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☆ U.S. consumer spending, inflation cool in November
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, edged up 0.1%. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending rising 0.2%. Slowing price increases for some goods also lowered the dollar amount of consumer spending. Consumer spending is being driven by solid wage gains, thanks to a tight labor market, as well as savings accumulated during first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher borrowing costs, fast-depleting savings and diminishing household wealth could stifle consumer spending, and tip the economy into recession next year.

☆ U.S. manufacturing output dragged down by motor vehicle weakness
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Manufacturing output fell 0.6% last month, the Federal Reserve said on Thursday. Mining output fell 0.7% last month, matching the decline in October. That offset some of the weakness in manufacturing and mining, leading to a 0.2% drop in overall industrial production. Industrial output slipped 0.1% in October. It is 0.1 percentage point above its 1972-2021 average.

U.S. air travelers now have until May 7, 2025, to obtain a driver's license or other government ID that complies with the federal REAL ID Act. How do you know if you have a REAL ID? Your passport will remain a suitable alternative if you do not have a REAL ID-compliant card by the new deadline, DHS says. And minors will not be required to carry a REAL ID card. According to The Washington Post, just under half of Americans currently have REAL ID-compliant cards.

☆ GM’s Cruise Seeks Regulatory OK to Test Shuttle With No Steering Wheel
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Ryan Felton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

General Motors Co.’s driverless-car unit has requested approval from California regulators to begin public testing of a shuttle that has no steering wheel or manual controls, showing the auto maker’s determination to make progress on autonomous vehicles as rivals step back. GM’s Cruise LLC division in August submitted an application to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, requesting permission to test its Origin driverless vehicle on San Francisco streets, according to a copy of the document obtained through a public records request.

☆ What's open and closed on Thanksgiving
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Many stores that were once open on Thanksgiving have changed policy since the pandemic, shuttering for the day before Black Friday sales. Here are the businesses and institutions that will be open and closed on Turkey Day. We’ll again be closed on Thanksgiving,” Walmart (WMT) US CEO John Furner said in an October interview on NBC. Costco (COST), Home Depot (HD), Nordstrom (JWN), Publix, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s and others have been closed on Thanksgiving for many years. As for retail pharmacies on Thanksgiving Day, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid will be open with varying hours.

☆ Take Five: Black Friday test
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

1/GOING SHOPPINGWith concerns that the U.S. economy may be on the verge of a recession, a key test of consumer demand arrives on Nov. 25, when retailers launch "Black Friday" sales - a day traditionally marked by long lines of shoppers eager to pounce on discounts. Soaring inflation and surging interest rates could test buying appetite. The dollar index, meanwhile, peaked at a 20-year high of 114.78 in September and has been falling ever since. Reuters Graphics3/BLEAK OUT THEREThe International Monetary Fund says the global economic outlook is even gloomier than it was a month ago. Preliminary readings of business activity in November from a number of economies could answer the question in the coming days.

Shares of Target Corp (TGT.N) tumbled 13.1% after the big-box retailer forecast a surprise drop in holiday-quarter sales. The S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector (.SPLRCD) shed 1.5%. The S&P 500 information technology sector (.SPLRCT) fell 1.4% and the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index (.SOX) sank 4.3%. Elsewhere in retail, shares of Lowe's (LOW.N) rose 3% after the home improvement company raised its annual profit forecast. The S&P 500 posted 3 new 52-week highs and 2 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 71 new highs and 133 new lows.

☆ Gold flat as geopolitical tensions ease; focus on future Fed path
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

One kilo gold bars are pictured at the plant of gold and silver refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022. Gold prices were flat on Thursday as safe-haven demand from latest geopolitical concerns faded, while hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve would be less aggressive on rate hikes over coming months underpinned the market. Gold prices hit a three-month peak of $1,786.35 per ounce on Tuesday, after news that Russian missiles killed two people in Poland near the Ukraine border. Focus remained on Fed's interest rate strategy, with traders pricing in a 93% probability of a 50 basis-point of rate hike at the U.S. central bank's December meeting. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields were hovering near a one-month low, reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-interest bearing gold.

Shares of Target Corp (TGT.N) tumbled 12% after the big-box retailer forecast a surprise drop in holiday-quarter sales. Micron Technology (MU.O) shares dropped over 7% after the company said it would reduce memory chip supply and make more cuts to its capital spending plan. The S&P 500 information technology sector (.SPLRCT) dropped 1.3%, while the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index (.SOX) sank over 4%. Elsewhere in retail, shares of Lowe's (LOW.N) rose over 3% after the home improvement company raised its annual profit forecast. The S&P 500 posted 3 new 52-week highs and 2 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 54 new highs and 110 new lows.

