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Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:44 - 0:00 transcript Columbia Protesters Occupy Building on Campus People inside barricaded the doors of Hamilton Hall with furniture. “Palestine will live forever.” “Go away, yo.” “Free, free Palestine.” “Free, free, free Palestine.” “Shut it down.” “Palestine will be free.” “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.” People inside barricaded the doors of Hamilton Hall with furniture. Credit Credit... Bing Guan for The New York TimesOutside the neoclassical building, protesters, many wearing helmets, safety glasses, gloves and masks, barricaded the entrance. Image Student protesters marching around the encampment on campus at Columbia University on Tuesday. So far, at least, a core of student protesters has vowed to stay put.

Persons: Columbia wasn’t, “, ”, Bing Guan, Alexander Hamilton, Bob Day, Columbia’s, ” Ben Chang, Sueda, ” “ We’ve, Leanne Abraham, Bing Guan Elga Castro, Castro, Chris Eisgruber, Nemat, Anna Betts, Eryn Davis, Tracey Tully, Karla Marie Sanford, John Yoon, Mike Baker Organizations: Police, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Portland State University, Hamilton Hall, Columbia, Columbia Protesters, People, Hall, ”, New York Times, Treasury, Boeing, Portland Police Bureau, Columbia University, ., New York Times Columbia, Police Department, Columbia University Faculty, Broadway Low Library Columbia University, West, St . Columbia University New York, Butler Library Amsterdam, 114th, 114th St . Columbia University New York, Barnard College, New York University, Princeton University, Clio Hall, Princeton, Rutgers University’s Locations: Hamilton, Columbia, California, Oregon, Manhattan, Palestine, ”, Portland, Gaza . Columbia, St, St . Columbia University New York City, Butler, 114th St, Spanish, Gaza, New Jersey, Brunswick

☆ Live Updates: Yale Students Arrested as Campus Chaos Spreads
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Alan Blinder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

Some reportedly shouted at Jewish students and made antisemitic statements. Still, some Jewish students who are supporting the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus said they felt solidarity, not a sense of danger, even as they denounced the acts of antisemitism. Image Grant Miner, a Jewish graduate student at Columbia University, says he doesn’t feel unsafe on campus. Jewish students get harassed trying to leave @Columbia’s campus tonight. Image At the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the Columbia campus, tents were crowded together Sunday night.

Persons: Eric Adams, ” Andrew Bates, Nemat Shafik, Minouche, “ Al, Adams, Grant Miner, Bing Guan, New York Times “, “, U2Ii5GTuLm — David lederer, @Davidlederer6, ”, Eliana Goldin, Aryeh, . Goldin, Samantha Slater, Shafik, Mr, Miner, ” Makayla, Gubbay, —, “ There’s, ” Ms, Elie Buechler, Rabbi Buechler, Hillel, ” Brian Cohen, Noah Levine, “ I’m, Xavier Westergaard, Sharon Otterman Organizations: Columbia, Jewish, White, New, ”, Columbia University, Credit, New York Times, Palestinian, Israel, University, New York Police Department, Barnard College, Gaza Solidarity, New York Times Students, Ivy League, Campus, “, Hillel, Broadway, Jewish Voice, Peace Locations: Upper Manhattan, New York City, American, Israel, Columbia, Poland, @Columbia’s, Europe, Chabad, Gaza, Palestine, Amsterdam

☆ Macy's proxy fight is over, but the battle for the department store's future wages on
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Arkhouse then launched its proxy fight and put forward nine nominees to Macy's 15-person board. Turning the tideOther department store chains have faced challenges from activists in recent years, and even when those efforts fall short, the pressure can bring about sweeping changes. That includes Macy's locations with stronger sales as well as its two chains that have outperformed the namesake brand, higher-end department store chain Bloomingdale's and beauty chain Bluemercury. Arkhouse claims Macy's refused to engage with it, and Macy's rebuffed Arkhouse saying it didn't have the financing for the takeover it proposed. Arkhouse, for its part, has said it plans to keep Macy's stores open.

