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☆ How the founder of The Daily Upside used the lessons he learned as a media banker to build a profitable newsletter company
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Patrick Trousdale's The Daily Upside newsletter for investors just hit 1 million subscribers. It's an example of how a media company can be profitable in a jittery time for the industry. As an investment banker at Guggenheim Partners in the last decade, Patrick Trousdale had the chance to observe the media industry up close. "You have sizzle before the steak at times with digital media," Trousdale, 33, told Insider. Patrick Trousdale.

Persons: Patrick Trousdale's, Patrick Trousdale, Trousdale, Trousdale forgoing, Puck, Graydon Carter's, Nat Rubio, Leah McGrath Goodman, Goodman, John Keeling, —, " Keeling, Patrick Boyle, Substack, Keeling, there's Organizations: Guggenheim, Guggenheim Partners, Guggenheim Securities, Vice Media, Morning, Financial Times, Apple, Plaid, Business Development, Air Mail, Facebook, Google Locations: Puck

☆ 3 key questions Disney analysts say CEO Bob Iger faces ahead of earnings this week, as concerns mount about succession and streaming profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

For Disney, Iger's return was a doctor's-orders scenario. "What is the long game for any pure-play media company in a world where we have tech-driven media companies that are much larger than any traditional media company and have fundamentally different business models?" Will Disney sell TV assets like ABC? Industry watchers have focused on private-equity firms as likely buyers of Disney's TV assets. Are you a Disney insider?

Persons: Bob Iger, —, Bob Chapek, Iger, Disney, Iger's, Peter Csathy, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Csathy, they're, He's, Paul Verna, Verna, David Heger, Edward Jones, Heger, Hulu —, Will, it's, Evercore, Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, Puck, Disney bigwigs, Mayer, Walden, Bergman, Reed Alexander, Lucia Moses Organizations: Disney, ESPN, Walt Disney Co, Hollywood, Creative Media, Apple, PE, Candle Media, Insider Intelligence, Hulu, LightShed Partners, Will Disney, ABC, Geographic, CNBC, Industry, Disney's, Parks

FATIMA, Portugal, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Pope Francis visited the revered Catholic shrine of Fatima in Portugal on Saturday, praying the rosary with about 200,000 people at the site where the Church says the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. The 86-year-old pope skipped reading a key speech that was on the programme of his two-hour visit to the world-famous shrine north of Lisbon. The omission did not appear to indicate that the pope was experiencing any health issues. Francis flew in from Lisbon - the venue of a Catholic youth festival - to make his second visit as pope to the shrine that draws millions of pilgrims a year. [1/6]Pope Francis greets a child as he meets with people at the Chapel of Apparitions of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, during his apostolic journey to Portugal on the occasion of the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Fatima, Portugal, August 5, 2023.

Persons: FATIMA, Pope Francis, Virgin Mary, Matteo Bruni, Francis, Bruni, Fatima, FATIMA Fatima, Francisco, Jacinta Marto, Lucia Dos Santos, Madonna, Sister Lucia, Pope John Paul, Catarina Demony, Philip Pullella, Michael Gore, Pedro Nunes, Andrew Cawthorne, Frances Kerry Organizations: Catholic, Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Fatima, Lisbon, Vatican, Castelo Branco, Russia

☆ South America's largest lake approaches all-time low amid winter heatwave
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Gabriel Flores shows the level of the water dropped in the Lake Titicaca area during the drought season, in Huarina, Bolivia, August 3. Titicaca is only 30 cm (1 foot) away from reaching its record low of 1996 due to severe drought, said Lucia...moreGabriel Flores shows the level of the water dropped in the Lake Titicaca area during the drought season, in Huarina, Bolivia, August 3. Titicaca is only 30 cm (1 foot) away from reaching its record low of 1996 due to severe drought, said Lucia Walper, an official with Bolivia's hydrology and meteorology service. She added that the drought could last until November in some parts of the country. REUTERS/Claudia MoralesClose

