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☆ Long-predicted consumer pullback finally hits restaurants like Starbucks, KFC and McDonald's
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Starbucks announced a surprise drop in same-store sales for its latest quarter, sending its shares down 17% on Wednesday. Pizza Hut and KFC also reported shrinking same-store sales. Starbucks said bad weather dragged its same-store sales lower. Wingstop , Wall Street's favorite restaurant chain, reported its U.S. same-store sales soared 21.6% in the first quarter. This marks the second consecutive quarter that Burger King reported stronger U.S. same-store sales growth than McDonald's.

Persons: It's, McDonald's, it's, Taco Bell, January's snowstorms, we've, Ian Borden, Wall, International's Popeyes, Chris Kempczinski, Laxman Narasimhan, Narasimhan, David Gibbs, Taco, Yum, Burger, – Organizations: Starbucks Workers, D.C, Starbucks, KFC, Yum Brands, Taco, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Taco Bell, Brands Locations: Dupont Circle, Washington, Pizza, U.S, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Taco

☆ ‘Should have been done yesterday’: Rural, older Americans could get hurt as affordable internet program runs out of cash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Brian Fung | Jason Carroll | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

But in just a few weeks, her internet bills, and those of other Americans like her, could skyrocket by hundreds of dollars a year. The program is heavily used by Americans over age 50, military veterans and low-income working families nationwide, according to FCC data. Amira Karaoud/Reuters/FileRural and older usersThe ACP has quickly gained adoption since Congress created the program in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Large swaths of the ACP’s user base trend older; Americans over 65 account for almost 20% of the program. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service.

Persons: Cindy Westman, —, I’ll, ”, Westman, ’, Westman —, Gigi Sohn, “, Biden, Allison Bailey /, Cynthia George, George, ” George, Marc Veasey, They’re, Geoffrey Starks, “ It’s, ” Starks, Amira Karaoud, Walter Durham, I’m, ” Durham, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Mike Johnson, Blair Levin, Johnson didn’t, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, they’re Organizations: CNN, Program, Social, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Capitol, Getty, MSN, White, ” Texas Democratic, “, Comcast, ACP, Navy, American Library Association, Lifeline, Republicans, Republican, New, Research, ” Bills Locations: Eureka , Illinois, America, Dallas, Las Vegas, Kentucky, San Diego, United States, Maine, St, Vermont

☆ The Meteoric Rise and Spectacular Fall of the Queen of Airbnb
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

Now, after she made her pitch at the VFW hall, attendees clamored around Widell, eager to have her manage their Airbnb rentals. The reign of the Airbnb Queen of Tulsa was over — and her subjects were left to pick up the pieces. Dominic Bugatto for BIThe "Queen of Airbnb" label, which started off as Widell's Airbnb account name, helped create an aura of omnipotence. According to those familiar with the business, Widell seemed to be shifting her focus away from Airbnb rentals to the house-staging business. Today, her "Tulsa Airbnb Group" on Facebook remains active, with some 1,000 members.

Persons: Airbnb, Dani Widell, Widell, Kathy Portley, weren't, —, Emily Burke, Will Widell, They'd, thrifty, Will, who'd, Logan Haskett, Dominic Bugatto, Burke, hadn't, Knikki Nash, she'd, Mallory Massey, Massey, David Brunson, Brunson, Renee Brummett, We've, Dani hasn't, Brummett, doorstepped, unraveled, Nash, Dani, Widell's, carting, Will cosigned, Brummet, Tulsa's, Meagan McCollum, Bram Gallagher, Gallagher, Dan Latu Organizations: VFW, Tulsa, Facebook, Tulsa Real Estate Investors Association, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa People, Mahogany Prime, Summit, Downtown, Social, Bank of America Center, PGA, Investors, Widell, Employees, Rover, BI, nonpayment, University of Tulsa, Business Locations: Tulsa, Tulsa ., Widell, Airbnb, Brady, Arkansas, —

USDA's recommended monthly food budget for a family of four has risen 27% since 2020. AdvertisementOn average, across the four food plans, the monthly budget recommendation has risen 27% since the start of 2020. Meanwhile, as of November, grocery prices were up 25.1% since the start of 2020, outpacing the 18.9% increase in overall prices. USDA Food Plan recommended monthly budgets. Andy Kiersz/Business InsiderWith food prices still weighing down consumers, some are becoming more conscious of how much they're spending and where.

