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Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy Social Security won't run outIf you have job, a chunk of each paycheck goes toward Social Security. The program is a lifeline for millions of Americans. In 2023, nearly 70 million Americans will receive a Social Security benefit every month. Those checks are especially important for disabled Americans, retirees and family members who lost a loved one. If action isn't taken, Americans might see a cut in their benefits starting in 2034.

Organizations: Social Security

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow to prepare the U.S. power grid for the EV boomThe EV revolution could put a major strain on the nation's electric grid, an aging system built for a world that runs on fossil fuels. To upgrade the grid to meet growing electricity demand, the U.S. needs to build a massive amount of new transmission and distribution lines to connect renewable energy resources to population centers. But there are major regulatory hurdles, and the government is not investing near the amount that analysts say we need in order to meet electrification targets.

Locations: U.S

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInside America's largest asphalt maker and road paver94 percent of the roads in the U.S. are paved with asphalt. Companies like CRH - the largest road paver in America - are newly flush with billions from the US government which is the largest buyer of asphalt in the country. Some in the business say it's the golden age of infrastructure. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, is adding $1.2 trillion, a 40% to 50% increase over the previous FAST Act. But there are some strings attached.

Organizations: Infrastructure Investment, Jobs Locations: U.S, America

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy New York City is more expensive than LondonNew York ranked one of the most expensive cities in the world in 2022 whereas London ranked 28th, according to Worldwide Cost of Living 2022 from Economist Intelligence. It would cost approximately $9,500 US dollars to maintain the same lifestyle as about $7,200 dollars would get you in London, according to data collection project Numbeo. Watch the video above to learn more about the cost of living in New York City and London and why people choose to live there despite the inflated price tag.

Organizations: London New York, London, Economist Intelligence Locations: York City, London, New York City

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Samsung became the world's second biggest advanced chipmakerSamsung may be known for its phones, TVs and appliances, but it's also been the leader in memory chips for more than three decades. Now, as memory prices continue to fall, it's doubling down on manufacturing chips for outside customers, with a $17 billion new chip fab in Texas and new $228 billion cluster in South Korea. CNBC got a rare look inside Samsung's chip business to bring you the untold story of how it became the world's second biggest advanced chipmaker, with plans to catch TSMC.

Persons: it's Organizations: Samsung, CNBC Locations: Texas, South Korea

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow new lithium extraction tech could help meet EV targetsA suite of new, but largely unproven, technologies known as direct lithium extraction could revolutionize lithium mining from brine, making it more efficient and sustainable and eliminating the need for large evaporation ponds. A number of companies including EnergyX, Lilac Solutions, and Standard Lithium are entering the DLE market and getting ready for commercial implementation across South America and the U.S., while automakers like BMW, GM and Ford are investing.

Organizations: EV, Solutions, South, BMW, GM, Ford Locations: South America, U.S

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow UBS became Switzerland's mega bankUBS Group AG, with over $5 trillion in invested assets, is Switzerland's largest bank. The company has a sprawling international footprint, with over half of its wealth management assets coming from clients in the United States. Experts believe these customers are drawn to strict bank-client laws in Switzerland. In recent decades, scandals have embroiled both UBS and its latest acquisition, Credit Suisse. After regulators quickly approved of the merger, fresh litigation risks have come to light.

Organizations: UBS, UBS Group AG, Experts, Credit Suisse Locations: United States, Switzerland

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy Mastercard's stock has outperformed Visa's over the past 5 yearsMastercard is one of the world's most recognizable brands. It's the second largest card network in the U.S., accounting for more than a quarter of all purchase volume using a payment card. As the world transitions to a more cashless society, Mastercard's value has continued to soar. Shares have seen nearly a 100% gain over the past five years, even outperforming No. So exactly how is Mastercard setting itself apart from its competitors?