Persons: Gabriel Flores, Lucia, Lucia Walper, Claudia Morales Locations: Lake, Huarina, Bolivia, Titicaca

☆ Slower, but still strong US employment growth expected in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday is still expected to show a tight labor market, with the unemployment rate steady near multi-decade lows, though wage growth probably moderated. Nonfarm payrolls likely increased by 200,000 jobs last month, after rising 209,000 in June, according to a Reuters survey of 80 economists. Still, employment growth would be double the roughly 100,000 jobs per month needed to keep up with the increase in the working age population. Striking Hollywood writers and actors also likely had no impact on employment growth. Though annual wage growth remains too high to be consistent with the Fed's 2% inflation target, it would be the latest indication of wage pressures continuing to subside into the third quarter.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Sam Bullard, Nonfarm, Carl Riccadonna, Sung Won Sohn, Veronica Clark, Lucia Mutikani, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Labor, Fed, BNP, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Institute for Supply, Labor Department, Conference, Finance, Loyola Marymount University, Citigroup, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, Wells, Charlotte , North Carolina, New York, Los Angeles

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference following a closed two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy in Washington, U.S., July 26, 2023. Other parts of the Labor Department report were less encouraging for Fed policymakers counting on a labor market softening to put more downward pressure on inflation. Traders of contracts tied to the Fed's policy rate now see less than a 30% chance of another rate hike by the end of this year, down from about a 35% chance before Friday's jobs report. "I think overall this still does point to a labor market that is slowly but steadily heading toward a soft landing," said Daniel Zhao, lead economist at Glassdoor. There are several more key data releases that will shape Fed policymakers' views before the next policy meeting in September.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Elizabeth Frantz, Raphael Bostic, Austan Goolsbee, Daniel Zhao, Kathy Bostjancic, Ann Saphir, Tim Ahmann, Lucia Mutikani, Jason Neely, Kevin Liffey, Paul Simao Organizations: Federal, Committee, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Atlanta Fed, Bloomberg Television, Labor Department, Chicago Fed, Nationwide, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ Lake Titicaca drying up as heat wave turns winter upside down
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Monica Machicao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/9] Isabel Apaza and Gabriel Flores sail in their boat through a narrow water path near the shore of Lake Titicaca in Huarina, Bolivia, August 3, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia MoralesHUARINA, Bolivia, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The parched shoreline and shrinking depths of Lake Titicaca are prompting growing alarm that an ago-old way of life around South America's largest lake is slipping away as a brutal heat wave wreaks havoc on the southern hemisphere's winter. Like many places suffering deadly consequences of climate change, the sprawling freshwater lake nestled in the Andes mountains on Bolivia's border with Peru now features a water level approaching an all-time low. Globally, July was the hottest month on record, as prolonged dry spells take an especially heavy toll on humans and animals alike. "I don't know what we're going to do any more since we don't have food for our cows or lambs."

Persons: Isabel Apaza, Gabriel Flores, Claudia Morales HUARINA, Lucia Walper, Monica Machicao, Santiago Limachi, Sergio Limachi, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Farmers, Bolivia's Oruro Technical University, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Lake Titicaca, Huarina, Bolivia, Titicaca, South America's, Peru, Gabriel Flores ., South America, Uruguay, Montevideo, shriveled

☆ US job growth slowing but labor market still tight
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Labor Department's employment report on Friday also showed job growth in May and June was revised lower, potentially suggesting demand for labor was slowing in the wake of the Federal Reserve's hefty interest rate hikes. "We haven't approached that fork in the road yet, but there is still a strong possibility that the labor market can rebalance without a recession." The job growth in June was the weakest since December 2020. With the labor market still tight, wages continued to rise at a solid clip. "The Fed will take comfort from moderating job growth, but will continue to fret about the tight labor market," said Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Nick Bunker, Sal Guatieri, Lucia Mutikani, Diane Craft, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Labor, Data, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Employment, Treasury, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, Toronto

