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☆ SEC charges Keurig Dr Pepper for making inaccurate claims about K-Cups' recyclability
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Keurig Dr Pepper for making inaccurate claims about the recyclability of its disposable K-Cup pods, the agency said Tuesday. As consumers have become more conscious of their carbon footprints, questions about K-Cups' environmental impact have dogged Keurig for more than a decade. The pods' inventor told the Atlantic that he feels bad "sometimes" about creating K-Cups because of the waste they generate. A 2018 lawsuit over recycling claims led to a $10 million class-action settlement. The company's claims could have swayed some consumers, boosting sales of both K-Cups and its brewers.

Persons: Dr Pepper, Keurig, recyclers Organizations: Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Research Locations: U.S, North America

☆ Costco's app is finally starting to show what's in stock at your warehouse
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Costco has been quietly rolling out a new product availability feature on its app and website. Available in select markets, the tool lets shoppers know if a product is in-stock at a warehouse. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementCostco is taking some of the guesswork out of shoppers' warehouse trips.

Persons: — Organizations: Costco, Service, Business Locations: Costco's, Seattle

☆ EV charging and range are improving. People still don't want to go electric.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWe're getting closer to a cure for range anxiety, so why don't more people want an EV? This dip in demand is reflected in a stagnation in EV sales growth over the past year as companies adjust to a new crop of more practical green-car shoppers. Battery-powered cars accounted for a record 7.6% of all car sales in 2023, according to Kelley Blue Book, up from 5.9% in 2022. Affordability is also a key issue for today's electric car shoppers, an issue the industry has tried to address with lower sticker prices. But EV shoppers have found a new cost to angst over.

Persons: —, EY, Marc Coltelli, Kelley, EVs, it's, Power, Raman Ram Organizations: Service, Business, Power, Utilities, Industry, EV, Pew Research, Department of Energy, Americas Aerospace, Defense Locations: Americas

☆ Rapper Ye is set to perform a controversial show in China this week — and many are wondering why
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Serenitie Wang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"This is Hainan trying hard to forge its branding as an international destination," said Michael Zhou, founder of Jingjian, a consultancy specializing in China tourism. The tropical island of Hainan, dubbed the "Hawaii of China," has long been a top travel destination for domestic tourists. According to Zhou, the bulk of Hainan's tourism income comes from hotel stays and duty-free shopping. "As it is the largest duty-free channel in China, Hainan's duty-free sales decline is inevitable," said Charlie Chen, head of Asian Research at China Renaissance, a financial institution. Ye and the China connectionCDF Haikou International Duty Free City is one of many duty-free malls on the Chinese island of Hainan.

Persons: Du, Ye, Michael Zhou, Zhou, netizens, Ye's, Charlie Chen, Hainan's, Luo Yunfei Organizations: straitlaced Communist Party, Communist, Hainan's Provincial, of Statistics, Haikou, Asian Research, Duty, China News Service, Getty Locations: Hainan, Shanghai, China, Weibo, Beijing, Ye, Hawaii

☆ Amazon targets Aldi with a new lineup of ‘no-frills’ groceries
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon is rolling out a new “no-frills” private label brand called Amazon Saver, with most items priced at less than $5 and that include an array of household staples and pantry items such as cookies and crackers and perishable items like sliced turkey and ham. Shoppers at its roughly 50 Amazon Fresh stores and online are getting price cuts on more than 3,000 items. Typically, Prime members get a 10% discount, but now they can get up to 50% off eight to 15 grocery items that change weekly, including fresh produce and meats. And more than 1,200 rotating grocery items from popular brands will be discounted 25%. Prime members will also get an additional 10% off its new lineup of Saver products.

Persons: ”, Neil Saunders, ” Saunders, Sarah Wyeth Organizations: New, New York CNN, Target’s, Amazon, Walmart, Target, Aldi, GlobalData, “, CNN, Shoppers Locations: New York, Aldi

☆ US employers have good reasons not to hire more workers now
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Bryan Mena | Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

That’s because employers might be putting some of their hiring plans on hold — and for good reason. Businesses consider many factors when deciding to hire, but across a wide spectrum of industries, the economic outlook carries always great deal of weight. Both those factors are prompting employers to think twice about hiring more workers now, according to economists and recent comments from businesses around the country. But she’s proposing raising the corporate tax rate to 28%. So when interest rates are as elevated as they are right now, monthly debt payments could be too costly for many firms.