Persons: Bing Guan, Tony Spring, Arkhouse, Neil Saunders, Macy's, Michelle Gass, Levi Strauss, Chip Bergh, Ben Hider, —, GlobalData's Saunders, It'll, Gavriel Kahane, Kahane, it's Organizations: Macy's Inc, National Retail Federation, Bloomberg, Getty, Arkhouse Management, Capital Management, American, Brigade, Levi, Herald, Sears, CNBC, Macy's, Fortress Investment Group, One Investment Management Locations: Herald, New York, Macy's, New York City

☆ Foot Locker's post-earnings plunge could be setting up a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The company's long-term goal, as part of Foot Locker's "Lace Up" turnaround plan, is to achieve $350 million in operating cost savings. Digital sales now represent nearly 20% of Foot Locker's total sales, Dillon said on the call. Still, the bright spots were not enough to block out the sting from Foot Locker's guidance. By store, in North America, same-store-sales were up 4.8% at Foot Locker and 6.9% at Kids Foot Locker. A Foot Locker store near the Times Square neighborhood of New York, US, on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.

Persons: Locker, —, Mary Dillon, Dillon, we've, Foot, FactSet, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Bing Guan Organizations: Nike, Revenue, SG, Wall Street, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: North America, —, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Pacific, New York

☆ Coastal cities are sinking in the US and pushing sea level rise into overdrive
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Dozens of cities along the US coastline are sinking at alarming rates, leaving them far more exposed to devastating flooding from sea level rise than previously thought, scientists reported Wednesday. Cities on the East Coast where sinking land is exacerbating sea level rise include New York City and Atlantic City; Virginia Beach; Charleston, South Carolina; and Savannah, Georgia. As much as a third of sea level rise in this region over the next three decades could come from the sinking effect, the report found. This is a particular problem in areas where new coastal land has been created over the years by backfilling with sediment. Additionally, researchers say most sea level rise studies make projections for the end of the century, which “is viewed as too far (away) to begin planning,” Shirzaei said.

Persons: ”, Manoochehr Shirzaei, Leonard Ohenhen, Ophelia, Bing Guan, Kristina Hill, you’ll, ” Ohenhen, Joe Raedle, ” Shirzaei Organizations: CNN, Virginia Tech, Cities, Seaboard, Corpus Christi, Reuters, University of California, Getty Locations: East, New York City, Atlantic City, Virginia Beach, Charleston , South Carolina, Savannah , Georgia, Gulf, East Coast, Louisiana, Texas, Galveston, Freeport, Corpus, Northeast, Hamilton Beach, Queens, Berkeley, New Orleans, Port, Miami

☆ What’s open and closed on MLK Day 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

However, the first national celebration of MLK Day didn’t take place until 1986 after years of advocacy. Here’s what’s open and closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2024. Bing Guan/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesMajor US retailers and grocers — such as Target, Walmart and Kroger — will be open on MLK Day. MLK Day is one of six free entrance days in 2024. FedEx will be open, though FedEx Express and FedEx Ground Economy will be operating on modified service.

Persons: Martin Luther King, Jr, John Conyers, King, Here’s, Bing Guan Organizations: New, New York CNN, MLK, Retail, Costco, Bloomberg, Getty, Major, Target, Walmart, Kroger, Sam’s, US National Parks, United States Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, FedEx Express, Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange Locations: New York, New Hampshire

☆ Activist Nuns, With Stake in Smith & Wesson, Sue Gun Maker Over AR-15 Rifles
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Cameron Mcwhirter | Zusha Elinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistols for sale at a shop in California. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg NewsA group of activist nuns filed an unusual shareholder lawsuit to pressure gun maker Smith & Wesson to drastically change the way it markets, makes and sells its popular version of the AR-15 rifle. The so-called shareholder derivative action, which the nuns filed in Nevada state court Tuesday against publicly traded Smith & Wesson, alleges that company leaders are putting shareholders at risk. They argue the leaders are exposing the company to liability by the way they have made and sold the rifle, which has been used in several mass shootings in recent years.