☆ US labor market resilient; productivity rebounds in second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Other data from the Labor Department on Thursday showed a marked slowdown in labor costs in the second quarter, thanks to a sharp rebound in worker productivity. That added to reports last month showing a significant moderation in annual inflation in June as well as wage growth in the second quarter. Reuters GraphicsWorkers were more productive in the second quarter, which helped to curb growth in labor costs. Nonfarm productivity, which measures hourly output per worker, increased at a 3.7% annualized rate in the second quarter after declining at a 1.2% pace in the January-March quarter, the Labor Department said in a third report. Unit labor costs - the price of labor per single unit of output - rose at a 1.6% rate in the second quarter.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Bill Adams, Nonfarm payrolls, Sarah House, Lucia Mutikani, Safiyah Riddle, Paul Simao, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Comerica Bank, Labor, The Institute for Supply Management, Treasury, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Workers, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Dallas, California, Ohio, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Wells, Charlotte , North Carolina

☆ US factory orders jump in June on transportation equipment demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dan KoeckWASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - New orders for U.S.-made goods surged in June, boosted by strong demand for transportation equipment and other goods, showing some pockets of strength in manufacturing despite higher interest rates. Factory orders increased 2.3% after rising 0.4% in May, the Commerce Department said on Thursday. Orders for transportation equipment jumped 12.0% in June after rising 4.2% in the prior month. The inventory of manufactured goods was unchanged. Business spending on equipment rebounded strongly in the second quarter after contracting for two straight quarters.

Persons: Dan Koeck WASHINGTON, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: Polaris, REUTERS, U.S, Commerce Department, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Institute for Supply Management, PMI, Civilian, Thomson Locations: Roseau , Minnesota, U.S

☆ Small businesses boost US private payrolls in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Amira Karaoud/File photoSummary Private payrolls increase by 324,000 in JulyWage growth gradually slowingWASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - U.S. private payrolls rose more than expected in July as small businesses boosted hiring, pointing to continued labor market resilience that could shield the economy from a recession. Private payrolls increased by 324,000 jobs last month after surging by 455,000 in June, according to ADP. MANUFACTURING DRAGHiring at small business, establishments with one to 49 employees increased 237,000, accounting for more than two-thirds of the gain in private payrolls last month. It has not been a reliable gauge in forecasting private payrolls in the BLS employment report. According to a Reuters survey of economists, the BLS is likely to report that private payrolls increased by 179,000 jobs in July.

Persons: Amira Karaoud, Christopher Rupkey, Nela Richardson, It's, Daniel Silver, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, ADP, Reuters, Treasury, Fed, Stanford Digital Economy, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Louisville , Kentucky, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York

☆ Sweden to play US in last 16 after beating Argentina while South Africa makes history
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A meeting between Sweden and the US in the first knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup was confirmed on Wednesday as the Scandinavian side beat Argentina 2-0. Banyana Banyana’s 3-2 win at the Wellington Regional Stadium marked the African nation’s first win ever at a Women’s World Cup having qualified twice. South Africa makes historyOver in Hamilton, Banyana Banyana had to come from behind after Arianna Caruso put Italy ahead through a penalty early on. Benedetta Orsi is consoled by her teammate Lucia Di Guglielmo after scoring an own goal against South Africa. Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesThe second half saw something of an onslaught from South Africa, who continually regained the ball high up the pitch and got numbers forward en masse.

