --  United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are facing class-action lawsuits for allegedly charging passengers more for "window seats" that were actually next to an opaque wall.  While it's not uncommon for commercial airlines to fly planes that have at least one row with no window, the lawsuits say other companies including American Airlines and Alaska Airlines disclose the information to customers at checkout.  The lawsuit was filed on behalf of passengers who said they wouldn't have paid extra had they known they wouldn't have a window.  The law firm estimated both airlines are likely to have sold at least one million windowless seats each.

>>Sony Announces PlayStation 5 Price Increase

(San Mateo, CA)  --  Starting today, it will now cost gamers more to buy a PlayStation 5.  Sony says prices for each model of the popular video game console are going up by 50-dollars in the U.S.  In a statement, the company said, "Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment."  The standard PS5 model will now cost 550-dollars while the digital edition will be priced at 500-bucks and the PS5 Pro will cost 750-dollars.  Sony noted the prices for PS5 accessories remain unchanged.

>>McDonald's to Slash Combo Meal Prices

(Undated)  --  McDonald's is planning to slash combo meal prices in a bid to restore its reputation as an affordable fast-food option.  The Wall Street Journal reports that eight of the chain's popular combo meals are expected to cost 15-percent less than if the items were bought separately.  The price change will take effect next month.  Corporate plans to subsidize franchisees losses if they agree to drop prices.

For: August 19, 2025

>>Watching Wall Street

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mostly lower on Wall Street yesterday. The Nasdaq fell more than one percent as a broad decline in technology shares weighed on the broader market. Home Depot was among the few bright spots with a nearly four percent gain after the home improvement giant maintained its full-year outlook. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 10 points to 44-922. The S&P 500 lost 37 points to 64-11. The Nasdaq fell 314 points to 21-314.

>>Businesses Planning To Raise Prices In Near Future

(Undated) -- Nearly a third of businesses are likely to increase prices by the end of the year. A new report by LendingTree found that more than 30-percent of businesses surveyed said they expect their prices will be higher in six months than they are now while only five-percent said that their prices will go down, and 65-percent said their prices will remain steady. LendingTree's report also found that businesses in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Vermont were most likely to say they expect to increase prices in the coming months. Survey results come during a period of uncertainty over President Trump's tariff rollout and continued pressure from inflation.

>>FOMC Minutes Scheduled For Release

(Undated) -- Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's last meeting in July are due to be released today. The Fed decided at that meeting to stand pat on interest rates, which it held at four-point-25 to four-point-five percent. The thinking behind that decision will be revealed when the minutes come out at 2pm Eastern. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has been under increasing pressure from President Trump to see to it that the central bank lowers rates, and their next chance to do so comes in September.

>>Google To Unveil Pixel 10 On YouTube

(Mountain View, CA) -- Google will be debuting its latest smartphone today. The tech company is set to take the wraps off its new Pixel 10 on its "Made by Google" YouTube channel. The event will be hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon, and may also include updates on Google's Pixel Watch 4, as well as its new earbuds and A.I. features.

>>Labubus Do More Than $600 Million In Sales In First Half Of 2025

(Beijing) -- The Labubu craze is proving to be big business. Chinese-based company Pop Mart's financial report reveals more than 600-million-dollars worth of the popular dolls have been sold so far this year. Pop Mart first introduced Labubus as part of its Monsters line in 2018. They have recently soared in popularity after celebrities like Blackpink's Lisa, Rihanna and Madonna have been spotted with them. Ten-million Labubus are expected to be sold each month for the rest of the year.

>>Nexstar Agrees To Buy Tegna

(Irving, TX) -- Two major companies in the local TV station business could soon be one. Nexstar Media Group has agreed to buy Tegna in a deal worth six-point-two-billion-dollars. The deal will need to be approved by regulators including the FCC and is expected to close in the second half of next year. Nexstar is the largest television station owner in the country while Tegna owns 64 stations. If the deal is approved, Nexstar would have 265 full-power TV stations in 132 of the U.S.'s 210 television markets. 

For: August 19, 2025 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after Monday's mixed close on Wall Street.  The major averages were little changed as investors await Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's Friday speech at the annual Jackson Hole economic symposium.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 34 points to 44-911.  The S&P 500 lost a fraction of a point to 64-49.  The Nasdaq gained 6 points to 21-629.