Persons: there’s, ” Kathy Bostjancic, Reserve Banks, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Trump, Harris, ”, Sean Snaith, Julia Pollak, ZipRecruiter’s, ” Pollak, “ It’s, Pollak Organizations: CNN, Labor Department, Federal Reserve, Nationwide, “, Reserve, Trump, America, Economic, of New, Institute for Economic, University of Central, Fed, Treasury Locations: China, of New York, University of Central Florida

☆ America's shopping spree is over and retailers are facing a new world of cautious consumers
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewAmerica's wild, multi-year shopping spree has come to an end — and retailers who got used to Americans dropping cash on just about everything are in a tough spot. US retail sales came in stronger than expected in July, with Americans spending more overall compared to the prior month, according to Census data. Around 40% of consumers said they planned to pare back spending on accessories, home decor, jewelry, and furniture, per McKinsey's survey. We're now back in an environment where good retailers, strong brands that offer compelling value … will benefit," Siegel said. In the meantime, that could mean more pain for retailers, Siegel said, speculating that many were caught by surprise by the shift in consumer sentiment.

Persons: —, Ted Rossman, Rossman, pare, Simeon Siegel, Siegel, We're, SPDR Organizations: Service, Business, McKinsey & Company, Bankrate, Customers, BMO, Challenger, Walmart, Target, San Francisco Fed, Primerica Locations: FactSet

☆ Google's second antitrust trial could help shape the future of online ads
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-06 | by ( Jennifer Elias | Jennifer Covers Google Parent Company Alphabet Inc. | Silicon Valley Culture For Cnbc.Com In San Francisco. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

For Google, the focus turns to its ad tools, which are part of the company’s $200 billion digital ad business. In the first antitrust case, the court found that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which outlaws monopolies. The company’s M&A strategy “set the stage for Google’s later exclusionary conduct across the ad tech industry,” the Justice Department alleges. Google has long fought back against claims that it dominates online ads, pointing to the market share of competitors including Meta. It will argue that buyers and sellers have many options especially as the online ad market has evolved.

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump, Meta, Sherman, Goldman, Bernstein, Amit Mehta, ” Mehta, Google’s, Neal Mohan, Mohan, it’s, AdMeld, Jerry Dischler, It’s, Sissie Hsiao, Scott Sheffer, Prabhakar Raghavan, Simon Whitcombe Organizations: Department of Justice, Google, Microsoft, Big Tech, DOJ, Apple, Federal Trade Commission, Facebook, Amazon, Citibank, NYSE, New York Stock Exchange, YouTube, Google Network, U.S, District of Columbia, Department, DoubleClick, Meta, Stanford, Harvard, New York Times Locations: Alexandria , Virginia, California , Colorado , Connecticut , New Jersey , New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee, Google’s

☆ Trader Joe's confirms viral $2.99 mini tote bags will be back in stores this month—but not for long
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-06 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Trader Joe's viral mini tote bags will soon be back in stock. A representative for the popular supermarket chain confirmed to CNBC Make It that the colorful canvas bags, which have been sold out since they first hit stores in March, will be back on September 18. The totes became an instant sensation when they first came out, with shoppers quickly descending on the limited supply. Some Trader Joe's locations even put limits on how many bags customers could purchase. The $2.99 bags — which are just a slightly smaller version of Trader Joe's classic canvas bag and come in green, red, yellow and blue — proved so popular that they were soon being listed on eBay for hundreds of dollars.

Organizations: CNBC, eBay

☆ Beleaguered Burberry is no longer one of UK’s most valuable public companies
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-05 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Luxury brand Burberry is dropping out of Britain’s main stock index after suffering a steep fall in value following a plunge in sales and profits. The 168-year-old brand will leave the FTSE 100, which brings together the 100 most valuable companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, as a result of a quarterly review, the exchange said in a statement Wednesday. Spending on luxury goods has been slowing globally but particularly in the world’s no. 2 economy China, hitting not only the likes of Burberry but also higher-end brands. In July, the company replaced its chief executive — who had spent just two years in the role — after another disappointing quarter.