Persons: Sofia Jakobssen, Rebecka Blomqvist, Argentina’s, Elin Rubensson, Banyana Banyana, Arianna Caruso, Robyn Moodaly, Benedetta Orsi, goalkeepr Francesca Durante, Durante, Orsi, Lucia Di Guglielmo, Catherine Ivill, Hildah Magaia, Banyana, Cristiana Girelli’s, Caruso, Gireilli, Thembi Kgatlana, Desiree Ellis, Valentina Giacinti, Kgatlana, Ellis ’, FIFA’s Organizations: CNN, Argentina, Wellington, Cup, South American, Waikato, Sofia, FIFA, US, Tokyo, National Team, South, Portugal Locations: Sweden, Italy, South Africa, Hamilton, New Zealand, Africa, Netherlands, England, Australia, Argentina

☆ US job openings at more than two-year low but still elevated
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

There were 1.6 job openings for every unemployed person in June, little changed from May. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 9.610 million job openings. Reuters GraphicsThere were an additional 136,000 job openings in healthcare and social assistance, while vacancies increased by 62,000 in state and local government, excluding education. The job openings rate was unchanged at 5.8% in June. ISM manufacturing PMIIt has, however, not been a reliable predictor of manufacturing employment in the government's nonfarm payrolls count.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Eugenio Aleman, Raymond James, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Federal, Labor, Survey, Labor Department, Employers, Treasury, Institute for Supply Management, PMI, Economists, ISM, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, . U.S

☆ US manufacturing shows signs of stabilizing at lower levels in July, ISM says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It was the ninth straight month that the PMI stayed below the 50 threshold, which indicates contraction in manufacturing, the longest such stretch since the 2007-2009 Great Recession. The ISM survey's forward-looking new orders sub-index increased to 47.3 in July. According to the ISM, the delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing firms has been faster for 10 straight months. It has, however, not been a reliable predictor of manufacturing employment in the government's nonfarm payrolls count. Manufacturing employment likely rose by 5,000 jobs last month, according to a Reuters survey of economists.

Persons: Charles Mostoller, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: BMW, REUTERS, Reuters Connect WASHINGTON, Institute for Supply Management, PMI, Reuters, ISM, Federal Reserve, Manufacturing, Fed, U.S . Labor Department, Thomson Locations: Greer , South Carolina, U.S

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery is making a big shake-up to its ad sales org. Read how its sales chief explained the changes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Discovery is shaking up its ad sales organization. It's also expected to make further staff reductions in ad sales as part of the restructure. Discovery is shaking up its ad sales organization and structure. EVP Jim Keller, who was key to bringing a digital approach to the merged company's newly combined sales team, left, along with Scott Kohn, EVP of national ad sales, and John Dailey, SVP of ad sales. Based on the learnings and successes we've experienced in the past year, this morning we are announcing a new sales structure and strategy.

Persons: It's, Marybeth Strobel, Greg Regis, Regis, Strobel, Ryan Gould, Jon Diament, Sheereen Russell, WBD, Jon Steinlauf, Jim Keller, Scott Kohn, John Dailey, David Zaslav, we've, AE's, Lucia Moses, lmoses Organizations: Warner Bros, WBD, Max, CNN, NBA, NCAA, MLB, NHL

☆ How a Guggenheim banker-turned-newsletter publisher is building the anti-Vice, profitably
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

☆ US annual inflation posts smallest rise in more than two years
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 0.2% last month after edging up 0.1% in May, the Commerce Department said. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the PCE price index gained 0.2% after rising 0.3% in the prior month. That lowered the year-on-year increase in the so-called core PCE price index to 4.1%, the smallest advance since September 2021. The annual core PCE price index climbed 4.6% in May. Line chart with data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Federal Reserve shows PCE inflation slowed to 3% year-on-year in June, while core PCE inflation also eased to 4.2%.

Persons: Christopher Rupkey, Cory Stahle, Ellen Zentner, Morgan Stanley, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Paul Simao Organizations: Labor, Federal Reserve, Fed, Commerce Department, Reuters, Treasury, Labor Department, Employers, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, New York, U.S, Ukraine, Salt Lake City , Utah

☆ Moderate US economic growth expected in second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

According to a Reuters survey of economists, GDP growth likely increased at a 1.8% annualized rate last quarter after rising at a 2.0% pace in the first quarter. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, likely remained a pillar of support, although the pace of growth slowed from the second quarter's robust 4.2% rate. Further contribution to GDP growth was expected from government spending. Inventory investment is a wild card, though most economists are penciling in a contribution to GDP growth of at least five tenths of a percentage point. Business sharply reduced inventory accumulation in the January-March quarter in anticipation of weaker domestic demand, slicing 2.14 percentage points off GDP growth that period.