>>Air Canada Talks Restart

(Ottawa)  --  Talks between Air Canada and a union representing over ten-thousand striking flight attendants are picking back up.  The move came after a labor relations board declared a walkout by the flight attendants illegal.  They initially walked off the job on Saturday over pay and scheduling disputes leading to scores of flights canceled worldwide.   

>>Dems Reject Trump's Nvidia AMD Deal

(Washington, DC)  --  Several top Senate Democrats are urging President Trump to stop a deal with Nvidia and AMD. The deal would allow the companies to sell artificial intelligence chips to China after they agreed to share 15-percent of revenue from sales, however, it's raising national security concerns for Democratic lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led a group of legislators in sending a letter to the White House, arguing that the government's deal with the chipmakers "blatantly violates the purpose of export control laws." Lawmakers are now demanding information about who participated in the negotiations, what legal standards were applied, how the 15-percent will be collected, and more.

>>FTC Sues Company Over Taylor Swift Tickets

(Washington, DC)  --  The Federal Trade Commission is suing a ticket seller it says used fake accounts to buy Taylor Swift concert tickets to sell at a markup.  The feds say Key Investment Group used thousands of fake Ticketmaster accounts to buy tickets for Swift's wildly successful Eras Tour.  The company already sued the FTC in July in an effort to stop the investigation, arguing the purchases were legal because no automated software was used to buy the tickets.  

>>NAHB Says Home Builder Confidence Slipped In August

(Washington, DC)  --  Home builder confidence slipped in August due to weak demand for new single-family homes.  The National Association of Home Builders says sentiment in the market edged down one point from the month before.  In further signs of a soft housing market, 37 percent of all builders reported cutting prices with an average price reduction of five percent.  Coming up today, we'll get the latest data on housing starts and building permits.  

>>John Deere Announces Layoffs At Waterloo Location

(Waterloo, IA)  --  John Deere's recent layoffs announcement will affect dozens of workers in Waterloo, Iowa.  Officials say almost 250 workers will lose their jobs at three of the company's facilities in Iowa and Illinois.  That includes over 70 employees at the Waterloo Foundry, bringing the total to 265 Iowans who lost their jobs at John Deere this year.  The company blames the layoffs on tariffs and a declining agricultural economy.  

For: August 18, 2025

>>Wall Street Welcomes Fresh Trading Week

(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed mixed on Friday to end the week on Wall Street. The S&P 500 dipped a bit after hitting a record high, but still had a big weekly gain. Overall, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up two-percent this week while the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq each gained one-percent on the strength of consumer inflation numbers. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 34 points to 44-946. The S&P 500 dipped 18 points to 64-49. The Nasdaq fell 87 points to 21-622.

>>On The Calendar

(Undated) -- Coming up in the business week ahead, there are a handful of noteworthy economic reports scheduled for release. Things kick off today with the home builder confidence index. Housing starts and building permits are due Tuesday. Wednesday brings a look at the minutes of the Federal Reserve's most recent meeting in July. First-time jobless claims come out Thursday, with not much change expected and nothing on the following day's calendar.

>>Air Canada Flight Attendants Defy Return To Work Order

(Ottawa) -- Air Canada has suspended its plan to resume limited service as the union representing flight attendants has told members to defy a government order to return to work. The strike started early Saturday over pay and scheduling disputes. Industry analysts say about 100 thousand people have already had flights canceled worldwide since the flight attendants walked off the job.

>>Jackson Hole Econ Symposium August 21-23

(Undated) -- The annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium takes place this week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. All eyes will be on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell when he delivers remarks at the event on Friday. With his term not set to expire until next May, Powell has increasingly become the target of President Trump's frustration that the central bank has not moved to lower interest rates. The next chance to slash rates will come at the Fed's September meeting.

>>AT&T $177M Data Breach Settlement

(Undated) -- AT&T customers can now file claims worth up to 75-hundred dollars as part of a settlement over data breaches. The company had experienced a pair of data breaches, announced in March and July 2024, that were met with lawsuits. As part of the 177-million-dollar settlement, AT&T customers whose data was involved in either breach can file claims. The settlement website says customers eligible to file a claim will get an email notice.

>>Werner Recalls Ladders Due To Fall Hazard

(Undated) -- Over 122-thousand ladders sold at Home Depot are being recalled due to their locking mechanism failing, putting users at risk of a fall. The recall includes 20 and 24-foot Multi-Max Pro models sold between November 2021 and February 2024. The manufacturer, WernerCo, says owners should stop using the ladders immediately and register online for a full refund. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the company has received 18 reports of falls and 14 reports of injuries. 