Persons: USDA's, Andy Kiersz Organizations: US Department of Agriculture, USDA, USDA Food Locations: Alaska, Hawai'i

☆ ACP, a digital lifeline for millions of Americans, is in jeopardy. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Cynthia George is one of millions of Americans in jeopardy of losing their home internet access. Yet Congress is nowhere close to approving the $6 billion that President Joe Biden says would renew the ACP and avert calamity for tens of millions of Americans. Courtesy Michelle McDonoughLike George, McDonough also expects she’ll have to cut back on groceries if the ACP goes away. The FCC’s Lifeline program, which dates to the Reagan administration, similarly gives low-income households a monthly discount on phone or internet service. “You’re taking ACP away from the farmers that can check the local produce prices and be able to reasonably negotiate their prices with retailers.

Persons: Cynthia George, Cynthia George George, Joe Biden, Pedro Ugarte, ”, Gigi Sohn, “, George, ” George, Michelle McDonough, McDonough, she’ll, doesn’t, “ I’m, ” McDonough, Mandel Ngan, Gary Johnson, Paul, —, Kamesha Scott, Louis, Scott, Megan Janicki, ” Janicki, Reagan, Biden, ” Blair Levin, Bill Clark, Levin, Jonathan Blaine, ” Blaine, Blaine Organizations: Washington CNN, MSN, Federal Communications Commission, Program, Lawmakers, ACP, FCC, Getty, CNN, ”, White, Comcast, George, Congress, Paul Bunyan Communications, American Library Association, Lifeline, House Republicans, New, Research, Republican, ” Lawmakers Locations: Washington ,, AFP, United States, Maine, Washington , DC, Minnesota, St, “, Lake Havasu City, Ariz, Vermont

☆ Dollar Tree will sell items for $7, straying further from its single-price model
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementThe Dollar Tree is straying even further from its thrifty roots. In June, Dollar Tree said it planned to raise prices for certain food items as high as $5. It's further proof that dollar stores aren't really dollar stores anymore — even as competitors like Dollar General have sold items at a variety of prices for years. AdvertisementSeparately, Dollar Tree also announced this week it was shuttering 1,000 Family Dollar stores — representing 12% of its total store count — after acquiring the chain in 2015. Dollar Tree also said on the earnings call that it continues to contend with rising theft issues at Family Dollar — one of many factors behind the planned closures.

Persons: Rick Dreiling, —, it'll, Dreiling Organizations: Service

☆ Hush money DA wants to use Trump's incessant bragging — about how sexy, thrifty, and fussy he is — against him at trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"They didn't come out of the campaign," Trump said in the interview, referring to the payment at the center of the upcoming hush money trial, set to start March 25 in Manhattan. AdvertisementRead the 82 Trump statements prosecutors want to show hush money jurors here. In several of the statements prosecutors may use, Trump boasts of how attractive he is. AdvertisementTrump's side has argued that the 82 statements, some of them decades old, should be excluded from the trial. Failing that, they have asked state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who will be the trial judge, to make prosecutors explain, statement by statement, how each would be used at trial.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, he's, Ainsley, Trump, Earhardt, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, that's, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Daniels, Larry King, ANGELA WEISS, Rich, Juan Merchan, ghostwriters, Matthew Colangelo Organizations: Service, New, Trump, Fox &, Business, Fox & Friends, Manhattan, Fox, Prosecutors, Attorney, Trump Organization, Trump Parc East, Park, Mar, Getty Locations: New York, Manhattan