Persons: Dean Maki, they're, Mike Skordeles, Joe Biden's, Sean Snaith, Richard de Chazal, William Blair, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Federal Reserve, Point72, Management, Labor Department, Truist Advisory Services, Investment, University of Central Florida's Institute, Economic, Fed, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Stamford , Connecticut, Atlanta, United States, London

☆ Encarnacao shines as Portugal beat Vietnam 2-0 for first World Cup win
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Portugal coach Francisco Neto made seven changes to the team that lost 1-0 to the Netherlands in their Group E opener and the decision paid off as first-half goals from Encarnacao and Francisca Nazareth earned them a first ever World Cup win. In stark contrast to their struggling display against the Netherlands, Portugal dazzled under the floodlights in Hamilton and Neto was delighted with the victory even though the scoreline did not reflect their dominance. "This is very important and it means a lot for all the players," said the Portugal coach, who has been in charge since 2014. "In the first half, I was not satisfied with the team," Vietnam coach Mai Duc Chung said. "They are 11 ranks higher than us and they come from Europe so, yes, they are much better than us ...

Persons: Jessica Silva, David Rowland HAMILTON, Telma Encarnacao, Francisco Neto, Francisca Nazareth, Neto, Encarnacao, Lucia Alves, Tran Thi Kim Thanh, Kim Thanh, Kim Thanh's, Nguyen Thi, Thuy, Patricia Morais, Mai Duc Chung, Hritika Sharma, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, REUTERS, Vietnam, Waikato, Encarnacao, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Portugal, Vietnam, Waikato, Hamilton , New Zealand, David Rowland HAMILTON , New Zealand, Netherlands, U.S, Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton, United States, Nazareth, Europe, Hyderabad

☆ US economic growth accelerates in second quarter; inflation retreats
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Gross domestic product increased at a 2.4% annualized rate last quarter. Excluding food and energy, prices rose at a 2.6% pace following a 4.2% rate of increase in the first quarter. Though the pace of growth slowed from the first quarter's robust 4.2% rate, it was enough to add more than a full percentage point to GDP growth. Government spending also contributed to GDP growth. A measure of domestic demand increased at a solid 2.3% rate after surging at a 3.2% pace in the first quarter.

Persons: Amira Karaoud, Christopher Rupkey, Joe Biden's, Lucia Mutikani, Nick Zieminski, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Commerce, Federal Reserve, Gross, Reuters, Fed, Consumer, Labor Department, Conference, Treasury, Investment, Thomson Locations: Louisville, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York, United States

☆ A top Warner Bros. Discovery ad sales exec has exited, and insiders say rumors are flying of layoffs and changes as early as next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Insiders are speculating more layoffs and organizational changes are on the way. The media giant is wrapping its ad sales upfront period, where sales have been soft across the industry. Discovery has parted ways with another top ad sales exec, and insiders are speculating that more layoffs and changes are on the way. He's also a vet of Hulu ad sales and active in digital advertising, serving on the board of trade group the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Keller's exit is the second big WBD ad sales departure this year; John Dailey stepped down from his position as SVP of ad sales in March.

Persons: Discovery's, salespeople, Jim Keller, Jon Steinlauf —, Keller, He's, WBD, Keller didn't, Chris Licht, Steinlauf, David Zaslav, John Dailey Organizations: Warner Bros, Insiders, HBO Max, Hulu, Interactive, CNN, Discovery Locations: Discovery

Media and entertainment deal-making has slowed, but private equity players are still betting big on the space. Middle Eastern sources are still providing funding to media, which could fuel deals in the months ahead. Media deal volume has actually increased, just not as fast; PwC recorded media deals rose 3% (to 326) in the six months through May, down from a 7% increase in the previous six months. And beyond private equity, legacy players could shed properties they consider non-core: Paramount is trying to offload BET while Warner Bros. Insider's list of top private equity players in media and entertainment highlights 17 firms, from heavy hitters to smaller upstarts, based on our reporting and conversations with investors and insiders.