For Friday, August 15th, 2025

>>Stocks Close Mixed

(New York, NY)  -- Wall Street is closed Thursday with stocks mixed.  The S&P 500 closed at a record high for the third straight session.  It comes after July's producer price index came in hotter than expected.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost eleven points to 44-911.  The S&P 500 gained one point to 64-68.  The Nasdaq fell by two points to 21-710.

>>Wholesale Prices Jump In July

(Washington, DC)  --  A new inflation report is coming in much hotter than expected.  The producer price index, which measures how much it costs to make certain goods, went up by point-nine-percent in July.  Economists had been expecting an increase of two-tenths of a percent.  It comes after the consumer price index came in cooler than expected for last month and gave stocks a boost.  

>>SCOTUS Declines Blocking MS Social Media Law

(Washington, DC) -- The Supreme Court is declining to block a Mississippi law that imposes age verification across social media platforms. The law was enacted last year and requires all users under 18 to verify their age as well as obtain parental consent to access social media sites. Mississippi's law addresses growing concerns about the negative impact of social media on young people, however, the industry group NetChoice argues that the restrictions violate free speech protections. Companies could be hit with ten-thousand dollar penalties for violating the law.

>>American Homebuyers Safety And Affordability Tradeoff 

(Undated) --  High housing costs are making some buyers more willing to risk safety for affordability. A recent Redfin survey found 22-percent of homebuyers would be willing to trade safety for affordability, while 27-percent said they'd compromise by giving up a low-crime area. Although some homebuyers are willing to comprise, more than 70-percent of those surveyed called personal safety and low crime "must-haves." Low natural disaster risk and access to grocery stores also ranked high among respondents. 

>>AT&T Data Breach Settlement Payments

(Dallas, TX) -- A recently established settlement site is offering new details about payments from an AT&T settlement. Earlier this year, the company agreed to a 177-million-dollar settlement after two lawsuits were brought against AT&T for a pair of massive data breaches targeting customers. According to reports from USA Today and CNET, the highest payments for those impacted by the first breach are five-thousand-dollars while the top payment for the second breach is 25-hundred-dollars. Customers have until November 18th to submit a claim online or by mail.

For: August 14, 2025

>>Stocks Close Higher

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street is closing with stocks higher.  Both the tech-heavy Nasdaq and S&P 500 closed at record highs once again.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 463 points to 44-922.  The S&P 500 rose by 20 points to 64-66.  The Nasdaq gained 31 points to 21-713.

>>PPI, Weekly Jobless Claims Due Today 

(Undated)  --  The producer price index will give investors another look at inflation and the country's economic picture when it's released this morning.  We'll also get word on weekly jobless claims.  Most analysts expect to see a slight increase from 226-thousand to around 229-thousand last week.  

>>Bessent Calls For Steep Interest Rate Cuts

(Washington, DC)  --  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is calling for steep cuts to interest rates. Speaking with Bloomberg News, Bessent pushed for a half-point reduction and a series of cuts that would substantially lower rates.  The treasury secretary's latest comments are in line with the Trump administration's pressure campaign on the Federal Reserve to lower rates.  President Trump has been calling for interest rate cuts since the beginning of the year while the Fed has been waiting to see the effects of tariffs on the economy.

>>GE To Grow Manufacturing Base In U.S.

(Louisville, KY)  --  GE Appliances is shifting production of refrigerators, gas ranges and water heaters out of China and Mexico and back to the U.S.  The company's President and CEO says GE Appliances will expand operations in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina.  The three-billion-dollar investment is expected to add more than a thousand jobs.  The move comes as President Trump raises tariffs in part to try and lure manufacturing back to the U.S.

>>Report: Apple Developing Tabletop Robot

(Cupertino, CA)  --  Apple might be developing a tabletop robot that looks like an iPad with a movable limb.  That's according to a report from Bloomberg, which says the device can turn toward people and move its limb accordingly.  The company is reportedly looking at a 2027 release.  

>>NY Sues Zelle For Enabling Consumer Fraud

(New York, NY)  --  The state of New York is suing Zelle.  Attorney General Letitia James filed a complaint Wednesday, and said security lapses on the banking platform have allowed scam artists to steal over a billion dollars from consumers.  Zelle's parent company is owned by seven major U.S. banks, including Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo.  James claims the banks knew for years the platform was vulnerable to scam artists but resisted basic safeguards.  Zelle claims the fraud starts when criminals trick people into sending money, and that holding the platform liable could lead to higher fees for consumers.