☆ When Hot Bacon Meets Sliced Brussels Sprouts, Salad Happens
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Melissa Clark | More About Melissa Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The first time I heard a friend praising “wilted salad,” the memories came flooding back. I could picture that half-full bowl of droopy, oil-slicked greens sitting in the fridge, leftover from the night before. When I was growing up, my mother hated the idea of wasting food so much that she saved uneaten salad for breakfast the next day, often topping it with a fried egg. My sister and I thought my mother’s breakfast salad looked unappetizing, to say the least. Except my friend was extolling a completely different wilted salad.

Persons: “

☆ My family traveled in first class on a high-speed train in Morocco for only $34. Here's what the 3-hour ride was like.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Jamie Davis Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I took my two kids on a train ride from Marrakech to Casablanca. I chose to buy my tickets once I got to Morocco to avoid paying extraJamie Davis SmithI like being prepared and wanted to buy train tickets in advance. My thrifty nature prevailed, and I waited to buy train tickets until I arrived in Marrakech. On my first day in Morocco, I asked my hotel concierge how I could buy train tickets, and he advised me to get them at the train station. I braced myself for the worst, unsure if I'd have to navigate the type of stressful, chaotic train station I've encountered in other countries.

Persons: I'd, —, Jamie Davis Smith, wasn't Organizations: Service, Intrepid Travel, Islamic Locations: Marrakech, Casablanca, Morocco, Marakkesh

A nasty storm with 60 mph winds raked parts of the Northeast on Tuesday creating dangerous conditions on the road and snarling airports. More than 1,200 flights were cancelled before noon, mostly along the East Coast, but that is likely to spread west as the day goes on. Airlines can’t control the weather, but they are still required to provide refunds for customers whose flights are canceled. Airlines usually cancel flights hours or even days before departure time. If lots of flights are canceled, airline agents will soon be swamped.

Persons: Jeff Klee, ”, Kyle Potter, Joe Biden, “, Potter, Kurt Ebenhoch Organizations: Airlines, Twitter, ASK, CheapAir.com, Transportation Department, U.S . Department of Transportation Locations: East Coast, Delta

☆ A couple in their 30s hit a $1 million net worth by saving and investing most of their 5-figure incomes. They share the strategies that helped them live on $26,000 a year without feeling deprived.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Read previewWhen Lauren and Steven Keys landed their first full-time jobs, they were earning well below the national average. Courtesy of Lauren and Steven KeysBetween 2013 and 2015, the Keys say they saved over $100,000 . Courtesy of Lauren and Steven Keys"It's not just gas," said Steven, who biked to work so Lauren could use the car for her commute. "You don't have to pay for insurance on the second car, you don't have to pay for maintenance or repairs or tires. While they don't work traditional 9-to-5 jobs, they have a variety of revenue streams that more than sustain their lifestyle.

Persons: —, Lauren, Steven Keys, Steven, Lauren didn't, Keys, It's, They've, They're, they've, we're, we've, there's Organizations: Service, Business, BI, University of Florida, Walmart, Costco, Aldi, Sam's, paychecks Locations: Gainesville, Orlando, San Francisco, Publix, Gainesville , Florida, Hawaii

☆ EU fiscal pact ignores green elephant in the room
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

REUTERS/Henry Nicholls Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Nov 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The European Union’s troubled fiscal pact, once branded as "stupid" by former European Commission President Romano Prodi, has reached its sell-by date. Average EU debt has been consistently above the 60% target. NEW COURSEThe proposed revamp of the fiscal pact, now under discussion, is an improvement. BRAVE NEW DEBT WORLDFor all of Brussels’ reforming zeal, Europe’s future debt rules ignore a giant elephant in the room: climate change. Another option is to remove green investments from the fiscal rules’ deficit calculations.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, Romano Prodi, Christian Lindner, Giorgia Meloni, Breakingviews, Bruno Le Maire, Olaf Scholz’s, Mario Draghi, Francesco Guerrera, Thomas Shum Organizations: Trust, REUTERS, Reuters, European, Reuters Graphics Reuters, European Commission, French Finance, EU, Intel, European Central Bank, Italian, Union, Thomson Locations: Green Park, London, Britain, Maastricht Treaty, Germany, it's, Italy, Greece, Brussels, EU, United States, Spain, Europe