Persons: Smith, Bing Guan Organizations: Wesson, Bloomberg Locations: California, Nevada

☆ Phillips 66's refining operations come under activist radar
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REFINERIES:WOOD RIVER, Roxana, Illinois, refining capacity: 356,000 barrels per day (bpd)Largest Phillips 66 refinery by operating capacity. LOS ANGELES: Carson and Wilmington, California, capacity: 139,000 bpdTwo sites linked by pipeline, producing California Air Resources Board-grade gasoline and fuel-grade petroleum coke. *SAN FRANCISCO: Santa Maria, Wilmington, California and Rodeo, Rodeo, California, capacity: 120,200 bpdPhillips 66's San Francisco operations consisted of two sites: Santa Maria refinery in Wilmington, California and Rodeo refinery in Rodeo, California. INTERNATIONAL REFINERIES:HUMBER, North Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, total throughput: 245,000 bpdProduces transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks, home heating oil and petroleum coke. MiRO, Karlsruhe, Germany, total throughput: 61,000 bpdProduces transportation fuels, petrochemical feedstocks, home heating oil, bitumen, and petroleum coke.

Persons: Bing Guan, refiner Phillips, Phillips, Santa, Santa Maria, Shariq Khan, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Phillips, Los, Los Angeles Refinery, REUTERS, Investment Management, Energy, Exports, California Air Resources, INTERNATIONAL, MiRO, . Energy, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Carson , California, U.S, Wood, Borger, Roxana , Illinois, Midcontinent, BORGER, Borger , Texas, West Texas, New Mexico , Colorado, SWEENY, Old Ocean , Texas, United States, America, LAKE CHARLES, Westlake , Louisiana, Europe, Linden , New Jersey, York, Bayway, East Coast . PONCA CITY, Ponca City , Oklahoma, ANGELES, Carson, Wilmington , California, California, California , Nevada, Arizona, FERNDALE, Ferndale , Washington, BILLINGS, Billings , Montana, Montana , Wyoming , Idaho , Utah, Colorado, Washington, Santa Maria, Rodeo , California, Francisco, HUMBER, North Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, Karlsruhe, Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, San Francisco, Bengaluru

A general view of the Phillips 66 Company's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic & imported crude oil into gasoline, aviation and diesel fuels, in Carson, California, U.S., March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 29 (Reuters) - Elliott Investment Management has taken a $1 billion stake in Phillips 66 and is urging the U.S. oil refiner and pipeline operator to revamp its board to boost lagging performance. Phillips 66 has lagged its U.S. refining rivals at a time when fuel demand and margins have soared for the industry. Phillips 66 Chief Executive Mark Lashier acknowledged discussions with Elliott but did not say whether the company was open to adding two Elliott-recommended directors to its board. Phillips 66 currently has 13 board members.

Persons: Bing Guan, Phillips, Mark Lashier, Elliott, Lashier, John Pike, Mike Tomkins, Garfield Miller, Miller, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Laura Sanicola, Gary McWilliams, Anil D'Silva, Bernadette Baum, Mark Porter Organizations: Phillips, Los, Los Angeles Refinery, Elliott Investment Management, Marathon Petroleum, Energy, Exxon Mobil, Aegis Energy Advisors, Elliott, Svea, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Carson , California, U.S, Houston, Providence, New York, Bengaluru

☆ CBS 'Late Show' host Stephen Colbert recovering from ruptured appendix
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Stephen Colbert moderates a panel on the Prime Video streaming series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, U.S., July 22, 2022. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Production of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" was canceled this week as the top-rated U.S. late-night television host recovers from surgery for a ruptured appendix, the CBS program announced on Monday. "Sorry to say that I have to cancel our shows this week. Actually, I’m recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix," he wrote. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephen Colbert, Bing Guan, Colbert, Evie, Ed Sullivan, Jennifer Garner, Baz Luhrmann, Jon Batiste, Patrick Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Kelsey Grammer, Variety, Steve Gorman, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Power, Con, REUTERS, CBS, Writers Guild of America, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, U.S, Turkey, Manhattan, Hollywood, Los Angeles

☆ Why doesn’t the US have more passenger trains?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Today, the United States’ passenger rail system is an echo of its former self, with swathes of the network unused or surrendered to freight. In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Rail Passenger Service Act, which removed the requirement that private rail companies provide passenger service. Mike Segar/ReutersBut many American towns and cities have lost access to passenger trains. Can passenger trains make a comeback? A passenger rides an Amtrak train passing near the Pacific Ocean on November 9, 2021 near Oceanside, California.