Persons: PwC, Hollywood —, Ryan, Morgan Stanley, Sherrese Clarke Soares Organizations: Media, Hollywood, RedBird Capital Partners, NFL, Company, Qatar Investment Authority, Yahoo, ESPN, Paramount, BET, Warner Bros, Discovery, Equity Partners Locations: Providence, BlackRock

☆ US new home sales fall, but trend remains strong
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary New home sales fall 2.5% in June; up 23.8% year-on-yearMedian new house price drops 4.0% year-on-yearWASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - Sales of new U.S. single-family homes fell in June after three straight monthly increases, but the trend remained strong as an acute shortage of previously owned homes underpins demand. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new home sales, which account for a small share of U.S. home sales, would drop to a rate of 725,000 units. New home sales are counted at the signing of a contract, making them a leading indicator of the housing market. While the overall the housing market continues to stabilize, higher mortgage rates and the renewed house price appreciation could delay a recovery. The median new house price in June was $415,400, a 4.0% drop from a year ago.

Persons: Conrad DeQuadros, Richard de Chazal, William Blair, Jerome, Powell, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci, Paul Simao Organizations: U.S, Commerce Department, Brean, Reuters, Mortgage, Association, National Association of Home Builders, Federal, Treasury, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, New York, U.S, Midwest

☆ This top Procter & Gamble exec is showing Hollywood how brands can make prestige films and be 'power-up' partners for studios and streamers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

P&G Studios head Kimberly Doebereiner argues that great entertainment can come from brands. Procter & Gamble is at the forefront of the growing brand film space — with its own in-house shingle, P&G Studios, actively pursuing entertainment projects that look nothing like ads. "The first thing I'd love is for the distributors to see that great content can come from anybody, and even if it's from a brand, that doesn't mean it's brand content," she told Insider in an interview. "We have great marketing, we have great brands, we can help bring in viewers, right? "We'd love to have our content be able to show up in the retailer with our brands and create better awareness for that content," Doebereiner said.

Persons: Kimberly Doebereiner, Doebereiner, Gamble, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Michael Sugar's Sugar23, Reese Witherspoon's, Barbie, we've, Brand, Queen Latifah Organizations: G Studios, Procter, Gamble, HBO, Hulu, Brands, Hollywood, Advertising, Tide, Gillette, Tribeca Studios, Walmart, Blue Fox Entertainment Locations: Hollywood

☆ US consumer confidence races to two-year high; house prices rising
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary Consumer confidence index increases to 117.0 in JulyLabor market differential rises to 37.2 from 32.5 in JuneHouse prices continue upward trend in MayWASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence increased to a two-year high in July amid a persistently tight labor market and receding inflation, bolstering the economy's prospects in the near term. That supports economists' views that consumer spending was flattening out after rising at its fastest pace in two years in the first quarter. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index increased to 117 this month, the highest reading since July 2021, from 110.1 in June. TIGHT LABOR MARKETThe survey's so-called labor market differential, derived from data on respondents' views on whether jobs are plentiful or hard to get, increased to 37.2 this month from 32.8 in June, a sign labor market conditions remain tight despite job growth slowing. And while more households planned to buy houses, they could run into affordability challenges as tight supply pushes up prices.

Persons: Robert Frick, Dana Peterson, Lisa Sturtevant, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: Labor, Conference, Federal Reserve, Consumers, Navy Federal Credit Union, The, Reuters, University of, Conference Board's, Fed, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bright MLS, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Vienna , Virginia, U.S

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