For: August 13, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher yesterday with the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq both finishing at record highs. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 483 to 44-458. The S&P 500 rose by 72 points to 64-45. The Nasdaq gained 296 points to 21-681.

>>Neutral Inflation Numbers May Lead To Rate Cut

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump may soon get the interest rate cut he's been asking for from the Fed. That's because July's inflation report came in better than expected yesterday. The Labor Department's latest consumer price index, a general measure of how much people are paying for goods and services and a key inflation indicator, was up two-tenths of a percent from June. Many economists say the report should be evidence that Trump's tariffs are not leading to a spike in inflation, and it's now safe to cut rates, possibly as soon as September.

>>Trump Tells Goldman Sachs To Fire Chief Economist

(New York, NY) -- President Trump says Goldman Sachs should fire its chief economist after he warned that Americans will pay more thanks to Trump's tariffs. Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday to tell CEO David Solomon, who also works as a DJ, that he should fire the economist or just focus on his second job. Trump defended his tariffs arguing they've caused no inflation or problems for America.

>>Trump's Nominates EJ Antoni To Become Next Labor Statistics Bureau Chief

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump's pick for the next commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics has suggested the monthly jobs report should be suspended. In an interview with Fox Business that happened before Trump nominated EJ Antoni for position, Antoni said the bureau should instead do quarterly reports instead of monthly. Antoni said major decision makers rely on those numbers and he added there's been a lack of confidence in the data. Trump fired BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer earlier this month after the agency released a weak jobs report. Trump claimed the jobs numbers were "rigged" to make him and Republicans look bad.

>>Spirit Airlines Warns It May Not Survive Without More Cash

(Dania Beach, FL) -- Spirit Airlines is raising concerns it may not survive much longer without raising more cash. In it's quarterly report Monday, the budget airline said it continues "to be affected by adverse market conditions" including weak demand for domestic leisure travel. This comes less than six months after Spirit came out of bankruptcy. Spirit said it's considering selling airport gates, real estate and some aircraft to get more cash. The airline said management has "substantial doubt" of its ability to continue operating for another year.

>>Ford To Stop Making Escape And Corsair SUVs

(Detroit, MI) -- Two American-made cars are going out of production. The Ford Motor Company says two of its small SUVs, the Ford Escape and the Lincoln Corsair, will go out of production later this year. The company announced Monday that the Kentucky plant where the two vehicles are built is being retooled to produce a new midsize electric pickup truck. The new EV truck is expected to hit the market in 2027 and will cost around 30-thousand dollars. Fans of the Escape and the Corsair still have time to buy them. Ford says they're going to have enough inventory on hand to sell the SUVs well into 2026.

>>Kodak Has "Substantial Doubt" About Future

(Rochester, NY) -- Kodak's future may not be a clear picture. On Monday, the 133-year-old company said there is "substantial doubt" about being able to stay in business. Kodak said it might not have the resources to pay its debts. The photo company filed for bankruptcy in 2012. That came after it struggled to adapt as digital cameras began replacing film cameras.

>>Fanatics Launches New Loyalty Program

(Jacksonville, FL) -- Fanatics is launching a new loyalty program. Fanatics One members will earn points for purchasing merchandise, apparel, trading cards and sports bets to gain access to perks including free shipping, giveaways, access to events and more. According to the company's chief strategy and growth officer, roughly ten-million people who are already in its FanCash program will be converted to the Fanatics One program. The program will further draw a connection between Fanatics' growing business verticals across the sports industry. 

For: August 12, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell (New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street Monday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 200 points to 43-975. The S&P 500 dropped by 16 points to 63-73. The tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 64 points to 21-385.

>>CPI Report Out This Morning

(Washington, DC) -- A new inflation report is due out today, and most economists are expecting bad news. The Consumer Price Index is expected to show prices rose at a faster pace in July compared to June. The annual inflation rate is also expected to tick up. Most experts are linking the projected increase to President Trump's tariffs.

>>Trump Extends China Tariff Truce 90 Days

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump is signing an executive order to extend a tariff truce with China another 90 days. The truce, struck in June during talks between U.S. and Chinese officials, keeps U.S. tariffs on most Chinese goods at 55-percent. The U.S. is in return asking Beijing for a commitment to boost exports of rare earths to the U.S.