These food-and-drink gifts offer outstanding value as well as deliciousness and delight. Gifts of food and drink and the trappings that go with them—a party in the making. This tart-sweet marmalade delivers the complex flavor of calamansi—a fruit that’s like lime, kumquat and tangerine all in one—grown on Oahu. There, jam master Akiko White relies on her grandmother-in-law Tutu’s recipe to produce a citrus stunner that makes a marvelous croissant topper, vinaigrette booster and cocktail brightener. Aloha Bites Tutu’s Calamansi Marmalade, $19 for 7 ounces, Zingermans.com

Persons: Martin Ramin, marmalade, Akiko White Locations: Oahu

☆ Meet the typical HENRY: Urban 32-year-olds with no kids who make a six-figure income and have a college degree
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The typical HENRY — high earner, not rich yet — is 32, lives in a city, and makes six figures. The typical HENRY — or high earner, not rich yet — is an urban 32-year-old without kids, makes a six-figure income, and has lots of student debt. This is according to data on 1,500 clients shared with Insider from Stash Wealth , a financial advisor for HENRYs . Five HENRYs told Insider they're saving upwards of 40% to 70% of their income each year. Given many HENRYs got an undergraduate degree, with some pursuing doctorates, student loans are particularly elevated, as the average HENRY student loan balance comes in at $80,000.

Persons: HENRY, HENRYs, —, HENRY —, Priya Malani, Savannah White, She's, White, Gen, Sherry, Zer, Malani, Sarah Baus, it's, Baus Organizations: Service, HENRYs, Shash, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Bank of America Institute, Olive, SC Locations: New York City, Los Angeles, Savannah, Charleston

☆ October Inflation Report Price Rises Expected to Cool
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Airlines lower their fares when they are trying to get more people to book tickets as demand is slowing or they are facing stiffer competition. Early this month, the average price for a domestic flight around Thanksgiving was down about 9 percent from a year ago. But some airlines say demand is slowing outside of holiday and other peak travel periods. Image Thanksgiving this year is expected to set a record for air travel, with nearly 30 million passengers anticipated. If travel demand is dropping, in some ways that’s an even bigger win for people who are never going to give up on travel.”

Persons: Denise Diorio, “ I’ve, ’ ”, Diorio, Hopper, ”, Kyle Potter, Potter, Stefani Reynolds, John Grant, “ We’re, “, ” Barry Biffle, Steve Hafner, that’s Organizations: Airlines, Airlines for America, Credit, The New York Times, U.S, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Miami, Analysts Locations: Tampa , Fla, Chicago, New York, Paris, Europe, Caribbean, Denver, Orlando, Fla, Los Angeles, East, Ukraine

☆ Earnings playbook: How to trade the biggest reports this week, including retail giant Walmart
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Investors will get a glimpse this week on the state of the consumer with a slew retail companies slated to report earnings. Tuesday Home Depot is set to report earnings before the open, followed by a call at 9 a.m. What history shows: Bespoke data shows Target beats earnings expectations 65% of the time. What to watch: Walmart is riding high, with the stock reaching an all-time high last week on bets of a strong holiday season for the retail giant. What history shows: Walmart was higher in four of the last five earnings days, Bespoke data shows.