Persons: you’ll, Biden, ”, Miguel Medina, JP Morgan, Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Christian Wolmar, “, Yonah Freemark, Bing Guan, Freemark, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Harvey Weber, Paul Hammond, Hammond, Richard Nixon, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Mike Segar, Ulysses S, Grant, Al Drago, Joe Biden, ” Freemark, Robert Puentes, It’s, ” Puentes, Mario Tama, Brightline, Carline Jean, Tony Coscia Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Washington , D.C, Brightline, Miami, US Department of Transportation, du, Getty, Amtrak, US, Transcontinental Railroad, Central Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Railroad, CNN, Bloomberg, United States Senate, Newsday, Colorado Railroad Museum, Rail, Service, Hall, Pennsylvania, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Washington DC, Eno Center for Transportation, Private, Las, Passengers, West Palm Beach, Fort, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Tribune Locations: Europe, Asia, America, United States, Boston, Washington ,, Orlando, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Swedish, Paris, AFP, France, Japan, China, Promontory Point , Utah, Compton , California, American, Levittown , New York, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Indiana, Ohio, Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, Potomac, Delaware, Oceanside , California, South Florida, Las Vegas, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, South

It ships the goods to FedEx returns centers, where they are sorted by merchant. Consolidating returns can lower transportation costs as much as 20%, said Amena Ali, CEO of returns services provider Optoro. Meanwhile, rival UPS is buying Happy Returns to beef up its e-commerce returns business that has grown 25% since 2020. Roughly 5,200 UPS Store locations will join Happy Returns' established drop-off points, making the service available at more than 12,000 U.S. locations, UPS said. FedEx accepts no label, no box returns at 10,000 U.S. locations including FedEx Office, FedEx Express Ship Centers, and Walgreens (WBA.O).

Persons: Bing Guan, Ryan Kelly, FedEx's, Kelly, Amena Ali, Lisa Baertlein, Will Dunham Organizations: FedEx, Los Angeles International Airport, REUTERS, United Parcel Service, Walmart, Reuters, Optoro, UPS, FedEx Office, FedEx Express Ship Centers, Walgreens, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ The Rules for Holiday Spending This Year (No. 1: Wait ’Til December)
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Oyin Adedoyin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some 182 million Americans are expected to shop at stores and websites this weekend as the holiday season arrives. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg NewsIf your goal is to score the best deals and discounts on your holiday shopping, it likely pays to hit the snooze button. There are some Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, of course. Retailers want to get you in the door, and then get you to spend more.

Persons: Bing Guan Organizations: Bloomberg

"In the more recent macro environment, consumer demand has been even more uneven and difficult to predict," Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said. U.S. holiday sales are expected to rise at its slowest pace in five years, according to data from the National Retail Federation, as Americans are likely to pull back on holiday shopping. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLast week, industry bellwether Walmart (WMT.N) warned of cautious consumer spending as the holiday shopping season gets underway. Retail executives said higher interest rates, inflation and a resumption in student loan repayments will keep consumer wallets under pressure. Still, some investors expect holiday sales starting Black Friday to hold "some positive surprises."

Persons: Corie Barry, Bing Guan, Fitch, David Silverman, Marvin Ellison, Thomas Hayes, Rachel Wolff, Ananya Mariam Rajesh, Savyata Mishra, Granth Vanaik, Juby Babu, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: National Retail Federation, REUTERS, Walmart, Retail, Apparel, Abercrombie, Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Insider Intelligence, Thomson Locations: United States, SoHo, New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Gap Is Righting the Ship With Old Navy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Jinjoo Lee | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Gap’s gross margin improved to 41.3%, up 3.9 percentage points from the year-ago period, bringing the measure of profitability higher than where it was in 2019. The company, which also owns Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta, on Thursday reported that comparable sales fell 2% in its quarter ended Oct. 28. That was much better than the 7.4% decline that Wall Street analysts polled by Visible Alpha had expected. Net income of $218 million was more than three times the number analysts had penciled in. Gap’s shares jumped 15% in after-hours trading following the company’s earnings call on Thursday.

Persons: Bing Guan Organizations: Bloomberg, Old Navy, Banana, Street, Alpha Locations: Banana Republic

☆ These high beta stocks will lead the way if the year-end comeback continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Essentially, if the broad market index rises by 1%, the following high beta stocks could jump by 1.5% or more. The company has a beta value of 1.7 and is scheduled to report earnings on Tuesday. Essentially, if the broad market index rises by 1%, the following high beta stocks could jump by 1.5% or more. Goldman Sachs recently recommended the pullback in Devon Energy shares as a buying opportunity, citing the company's strong balance sheet as a factor. The company has a beta value of 1.7 and is scheduled to report earnings on Tuesday.