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File PhotoSummarySummary Companies October retail sales rise more than expectedTarget's dull outlook weighs on retailersMicron's supply cut triggers chip selloffIndexes: Dow up 0.05%, S&P down 0.51%, Nasdaq down 1.10%Nov 16 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell on Wednesday as a grim outlook from Target spurred fresh concerns for retailers heading into the crucial holiday season, while Micron's supply cut triggered a selloff in the chip sector. Target Corp (TGT.N) tumbled as much as 17% in early trading as a pullback in consumer spending despite heavy discounting cut its third-quarter profit by half. Despite the sales warning from Target, data showed U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in October, boosted by purchases of motor vehicles and suggesting that consumer spending remained stable. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.73-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and for a 2.23-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded three new 52-week highs and two new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 50 new highs and 104 new lows.

☆ U.S. retail sales rise solidly; fourth-quarter GDP estimates raised
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

With inflation cooling considerably in October, economists estimate real retail sales increased 0.9% last month. Sales at food services and drinking places, the only services category in the retail sales report, increased 1.6%. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales increased 0.7% last month. Data for September was revised higher to show these so-called core retail sales rising 0.6% instead of 0.4% as previously reported. Core retail salesCore retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product.

☆ U.S. retail sales increase solidly in October
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Retail sales increase 1.3% in OctoberCore retail sales rise 0.7%; September sales revised upWASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in October as households stepped up purchases of motor vehicles and a range of other goods, suggesting consumer spending picked up early in the fourth quarter, which could help to support the economy. Retail sales are mostly goods and are not adjusted for inflation. Sales at food services and drinking places, the only services category in the retail sales report, increased 1.6%. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales increased 0.7% last month. Data for September was revised higher to show these so-called core retail sales rising 0.6% instead of 0.4% as previously reported.

☆ Lucid's fight to sell cars in Texas could give it a leg up in the ultracompetitive electric-vehicle market
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Nora Naughton | Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The resulting legal battles could slow crucial deliveries for EV startups. It's also a sign that there could be more legal confrontations to come for other budding EV makers, like Rivian and Fisker. What consumers can expectLast year, Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid joined forces to push for bills allowing direct sales in eight states. Many of these efforts are still in progress while Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla continue to sell vehicles remotely. Even with the legal troubles, EV startups are moving full speed ahead on direct to consumer.

☆ Fact Check-Noncitizens cannot vote in California congressional elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Noncitizens are not eligible to vote in California congressional elections, despite the claim resurfacing online ahead of November’s midterm elections. “By law noncitizens cannot vote in California elections. California law requires that voters be both U.S. and California citizens,” Joe Kocurek, a spokesperson for the California Secretary of State told Reuters via email. Noncitizens cannot vote in congressional elections in California. San Francisco voters passed an ordinance allowing noncitizens to vote in school board elections only.

☆ Over 200,000 trans people could face voting restrictions because of state ID laws
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

Seaton showed his state ID. “So I expect that we’re going to hear more stories of trans people being harassed, whether by voters, poll workers, poll monitors or other folks who are present during the election.”Impact of voter ID laws on trans votersVoter identification laws differ widely by state. Eight of those states have strict photo ID laws. Since the 2020 election, 12 states have enacted new or stricter voter ID laws, according to VoteRiders, a nonpartisan voting rights organization. In the 15 states without ID laws, voters’ identities are usually verified by checking them against their voter registration information, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

☆ Factbox: Tesla's Autopilot faces unprecedented scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

This is scheduled to be the first civil lawsuit related to Autopilot that goes to trial. The NTSB said drivers relied too heavily on the Autopilot system, while Tesla failed to restrict the use of Autopilot or to adequately monitor driver attentiveness. NHTSA INVESTIGATIONIn June, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration upgraded its defect investigation into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with Autopilot, a required step before it could seek a recall. The auto safety regulator is reviewing whether Tesla vehicles adequately ensure drivers are paying attention. Since 2016, NHTSA has opened nearly 40 special investigations involving 19 deaths in crashes involving Tesla vehicles.

☆ Tesla faces U.S. criminal probe over self-driving car claims, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Such warnings could complicate any case the Justice Department might wish to bring, the sources said. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. As part of the latest probe, Justice Department prosecutors in Washington and San Francisco are examining whether Tesla misled consumers, investors and regulators by making unsupported claims about its driver assistance technology’s capabilities, the sources said. The Justice Department’s Autopilot probe is far from recommending any action partly because it is competing with two other DOJ investigations involving Tesla, one of the sources said. The Justice Department may also face challenges in building its case, said the sources, because of Tesla’s warnings about overreliance on Autopilot.