Persons: Seth Sigman, Brian Cornell, Michael Lasser, PANW, Hamza Fodderwala, Morgan Stanley, billings, WMT, Oppenheimer, Rupesh, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Walmart, Home Depot, CNBC, Tuesday, LSEG, Depot, Federal Reserve, Barclays, Investment, UBS, Palo Alto Networks, Management

Data released on Thursday showing a drop in consumer prices to their lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the doubts in China's economic rebound after some months of indicators showing growth stabilising. China's big online shopping platforms did not release final sales figures for 2022, when analysts said COVID-19 restrictions inhibited spending and consumer confidence. Some indicators point to a slowdown in Singles Day sales. Data provider Syntun estimated e-commerce platforms sold 311 billion yuan of products from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, a 7.1% decrease year-on-year. For Tan Jiapeng, a 35-year-old office worker in Beijing, his only Singles Day purchase so far has been a Descente winter jacket, an "essential purchase" for the winter.

Persons: Florence Lo, Jason Yu, Kantar, COVID, Bain, Jacob Cooke, Nomura, Tan Jiapeng, Tan, Casey Hall, Sophie Yu, Marius Zaharia Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HK, PDD Holdings, Company, Technologies, Thomson Locations: Rights BEIJING, China, Beijing

☆ How some HENRYs are aggressively saving their around 6-figure incomes while still splurging on what matters most to them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"When some people look at our lives, they say we are really thrifty, that we must feel limited or that we are missing out, but I don't feel held back," White said. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhite is one of the so-called HENRYs — or high earners, not rich yet — who are often younger people with significant discretionary income but who still don't feel financially stable. For many HENRYs, living below their means is the key to relying less on their working income in the future. Coupled with saving for retirement and paying off student loans — averaging $80,000 among Malani's clients — many don't have much money to spend. "In a lot of ways, saving money gives us freedom."

Persons: Gen Zers, —, hasn't, she's, White, Priya Malani, HENRYs, Malani, Sarah Baus, Baus, it's, splurging Organizations: Service, Hyundai Locations: Charleston, SC, Thailand, New York, California

☆ About 3.5 million more American families went hungry after food prices spiked and the pandemic-era child tax credit ended
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

There was also an increase in food insecurity for households with children from 2021 to 2022. AdvertisementAdvertisementAbout 3.5 million more US households were food insecure for at least part of 2022 than in 2021. Food insecurity is when the "ability to acquire adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources," per the report. Around 17 million households, or 12.8% of US households, were food insecure in 2022. Hall said the 40% increase in food insecurity for households with children, from 4.6 million households to 6.4 million households, was also discouraging given the large fall in 2021.

Persons: Chloe East, —, Lauren Hall, Hall, Tom Vilsack, Vilsack Organizations: Hamilton, Brookings, Service, US Department of Agriculture, University of Colorado, SNAP, Budget, Women, USDA Locations: University of Colorado Denver, America

Writer and blogger Kim Anderson and her husband, an engineer, paid off their home 27 years early. They made extra payments to their mortgage's principal, and watched the amortization table closely. Anderson and her husband paid close attention to their amortization table while planning their payoff, and says it became a large part of their strategy. They also started to contribute more towards their mortgage payment each month, adding an extra $1,260 to their their $689 monthly payment, later increasing it to $2,515 per month. By saving on the splurges and extra purchases, they were able to pay off their mortgage quicker.

Persons: Kim Anderson, —, Anderson, doesn't, couldn't Organizations: Service, Andersons Locations: Atlanta, Canton , Georgia, North Carolina, Georgia

☆ US agency fines Zipcar for uncompleted recall rentals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A 2015 law requires rental car companies with 35 or more vehicles to complete recall repairs before renting vehicles. The agency is requiring Zipcar, a unit of Avis Budget Group (CAR.O) since 2013, to submit an audit report of all Zipcar vehicles with uncompleted recall repairs at any time within 150 calendar days after the effective date of the settlement. On Monday, Zipcar said the settlement stems from a 2017 recall in which less than 50 of 12,000 vehicles of its global fleet were found in violation. Zipcar added the recall "was a unique mileage-based recall that did not require the immediate grounding of the vehicles" and added the vehicles are no longer in its fleet. "Vehicles with open, unrepaired recalls pose a safety risk to everyone on the road," said Ann Carlson, NHTSA's acting administrator.