Persons: Stocks, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Gunnar Wiedenfels, Bing Guan Organizations: CNBC Pro, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, CNBC, APA Corp, APA, Devon Energy, Marathon, Marathon Oil, Nvidia, UBS, Qs, Warner Bros Discovery, Angeles Refinery, Reuters, Beta, APA APA Corp, Entertainment, Devon Energy Corp, Oil Corp, Targa Resources Corp, MGM MGM Resorts, HAL Halliburton, McMoRan, Aptiv, WYNN Wynn Resorts, Body, Semiconductor Corp, NVIDIA Corp, Zebra Technologies, Albemarle, Alaska Air Group Locations: Angeles, Carson , California, Freeport

☆ US consumer prices unchanged; core inflation slowing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Grocery food inflation increased 0.3%, driven by gains in the prices of meat, fish and eggs. Reuters GraphicsGOODS DEFLATIONExcluding the volatile food and energy components, the CPI increased 0.2% amid higher costs for rental housing. Health insurance costs rebounded as the BLS implemented changes to the methodology it uses to calculate health insurance prices, effective with October's CPI release. The old method was based on an annual calculation using aggregated health insurance premium and benefit data. There were concerns about the volatility in the annual data and the lag involved in incorporating the health insurance financial data.

Persons: Bing Guan, Christopher Rupkey, Jerome Powell, Powell, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tuesday, Treasury, Reuters, Fed, CPI, Thomson Locations: SoHo, New York City, U.S, WASHINGTON

☆ Volkswagen aims to bring under-$35,000 EV to US in 3-4 years-VW executive
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Paul Lienert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A charging handle recharges a Volkswagen ID.4 electric vehicle (EV) parked at an EV charging station inside a parking garage owned by the City of Baltimore, in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., March 23, 2023. Speaking at the Reuters Events Automotive USA 2023 conference in Detroit, Fischer said VW plans to build the under-$35,000 EV in the United States or Mexico. VW also is looking at localizing assembly of battery packs for the under-$35,000 EV to qualify for additional incentives under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, Fischer said. The German automaker previously has announced plans to build battery cells in Canada for its current and future North American-built EVs. Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by Mark Porter and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bing Guan, Nio, Reinhard Fischer, Ganesh Iyer, Fischer, Iyer, Paul Lienert, Mark Porter, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Volkswagen, EV, City, REUTERS, Rights DETROIT, EVs, VW Group of America, Nio, Reuters, Automotive, VW, U.S, Thomson Locations: City of Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, U.S, North America, Detroit, United States, Mexico, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Puebla, South Carolina, Canada

☆ Why Rivian Can’t Be the Next Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rivian raised its production forecast for 2023 on Tuesday, Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg NewsRivian is on a better road than Lucid , but none of America’s electric-vehicle startups looks much like being the next Tesla . Rivian is finding its cruising speed—slower but more controllable than the breakneck expansion envisaged in its initial public offering two years ago. The company, which is focused on electrifying pickup trucks, three-row sport-utility vehicles and delivery vans, raised its production forecast for 2023 to 54,000 on Tuesday, when it reported third-quarter results after the market close. This was the second consecutive quarter that it has raised this closely watched number after drastically cutting expectations just months after its IPO. The stock was up about 7% in premarket trading on Wednesday.

Persons: Rivian, Bing Guan Organizations: Bloomberg

☆ All Stores Want for Christmas Is the Right Amount of Stuff
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Jinjoo Lee | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Target and other retailers that had inventory glut problems have worked through the worst of them. Photo: Bing Guan/Bloomberg NewsRetailers’ holiday inventory planning has been fraught with unpleasant supply-chain surprises for two straight years. In 2021, shipping delays meant retailers didn’t have enough stuff on their shelves to meet demand. And last year, scarred by those experiences, shops made the mistake of over-ordering merchandise—sending their shelves overflowing and forcing them to sell goods at margin-eroding discounts. A basket of retailers in the S&P 500 saw operating margins fall to 4.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022, down from 5.6% a year earlier.