Persons: —, Gerry Murphy, “, Anna Cooban Organizations: London CNN, Burberry, London Stock Exchange Locations: China

☆ Walmart is taking dollar stores’ customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Dollar Tree also owns the long-struggling Family Dollar chain. While dollar stores once expanded to reach a growing number of financially strapped Americans, they underestimated just how financially strapped many Americans would become. “They missed the fact in tough times the consumer would be looking for consumables.”Meanwhile, Dollar Tree has been weighed down by its purchase of Family Dollar. Earlier this year, Dollar Tree announced that Family Dollar will close more than 900 stores, and it subsequently said it will explore a sale or spinoff of Family Dollar. In previous times of financial stress, Dollar General has seen middle-income and slightly more affluent households trade down into Dollar General to save money.

Persons: Michael Lasser, —, Todd Vasos, Vasos, Mike Creedon, aren’t, “ They’re, ” David D’Arezzo, “, ” Neil Saunders, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, UBS, Dollar General, Dollar, CNN, Target Locations: New York

☆ Dollar Tree shares plunge 22% after discounter cuts full-year forecast
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A sign is posted in front of a Dollar Tree and Family Dollar store on March 13, 2024 in Rio Vista, California. Shares of Dollar Tree fell more than 22% on Wednesday after the discounter cut its full-year outlook, citing increasing pressures on middle-income and higher-income customers. Dollar Tree includes two store chains, its namesake, which sells a wide variety of lower-priced items like party supplies, and Family Dollar, which carries more food. At Dollar Tree, same-store sales increased by 1.3% and at Family Dollar, same-store sales fell by 0.1%. Dollar Tree bought Family Dollar for nearly $9 billion in 2015 and since then, it's struggled to strengthen the grocery-focused chain and better compete with Dollar General.

Persons: Jeff Davis, Todd Vasos, Davis, it's, —, Robert Hum Organizations: LSEG, Dollar, Walmart Locations: Rio Vista , California

☆ Costco’s first membership price hike in 7 years just went into effect
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Costco customers are now paying more for their annual memberships for the first time since 2017. The price of Costco’s premium “Executive Membership” also went up, by $10 to $130 a year. The company estimated that 52 million memberships will be impacted, a little over half of which are Executive members, Costco previously said. Last year, Costco earned $4.6 billion in revenue from membership fees, an 8% increase from 2022. Costco (COST) is cracking down on membership moochers by implementing stricter policies and requiring shoppers to scan their membership cards to enter stores.

Persons: ”, Costco, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Costco Locations: New York, Canada

The average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.35% on August 29 from 6.46% a week ago, the lowest mortgage rates have been in 15 months, according to Freddie Mac. "I bought a house when [the mortgage rate] was 15% and then I refinanced." "No bank is ever going to give you a true no closing cost loan at the lowest possible rate. And buying with the goal of refinancing is always taking a gamble on mortgage rates, which comes with a certain amount of risk. Even though recent declines in mortgage rates may gain steam as the Fed lowers its benchmark rate, lower mortgage rates could also boost homebuying demand, which would push prices higher.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Jacob Channel, Dottie Herman, Douglas Elliman, I've, Melissa Cohn, William Raveis, Banks, Cohn, Keith Gumbinger, Michael Krowe, Krowe Organizations: Brigade, Getty, Federal, LendingTree, Fed, William Raveis Mortgage, HSH.com, Edelman Locations: New York

☆ Increased sausage demand could be worrying signal on the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-26 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An uptick in sausage demand can offer the latest sign of consumers tightening their belts as they continue grappling with high prices. There has been "modest growth" in the dinner sausage category for one producer, according to the Dallas Federal Reserve's Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey released Monday. "This category tends to grow when the economy weakens," the respondent said, according to edited comments included in the Dallas Fed's report. That is because "sausage is a good protein substitute for higher-priced proteins and can 'stretch' consumers' food budgets." This anecdote pointed out by eagle-eyed Bespoke Investment Group on social media site X comes as grocery prices remain top of mind for consumers.