>>Ford Investing $5B To Produce New Truck

(Dearborn, MI) -- Ford is planning five-billion-dollars in new investments in Kentucky and Michigan to build a new electric truck and batteries. Ford's CEO Jim Farley announced Monday that the money would be going towards four-thousand jobs. The new truck is described as a midsize four-door that starts at about 30-thousand dollars. Farley said Ford is changing up the assembly line process pioneered by Henry Ford 120 years ago. He said the new system involves construction in several locations and can get the job done much faster. The truck is slated to reach consumers in 2027 with a starting price of around 30-thousand dollars.

>>GitHub CEO Leaving

(San Francisco, CA) -- The CEO of Microsoft's GitHub unit is leaving the company. It comes as GitHub has been facing steadily-growing competition from AI-powered coding tools. Thomas Dohmke first came aboard with Microsoft in 2015. He took on the role of GitHub CEO six years later. Dohmke sent a memo to employees on Monday indicating he'd be staying on through the end of this year to, in his words, "help guide the transition."

>>Boeing Strike Continues

(St. Louis, MO) -- The Boeing machinists' strike is in its second week as new talks are called for. The union, which represents over three-thousand workers at three facilities in the St. Louis area, saw workers hit the picket lines earlier this month, demanding a better deal. The workers currently off the job mainly build fighter jets and weapons systems.

>>Increased Consumption Of Dollar Store Food Options

(Undated) -- American families are increasingly turning to dollar stores to buy food items. A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that calories obtained from dollar store items have nearly doubled from three-point-four-percent to six-point-five-percent of a household's purchases. Dollar stores are now the fastest growing food retailers in the U.S., which comes as people choose the budget-friendly stores for price advantage. Scientists also noted the results suggest many "households buying less-healthy foods from dollar stores are, at the same time, buying healthier foods from other types of retail outlets."

>>Walmart To Pay $5.6 Million To Settle Lawsuit

(Santa Clara, CA) -- Walmart will pay over five-and-a-half million dollars to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of overcharging customers. The world's largest retailer was accused by four counties in California of charging customers too much and sold food that didn't weigh as much as advertised. As part of the settlement, Walmart will pay the penalty and ensure employees check pricing and weights in California stores. In 2012, the company paid just over two-million for similar issues. 

For: August 11, 2025

>>Watching Wall Street 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher to end the week on Friday.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed at a record high after Apple provided a major boost with the announcement of plans to spend 600-billion in U.S. investments in the coming years.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 206 points to 44-175.  The S&P 500 rose by 49 points to 63-89.  The Nasdaq gained 207 points to 21-450.

>>On The Horizon 

(Undated)  --  Coming up in the business week ahead, things get off to a relatively slow start with no notable economic reports on today's calendar.  Inflation will be in the spotlight the following day with the release of the latest consumer price index.  The producer price index is due on Thursday along with weekly jobless claims.  Retail sales and consumer sentiment close out the week on Friday.

>>Tariffs Projected To Cause Higher Prices For Consumers 

(Undated)  --  President Trump's tariffs are projected to increase prices for consumers by nearly two-percent in the short-term.  According to a new analysis from The Budget Lab at Yale, consumers face an overall effective tariff rate of 18-point-six-percent, or 17-point-seven-percent when adjusted for shopper preference, which is the highest since 1934.  The analysis found that tariffs will primarily impact leather products in the short run while automobile prices could rise nearly ten-percent in the long run.  The Budget Lab also projected that low-income households would feel the costs of the tariffs more than their high-income counterparts.

>>Feds Want To Sell Off Stakes In Freddie And Fannie

(Washington, DC)  --  The federal government plans to start selling its ownership in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-created mortgage guarantors that work to keep the market stable.  The organizations have been under conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis and now the government plans to start selling shares to the public later this year.  While Fannie and Freddie were once publicly traded, it's unclear what the new process or structure would be.

>>OpenAI Launches New GPT-5 Model

(San Francisco, CA)  --  OpenAI is launching its most advanced AI model called GPT-5.  The company said Thursday that the new model of artificial intelligence is smarter, faster and "more useful" than previous models, particularly across domains like writing, coding and health care.  It also said GPT-5 had a lower "hallucination rate" than previous models, meaning it fabricates answers less frequently.  OpenAI said it will be making GPT-5 available to everyone, including its free users.  