☆ Tesla faces U.S. criminal probe over self-driving claims, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Mike Spector | Dan Levine | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Such warnings could complicate any case the Justice Department might wish to bring, the sources said. The Justice Department investigation potentially represents a more serious level of scrutiny because of the possibility of criminal charges against the company or individual executives, the people familiar with the inquiry said. As part of the latest probe, Justice Department prosecutors in Washington and San Francisco are examining whether Tesla misled consumers, investors and regulators by making unsupported claims about its driver assistance technology's capabilities, the sources said. The Justice Department's Autopilot probe is far from recommending any action partly because it is competing with two other DOJ investigations involving Tesla, one of the sources said. The Justice Department may also face challenges in building its case, said the sources, because of Tesla's warnings about overreliance on Autopilot.

Such warnings could complicate any case the Justice Department might wish to bring, the sources said. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. The Justice Department investigation potentially represents a more serious level of scrutiny because of the possibility of criminal charges against the company or individual executives, the people familiar with the inquiry said. As part of the latest probe, Justice Department prosecutors in Washington and San Francisco are examining whether Tesla misled consumers, investors and regulators by making unsupported claims about its driver assistance technology's capabilities, the sources said. The Justice Department’s Autopilot probe is far from recommending any action partly because it is competing with two other DOJ investigations involving Tesla, one of the sources said.

☆ Facial recognition used in arrest of 9/11 conspiracy theory lawyer accused of trying to disarm officer on Jan. 6
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Ryan J. Reilly | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan_Dienst_Byline.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — The FBI on Thursday arrested a New York lawyer who is accused of trying to disarm an officer protecting the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, law enforcement sources told NBC News. Authorities say O'Kelly tried to "disarm" a D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer on Jan. 6 by grabbing an officer's baton and "attempting to wrestle it from the officer’s hands." U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of ColumbiaO’Kelly, known to online sleuths investigating the Jan. 6 attack as “MidWhiteCrisis,” was No. A judge dismissed the lawsuit in March 2021, and an appeals court upheld the lower court ruling in August 2022. More than 870 people have been arrested by the FBI in connection with the Jan. 6 attack.

☆ Tesla cars will not be approved as fully self driving this year, Musk says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | Akash Sriram | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File PhotoThe Silicon Valley automaker sells a $15,000 software add-on called “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) which enables its vehicles to change lanes and park autonomously. A highly autonomous vehicle would require regulatory approval in California, for example. “It’s a separate matter as to will it have regulatory approval. It won’t have regulatory approval at that time,” he added. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Thursday said it “has an ongoing review of the intended design and technological capabilities of Tesla vehicles,” without elaborating further.

☆ Fact Check-U.S. elections: What we know about a new Massachusetts law that allows undocumented migrants to get a driver's license
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

A law set to go into effect in 2023 in Massachusetts would enable immigrants with non-legal status to obtain a driver’s license. The bill would eliminate a restriction that says a driver’s license cannot be issued unless a person has lawful presence in the United States. “This bill [HB 4805] also fails to include any measures to distinguish standard Massachusetts driver’s licenses issued to persons who demonstrate lawful presence from those who do not. Cecilia Calabrese, a Republican candidate for Massachusetts State Senate, wrote on Twitter: “Because in Massachusetts when you get a Driver’s License you are AUTOMATICALLY registered to vote! Unlawful voter registration and unlawful voting are both deportable offenses (see “falsely claiming citizenship” and “unlawful voters”) (here).

☆ A Florida cop advised one of the people arrested in DeSantis' voter fraud crackdown how to defend himself against the charges, body camera footage shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis' voter fraud crackdown. Police body cam footage obtained by the Tampa Bay Times shows cops appearing sympathetic toward those they were arresting. All 20 people arrested on August 18 were given voter registration cards to vote in the 2020 election, the Times reported. The August 18 arrests happened just hours before DeSantis held a press conference announcing that 20 people had been charged with voter fraud connected to the 2020 presidential election. Those arrested, who had all received voter registration cards, are now facing up to five years in prison, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

☆ U.S. retail sales unchanged; consumers showing resilience
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But consumers are not rolling over yet, with the report from the Commerce Department on Friday also showing a measure of underlying retail sales rising last month, thanks to strong wage gains and savings. These so-called core retail sales were also stronger than initially thought in August. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe unchanged reading in retail sales last month followed an upwardly revised 0.4% rise in August. Retail sales increased 8.2% on a year-on-year basis in September. Data for August was revised higher to show these core retail sales rising 0.2% instead of being unchanged as previously reported.

☆ Wealthy people who moved to Miami are rejecting Florida traditions and radically transforming their homes instead
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"They're willing to bring their New York aesthetic down into Miami, or their LA or Beverly Hills aesthetic down into Miami." Miami newcomers aren't afraid to break away from aesthetic normsEilyn, who said her design style is more personable and poised, was born and raised in Miami. The result is a modern beach home that includes elements of classic Miami design "mixed with the tranquility of Mykonos" that combines a simple color palette with pops of visual interest. "You can incorporate details that maybe you wouldn't see so much in Miami design," she said. It means they have a steady stream of work, with the possibility to be creative and stretch their imaginations as they shape the future of Miami design.

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