Persons: Bing Guan Organizations: Bloomberg, Retailers

☆ Why EV charging is still such a pain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Power show that, despite more and more EV chargers being available, EV owners are actually getting less satisfied with public charging. When it comes to consumer satisfaction, EV charging is in some very poor corporate company. Away from home, charging your EV costs more than charging at home, sometimes twice as much. A ChargePoint electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the Lafontaine Kia dealership in Detroit, Michigan, US, on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images“Safety is paramount,” said Rick Wilmer, chief operating officer of EV charging provider ChargePoint.

Persons: it’s, “ They’re, ”, Brent Gruber, Gruber, Bing Guan, There’s, Lafontaine, Matthew Hatcher, Nathan Wang, Wang, Justin Sullivan, Rick Wilmer, Wilmer, What’s, it’s Shell, don’t, Mark Hawkinson Organizations: New, New York CNN, J.D, EV, Department of Energy, CCS, Volvo, Bloomberg, Getty, Lafontaine Kia, UL, Vehicles, Bolt, BP, Exxon Locations: New York, ., United States, California, States, Mississippi, Montana, Detroit , Michigan, Corte Madera , California

☆ Taco Bell is gaining ground as people look to save on food
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Taco Bell hasn't been hurt by customers trading down. Bing Guan/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesAt Taco Bell, customers can buy a combo meal, including a fountain drink, burrito, taco and cinnamon twists for dessert, for about $5. Taco Bell’s website shows a cheesy bean and rice burrito; spicy potato soft taco; and cheesy roll-up available for $1 each. And in the third quarter, customers didn’t only go for the cheapest items, helping keep the Taco Bell’s margins high. Taco Bell is also benefiting from people searching for less expensive food options, Gibbs said.

Persons: it’s, Taco Bell, ”, David Gibbs, Bing Guan, Gibbs, Michael Skipworth, Ian Borden, “ We’ve, Chris Kempczinski, ” Kempczinski, Denny’s, Robert Verostek Organizations: New, New York CNN, Taco Bell, Yum Brands, KFC, Taco Bell’s, Bloomberg, Getty, Bell, Bell’s, Taco Locations: New York, Bell’s, McDonald’s

☆ US consumer confidence fall further in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence declined for a third straight month in October amid persistent worries about inflation, higher borrowing costs and the political environment, a survey showed on Tuesday. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell to 102.6 this month from an upwardly revised 104.3 in September. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index slipping to 100.0 from the previously reported 103.0. "Consumers also expressed concerns about the political situation and higher interest rates. Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bing Guan, Dana Peterson, Consumers, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Board, Reuters, Conference Board, Thomson Locations: SoHo, New York City, U.S

☆ US consumer spending exits third quarter on strong note; monthly core inflation rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the PCE price index rose 0.3%, after edging up 0.1% in August. The so-called core PCE price index rose 3.7% on a year-on-year basis in September, the smallest gain since May 2021, after increasing 3.8% in August. Stripping out housing, the core PCE price index rose by a mild 0.2%. The super core PCE price index advanced 4.3% year-on-year in September. Policymakers are watching the super core PCE price index to try and gauge their progress in combating inflation.

Persons: Bing Guan, Sal Guatieri, James Knightley, Chris Low, Pooja Sriram, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Commerce Department, Federal, BMO Capital Markets, Commerce Department's, Economic, Reuters, Consumer, ING, FHN, Treasury, Fed, Barclays, Thomson Locations: SoHo, New York City, U.S, WASHINGTON, Toronto, New York

A pump jack drills oil crude from the Yates Oilfield in West Texas’s Permian Basin, near Iraan, Texas, U.S., March 17, 2023. Gasoline stocks (USOILG=ECI) rose by about 160,000 barrels in the week to 223.5 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with expectations for a 900,000-barrel drop. "It will reverse the gasoline crack," Yawger said, referring to the profit oil refiners can make producing gasoline from crude. U.S. crude futures last traded at just over $83 per barrel, while Brent crude futures was around $87.50 a barrel. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub (USOICC=ECI) rose by 213,000 barrels in the last week, EIA said.

Persons: Bing Guan, Bob Yawger, Yawger, Stephanie Kelly, Laura Sanicola, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Energy Information Administration, EIA, Mizuho, Brent, Cushing, Net, Thomson Locations: West, Iraan , Texas, U.S, Oklahoma

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