>>AOL Shutting Down Dial-Up Internet

(New York, NY)  --  AOL is shutting down its dial-up internet service after more than four decades.  Once a staple of the early internet era, the service which connected modems through phone lines at one time boasted millions of customers.  Even as late as 2015, AOL had more than two-million dial-up customers.  That number has since dropped to the low thousands.  The service will be discontinued on September 30th.

>>Popular Sweeteners Recalled Nationwide

(Undated)  --  Two popular sweeteners are being recalled nationwide due to a labeling mix-up.  According to the FDA, NuNatural is recalling its Organic Pure Stevia and Pure Monk Fruit Sweetener because 78 bottles of each were found to bear the other's label.  The one-ounce bottles of Organic Pure Stevia and the point-71-ounce bottles of Pure Monk Fruit Sweetener have a best-by date of April 2028.  The FDA advises that the probability of serious health problems is low despite upgrading the recall. 

>>Fashion Designer Apologizes For Adidas Collab

(Undated)  --  Fashion designer Willy Chavarria is apologizing after a collaboration with Adidas brought accusations of cultural appropriation.  His Oaxaca [[ wah-HAH-kah ]] Slip-On drew inspiration from traditional leather sandals made by indigenous Mexicans.  Some Mexicans, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, took issue with the fact the shoes were apparently made in China with no input from or credit given to the Oaxacan community.  Chavarria said his intent was to honor the spirit of Oaxaca and that he was deeply sorry.  Adidas says it has contacted Oaxacan officials to discuss restitution. 

For Friday, August 8th, 2025

>>Stocks Close Mixed

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street closed with stocks mixed Thursday.  It comes as investors are concerned about the impact of tariffs that went into effect yesterday.  Elsewhere, Eli Lilly saw a drop in shares after late stage trial results of an obesity pill didn't please investors.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 224 points to 43-968.  The S&P 500 dropped by five points to 63-40.  The Nasdaq gained 73 points to 21-242.

>>Trump Selects Miran For Fed Board Of Governors

(Washington, DC) -- President Trump is selecting Stephen Miran to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Miran, who serves as chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, was tapped for the board after Adriana Kugler resigned last Friday. President Trump congratulated Miran in a post on Truth Social and praised him for his "unparalleled" economic expertise. Miran will serve out Kugler's term, which expires January 31st, 2026, as the Trump administration continues to search for a permanent replacement. 

>>Trump Calls For Intel CEO's Resignation 

(Undated) - President Trump is calling for the CEO of Intel to resign. The president made a post to Truth Social arguing that Lip-Bu Tan is "highly conflicted" and "must resign, immediately." Trump's comments follow Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton's letter to the semiconductor firm earlier this week questioning Tan over concerns with his ties to China. Reuters previously reported that the Intel executive had investments in hundreds of Chinese tech firms, with at least eight having ties to the Chinese military.  

>>Weekly Jobless Claims Higher Than Expected   

(Washington, DC)  --  More Americans than expected found themselves filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week.  The Labor Department says it received 226-thousand initial requests in the week ending August 2nd.  That's an increase of seven thousand from the previous week's revised today.  It's also a few thousand more than most analysts had been expecting today.

>>Trump Defends Firing Labor Statistician

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is using charts put together by a Fox business analyst to defend his firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner. Trump welcomed Stephen Moore to the Oval office on Thursday and went over his presentation with reporters.  Moore claims to have data that shows the fired stats chief overestimated job growth by one-point-five million jobs over the last two years of the Biden administration.  Trump fired Erika McEntarfer after the Bureau released revised the May and June reports downward, claiming she was "politically motivated."  

>>Uber Looking For Money To Expand Robotaxi Business

(San Francisco, CA)  --  Uber is talking with banks and private equity firms to get the cash it wants to expand its robotaxi business.  The company has been making partnerships with automakers to build its footprint in the self-driving taxi industry.  In the meantime, the company says it will use some of its annual seven-billion-dollars in cash flow to deploy robotaxis.  It currently offers rides in Austin and Atlanta.  

For: August 7, 2025 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this week after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Wednesday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 81 points to 44-193.  The S&P 500 gained 45 points to 63-45.  The Nasdaq gained 252 points to 21-169.  