Organizations: Mastercard Locations: U.S

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's how banks finance credit card rewardsRewards credit cards are everywhere and Americans love them. About 90% of all credit card spending is on rewards cards. In 2019, consumers received about $35 billion in rewards. But how are banks paying for all these perks? Some economists claim there's an annual redistribution of more than $15 billion from less to more educated, poorer to richer and high- to low-minority areas, widening existing disparities.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow UnitedHealth Group grew its annual revenue by more than $100B over the past decadeUnitedHealth Group is the biggest health-care conglomerate in the U.S. based on market cap and revenue. It's even bigger than JPMorgan Chase, the nation's largest bank. Annual revenue has nearly doubled over the past decade, when adjusted for inflation, from $144 billion in 2012 to $250 billion in 2022. The company's growth was fueled by an acquisition strategy that has been largely free of regulatory scrutiny. Watch the video above to learn how UnitedHealth grew so big and what that means for U.S. health care.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAmazon drones make 100th delivery, lagging far behind Alphabet's Wing and Walmart partner ZiplineAmazon says its Prime Air drones recently completed 100 deliveries in two small U.S. markets. Meanwhile, competitors like Alphabet's Wing and Walmart partner Zipline have made hundreds of thousands of deliveries, although most of those have been overseas in Australia and Africa. The U.S. is a tough regulatory environment, with strict rules about flying over roads and people and beyond line of sight. Yet some companies have been granted broader certifications. Here's how Amazon fell behind.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow sodium-ion technology will compete with lithium-ion batteriesSodium-ion batteries have a similar design to their lithium-ion counterparts and can be manufactured using related methods. Sodium-ion batteries can't provide the type of range for electric vehicles offered by lithium-ion batteries, but they do present some unique advantages. For instance, the materials used in sodium-ion batteries tend to be cheaper than those in lithium batteries. CNBC spoke to two such companies, Natron Energy and Faradion, that are looking to commercialize the technology.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailPorsche's $100 million EV alternativeMore than 70% of Porsche cars ever made are still on the road, according to some estimates. But to protect that heritage with electric vehicles on the rise, the German automaker has invested $100 million in eFuels, a class of carbon-neutral synthetic energy. Opponents are skeptical, calling eFuels expensive and inefficient. But Porsche and eFuel maker, HIF Global, believe they can reach large-scale production within a few years and prove skeptics wrong.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy trains keep derailing in the U.S.A string of train derailments have captured the attention of lawmakers in Washington. Corporations within the freight rail industry have redesigned their businesses to maximize efficiency. Some of these strategic corporate decisions may have been involved in a now-infamous February 2023 crash on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, according to federal regulators. Watch the video to learn why some experts think these changes may adversely affect public health and safety.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow tax money is wasted in the U.S. The U.S. government wasted almost $2.4 trillion on just payment errors over the last two decades, according to the Government Accountability Office. Oversight reports from nonprofits and lawmakers like Rand Paul, R-Ky., claim that billions more are being wasted every year on duplicative and needless programs. So just how much of our taxpayer dollar is wasted every year and what can be done about it?

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy OSHA is investigating Amazon for 'failing to keep workers safe'For years, Amazon warehouse workers have been speaking up about unsafe conditions and how they risk injury to churn out millions of packages every day. Now their claims are being backed up by federal investigators who cited Amazon for "failing to keep workers safe" and new 2022 injury data that shows Amazon workers get injured at a rate of 6.9 for every 100 workers. CNBC spoke with workers who've been hurt and asked the government, and Amazon, what's being done to make these warehouses safer.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy predicting the weather is so hardWeather forecasting is a complicated task for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that begins with collecting billions of observations per day on metrics like temperature and wind speed. This information is then fed into supercomputers that produce weather models that meteorologists use to come up with forecasts. But these models are not perfect. Now, NOAA is exploring buying data as a service from startups like Tomorrow.io and Saildrone to improve its forecasting.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe rise of corporate landlords in the U.S. Some congressional lawmakers want to limit large corporations in the single-family housing market. These groups have been active in the Sun Belt's suburbs, which are traditionally the domain of individual investors. Industry lobbyists claim that new proposals from Washington would worsen the U.S. housing supply. Meanwhile, the Wall Street groups have profited from higher than average rent hikes in their target markets while leveraging government-backed financing and tax credits.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInside the U.S. Air Force's E-3G SentryThe E-3 Sentry is nearing the twilight of it's career. The newest version, the E-3G, uses newer electronics and software to keep a watchful eye over friendly and unfriendly skies. But the Air Force is looking towards the future, and the Boeing E-7, a Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft with a modern design, could be what is needed to keep pace with new threats around the world.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy wealthy Americans love American ExpressArmed with impressive rewards and a loyal customer base, AmEx has achieved impressive growth. The company's revenue has increased over 32% since 2017 and its shares have shown resilience and growth in a tumultuous market. So what is the secret to AmEx's success and where is it headed next?

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTesla's founders on Elon Musk and the early daysElon Musk is the most famous CEO of Tesla, but he's not the company's founder. The original executives, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, founded the company in 2003. CNBC sat down with them to talk about the idea for Tesla Motors, the battery, Elon Musk and building its first car, the all-electric Roadster.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy ADHD diagnoses have skyrocketedThe rate of ADHD diagnoses has been rising in the U.S. for the past two decades, and experts suspect that social media and the pandemic may be a catalyst. More Americans are seeking out treatment, which is straining the health care system. Then, in October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced there was a shortage of Adderall, both the brand and generic form. Watch the video above to learn more about ADHD and whether the medical system can handle the sharp rise in demand.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe Rise of AtlantaThe metro Atlanta region emerged as a national economic bright spot in recent decades. This sparked a population boom in Atlanta's sprawling suburbs, fueling concerns over equity. The current vanguard of groups in the city are attempting to build with density while preserving affordable housing. Local planners believe that the BeltLine, a 22-mile loop that provides a pedestrian path and community space, will reconnect neighborhoods, providing a bridge to the city's future. 12:26 17 minutes ago

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy everyone seems to be getting sickIf it seems like everyone around you is getting sick, you're not imagining it. Covid precautions did lead to lower rates of flu-like illnesses compared to normal, pre-pandemic times. But now that much of America has abandoned preventive measures such as masking, more people are getting sick. One illness is respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which can affect young children the most. Watch the video to learn more about why this season is starting off with a surge and what to do about it.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhat's driving early-voter turnout in AtlantaMany people are watching Atlanta in the lead-up to 2022's midterm elections. Races for key seats in the U.S. Congress alongside a rematch for the state governor's office have animated voters. In addition, serious concerns over such issues as inflation, voting rights, health care and abortion are drawing people to the polls in droves. If Republican candidates manage to flip seats in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, a new era of gridlock could unfold in Washington.

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