Persons: Robert Galbraith, Zipcar, unrepaired, Ann Carlson, NHTSA's, Hertz, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, Paul Simao, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National, Traffic Safety Administration, Avis Budget Group, Vehicles, NHTSA, Hertz, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California

☆ The rise and fall of pharma bigwig Rite Aid, which couldn't keep up with rivals Walgreen and CVS
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rite Aid filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday following slumping sales and a series of lawsuits. Rite Aid, which has over 47,000 employees, has struggled in recent years to compete against larger peers like CVS and Walgreens Boots Alliance, as well as Amazon. Rite Aid has faced growing competition from direct-to-consumer pharmacy startups as well as medication deliveries from the likes of Amazon and Uber. Rite Aid also experienced supply chain challenges after changing supplier for many of its perishable consumer goods and shrink "continued to be a significant headwind," Burr said. Representatives for Rite Aid did not immediately respond for Insider's request for further comment beyond sending statements about Stein's appointment and its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

Persons: it's, —, Jeffrey S, Stein, Elizabeth Burr, Heyward Donigan, Donigan, Burr, there'd Organizations: Service, Rite, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Rite Aid, pharma, Aid, Discount, Rite Aid Corporation, PayLess, Walgreens, Albertsons, New York Times Locations: New Jersey, Scranton , Pennsylvania

☆ In EV battle, Toyota bets on new technology and old-school thinking
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( David Dolan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

He pointed to engineering and technology expertise anchored in "TPS", shorthand for the Toyota Production System. Toyota revolutionised modern manufacturing with its system of lean production, just-in-time delivery and "kanban" workflow organisation. ASSEMBLY LINE, GIGACASTINGOne innovation being emphasised by Toyota is its self-propelled production lines, where EVs are guided by sensors through the assembly line. Toyota also showed off a prototype of the die-casting technology known as "gigacasting" pioneered by Tesla that produces aluminium parts far bigger than anything used before in auto manufacturing. Like Tesla, Toyota says it will produce EVs in modular sections, reducing parts.

Persons: EVs, Goldman Sachs, Kazuaki Shingo, Tesla, Koji Sato, David Dolan, Jamie Freed Organizations: Toyota, TOYOTA CITY, TPS, System, United Auto Workers, Tesla, Thomson Locations: Japan, gigacasting, Toyota City, Motomachi

☆ China state TV slams beauty influencer who told off thrifty viewer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - China's state television criticised on Tuesday a famous beauty livestreamer who told off a viewer for complaining about the high price of an eyebrow pencil, as many Chinese feel the pinch from an economic slowdown. Livestreaming is big business in China, generating sales of $480 billion last year, and Li gets a commission from the products he sells on his livestreams. Li responded by saying prices were not rising and told the viewer that she couldn't afford the eyebrow pencil because she wasn't working hard enough. Hours later, he apologised to the viewer on this Weibo social media account, and then the following day, he apologised again on his livestream. ($1 = 7.2876 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Casey Hall; editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: livestreamer, Li Jiaqi, Li, Casey Hall, Miral Organizations: Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China

☆ ‘Scout’s Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America’ Review: A Predators’ Playground
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Mark Eaton in ‘Scout’s Honor’ Photo: NetflixThe Boy Scouts of America declared bankruptcy in 2020 in the face of a child-sexual-abuse scandal that, in terms of scale, was larger than that of the Roman Catholic Church. Or so it is claimed at the outset of “Scout’s Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America.” Yes, the Scouts taught skills and virtues to many boys: how to be thrifty, brave, clean and reverent; how not to pitch a tent at the bottom of a hill. At the same time, “It was all just veneer, to mask what was a very dangerous organization.”

Persons: Mark Eaton, “, ” Organizations: Netflix, Boy Scouts of America, Roman Catholic Church, Scouts Locations: ‘

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