>>New Tariffs In Effect

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump's sweeping tariffs slate went into effect just after midnight Eastern time.  Import taxes will reach levels not seen in the country in almost 100 years, with over 60 countries and the European Union facing rates of 15 percent or more.  A wide variety of products will be hit, ranging from appliances, cars, food and furniture.  In a post on Truth Social just after things went into effect, Trump said billions of dollars are "now flowing" into the U.S.  

>>Trump/Apple $600B U.S. Manufacturing Investment Announcement

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says Apple will invest 600-billion-dollars in the U.S.  Trump was joined by Apple CEO Tim Cook at the White House on Wednesday for the announcement, where he added the investment will happen over the next four years.  It's 100-billion more than what was originally pledged by Apple.  Part of the investment includes new facilities in Texas, Arizona, Utah, and New York.

>>Weekly Jobless Claims Due

(Washington, DC)  --  The weekly look at first-time unemployment claims is due today.  Most analysts expect the Labor Department to report it received around 221-thousand initial requests for benefits last week.  That would be a relatively slight change from the previous reporting of 218-thousand the week before that.  

>>Instagram Adding New Features

(Menlo Park, CA)  --  Instagram is adding some new features including a Friends tab in Reels.  Users will now be able to repost public feed posts and video reels.  They will also be able to share their location on the Instagram Map.  Parents will get a notification if their teen shares their location.

>>Claire's Files For Bankruptcy Again

(Hoffman Estates, IL)  --  Claire's is filing for bankruptcy for the second time in less than a decade. The Illinois-based accessories retailer announced that it was voluntarily beginning Chapter eleven proceedings "to maximize the value of its business." The CEO of Claire's called the decision "difficult" but "necessary," and the company's Canadian branch is also expected to file. North American Claire's locations are expected to remain open for now.  

For: August 6, 2025

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed lower on Wall Street yesterday.  The last few sessions have been a bit of a see-saw with a sell-off happening on Friday and a rebound session taking place on Monday.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 61 points to 44-111.  The S&P 500 lost 30 points to 62-99.  The Nasdaq dropped by 137 points to 20-916.

>>Boeing Strike Enters Third Day

(St. Louis, MO)  --  A strike involving thousands of Boeing employees in the St. Louis area is now in its third day.  More than three-thousand workers went on strike Monday after rejecting Boeing's contract offer.  Union members are calling for higher pay as well as changes to time off and retirement benefits.  The workers now walking the picket lines mainly build fighter jets and weapons systems

>>Bessent Not Interested In Fed Chair Position

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump says Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent "wants to stay where he is," when asked about his prospective candidates to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Bessent's name has been floated repeatedly as a potential replacement, but the president said he has spoken to Bessent and "he likes being Treasury secretary." Trump has pressured Powell to step down from the role of chair for not cutting interests rates, but he has indicted he will not fire Powell before the end of his term in May 2026. The president is also considering former Federal Reserve Board Governor Kevin Warsh and Kevin Hassett, who is the head of the National Economic Council at the White House. 

>>Trump Threatens Tariffs On Pharmaceutical Imports

(Washington, DC)  --  President Trump is threatening to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. The president said during an interview that he plans to place a small initial tariff on pharmaceuticals before increasing the rate to 150-percent after one to one-and-a-half-years and then imposing another increase to 250-percent. The administration wants more drug companies to onshore their manufacturing, but experts suggest the process would take years to complete. The White House launched an investigation in April into the effects of importing pharmaceuticals on national security. 

>>Homeowners And Homebuyers Price Standoff 

(Undated)  --  More homeowners are starting to pull their properties off the market as would-be buyers push back on higher home costs. According to Realtor-dot-com, the rate of delisted homes increased by 47-percent nationwide in May when compared to last year. Experts say the delisting surge "is partly due to the overall expansion in active inventory." Home inventory hit a new post-pandemic high, and sellers aren't in as much of a rush to accept lower than their desired amount.  

>>Beverly, MA Hottest Zip Code In The U.S.

(Beverly, MA)  --  Beverly, Massachusetts, is the hottest zip code in the country.  It's ranked number-one among the 50 hottest zip codes for home buyers according to Realtor.com.  The zip codes included "desirable suburban corridors" that can be purchased at surprising median listing prices.  The current median listing price for a home in Beverly is 746-thousand-dollars.  Marlton, New Jersey came in at number two, followed by Leominster, Massachusetts; Ballwin, Missouri; and Wayne, New Jersey.  

>>Roku Debuts New Ad-Free Streaming Service

(San Jose, CA)  --  Roku is launching a new ad-free streaming service.  "Howdy" costs just three-bucks a month and includes almost ten-thousand hours of content.  The library content will include shows and movies from studios like Warner Bros. Discovery and Lionsgate.  Some of the titles included on the first day of service include the "Back to the Future" films, "Elvis" and "Mad Max: Fury Road."  As of now, Howdy is only available on Roku devices, but the company has plans to make it available elsewhere soon.

For: August 5, 2025 

>>Ahead Of The Bell 

(New York, NY)  --  The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed sharply higher Monday to kick off the week.  That came after a sell-off on Friday sparked by tariff concerns and a poor July jobs report that led to President Trump's decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 585 points to 44-173.  The S&P 500 rose by 91 points to 63-29.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 403 points to 21-053.

>>Tesla Awards Musk $29B In Shares

(Austin, TX)  --  Tesla is giving CEO Elon Musk an interim pay package worth 29-billion-dollars in shares.  The shares vest in two years but will be forfeited if Musk wins his legal battle to get the shares from his 2018 package worth 56-billion-dollars.  The 2018 package has been in limbo since a judge ruled in January that it had been improperly granted.  The case is now before the Delaware Supreme Court.  

>>Boeing Strike Continues

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Thousands of Boeing employees in Missouri are on strike for a second day.  Over three-thousand workers from Boeing facilities in the St. Louis area and Illinois hit the picket lines yesterday after rejecting Boeing's latest contract offer.  Union members want better wages, time off, and retirement benefits.  Boeing had offered a 20 percent pay increase over the four-year contract.

>>"New York Post" Announces "California Post"

(Los Angeles, CA)  --  The New York Post is headed west.  The long-running tabloid newspaper will launch The California Post early next year.  News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson said, "Los Angeles and California surely need a daily dose of The Post as an antidote to the jaundiced, jaded journalism that has sadly proliferated."  California Post content will appear both in a daily print edition and online.  The New York post noted that California is home to the second largest concentration of its readers, with three-point-five-million monthly unique visitors to its web properties.

>>McDonald's Testing Popular Concept Items

(Chicago, IL)  --  McDonald's is testing beverage concepts at 500 U.S. locations.  The beverages will come from the fast-food chain's short-lived drink focused spin off restaurant CosMc's.  They include cold coffees, fruity refreshers, crafted sodas and energizing sips.  McDonald's chief customer experience and marketing officer issued a statement calling the rollout a great opportunity to meet "customers' evolving tastes and show up in new moments." 

For Friday, August 1st, 2025

>>Stocks Close Lower

(New York, NY)  --  Wall Street is closed Thursday with stocks lower.  It comes as President Trump's tariffs loom.  However, Trump announced a 90 day extension for tariffs against Mexico.  At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 330 points to 44-130.  The S&P 500 dropped by 23 points to 63-39.  The Nasdaq fell by seven points to 21-122.

>>Trump Admin Finalizes Tariffs

(Washington, DC)  --  The Trump administration is finalizing "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of countries.  On Thursday President Trump signed an executive order increasing tariffs on products from around 70 countries.  Originally set to go into effect Friday, the new rates will now kick in next week.  Trade deals so far have been agreed to with the European Union, the UK, Japan and South Korea, among others.  Trump has also announced tariffs on Canada will be increased from 25 to 35 percent starting Friday.

>>Inflation Up In June

(Washington, DC)  --  Inflation was up in June.  The personal consumption expenditures price index, a key inflation gauge used by the Federal Reserve, rose three-tenths of a percent, the biggest increase in four months.  That puts the annual PCE inflation rate at two-point-six percent.  

>>119 JCPenney Stores Sold In $947 Million Deal

(Plano, TX) -- Over 100 JCPenney stores are being sold to a private equity firm for more than 900-million-dollars. The deal with Onyx consists of 119 stores, including more than 20 in Texas, and comes five years after the once-popular department store declared bankruptcy. Onyx will pay 947-million-dollars, and the deal is scheduled to close in September. All 119 JCPenney stores remain open, and it is unclear what is planned for them.

>>Visitation to Southern Nevada Falls by 11.3% in June

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  Southern Nevada continues to see fewer tourists. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says visitation fell for the sixth straight month in June. Three-point-one-million people visited Southern Nevada in June. It was an eleven-point-three-percent decline compared to June of 2024. It was also the first double-digit percentage decline seen in a month since February of 2021, during the pandemic.