Persons: Fred Meyer Organizations: Dallas Federal, Texas Manufacturing, Dallas Locations: Kroger, Palmer , Alaska, An

☆ Gold bars just hit the $1 million mark, but that doesn't mean your Costco gold bars make you a millionaire
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

But if you're among the group of Costco shoppers who bought gold bars from the retailer in recent months, don't celebrate your newfound fortune too soon. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. AdvertisementThe gold bars sold at Costco, however, are much smaller than the standard size, typically ranging in size from 20-500 grams. The Costco gold bars are smaller, yes, but they are also more affordable for buyers looking to spend less than $10,000 on metal instead of $1 million. Despite the skyrocketing price of gold, a Bank of America investment strategist told Markets Insider that investors should keep buying gold.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Costco, Bank of America

☆ It's a good time to get a deal on an EV as they sit around on dealer lots
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This has helped cut the average price paid in July for a new EV to $58,619, which is 1% lower year-over-year, according to Edmunds. That's actually $4,366 cheaper than the average price paid in July for a new plug-in hybrid. Demand for hybrids is growing among a more practical group of green car shoppers who aren't ready to make the switch to a fully electric car. The average price paid for an EV still outpaces the average price paid for any new car by about $10,000. Car companies are leaning into this loophole with attractive EV leasing deals.

Persons: —, That's, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Caldwell Organizations: Service, Business, Cox Automotive, EVs, Hyundai, Dealers Locations: Edmunds, That's

SKIP AHEAD What to buy during Labor Day sales | What Labor Day sales to skip | When do Labor Day sales start? One of the categories experts recommend watching for the strongest Labor Day sales is summer clothing and shoes. Labor Day sales typically end once the holiday is over or the day after, says Shand. Expert shopping tips: How to make the most of Labor Day salesTo prevent yourself from making impulse purchases and overspending while shopping Labor Day sales, keep the following expert tips in mind. For this article, I interviewed three experts about what to shop during Labor Day and what sales to skip.

Persons: Bella Gerard, ”, You’ll, Mackenzie Shand, Vipin Porwal, Gerard, Shand, “, it’s, It’s, you’ll, isn’t, TikTok Organizations: Labor, NBC, Manufacturers, Labor Day, Target, Walmart, Home, Amazon Prime, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Rakuten

☆ ‘The time has come’: The Fed just sent a crucial message about its next move
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And so does the broader US economy: Economic growth this year has been solid and the Atlanta Fed is projecting that growth hasn’t slipped. “The labor market is cooling, but it’s not getting soft. A slowing job market is also playing a role in nudging the Fed to ease borrowing costs. Translation: The recent weakness in the job market could result in American shoppers curbing their spending more than expected. A big question mark is the future of America’s job market, which is a key driver of the US economy.

Persons: Washington CNN —, “, Jerome Powell, ”, “ Powell, Seema Shah, hasn’t, ” Tom Porcelli, it’s, Powell, cooldown, ” Powell, aren’t, they’re, —, “ There’s, Elizabeth Renter Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Fed, Markets, Asset Management, Atlanta Fed, Treasury, CNN, Walmart, America’s Locations: Jackson Hole , Wyoming, nudging

☆ Gen Z women are leaning into office-inspired clothing — but they're not wearing it to the office
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Amanda Yen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Quang attributes the unexpected virality to a digital trend that first appeared at the end of 2023: the office siren. AdvertisementGoogle Trends shows searches for the term "office siren" increased tenfold between the first week of May and the first week of August. The office siren is a polarizing character — a sexed-up appropriation of office wear, restyled and applied to contexts outside the office. "Obviously, I'm not wearing this to the office," Quang said. "The office siren is just a character I'm playing."

Persons: —, Julia Quang, Aritzia, Zers, Quang, Josephine Hansom, Hansom, Gen, Kirsten Classi, Zummo, she's, Corey Robinson, Abercrombie &, it's, Robinson, Heather McLean, McLean, Nancy Deihl, Gen Z, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, Brands, Abercrombie, Abercrombie & Fitch, New York University Locations: Quang, Canadian, America

☆ Shein reveals child labor cases at its suppliers
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Fast fashion retailer Shein found two cases of child labor at its suppliers last year, it said in its 2023 sustainability report, as it stepped up audits of manufacturers in China to assuage criticisms of its low-cost business model ahead of a planned flotation. Shein tightened its supplier policy last October after the child labor cases were found, so that any severe breaches — called “Immediate Termination Violations” — would result in ending the relationship with the supplier immediately. Previously, suppliers such as those that employed minors had 30 days to resolve the issue, failing which Shein would cut ties. That violation was found in 1.8% of supplier audits in 2021, 0.3% of audits in 2022, and 0.1% in 2023. “We remain vigilant in guarding against such violations going forward, and in line with current policies, will terminate any noncompliant suppliers,” Shein said in the report.

Persons: Shein, Annabella Ng, “, ” Shein, Sky Xu, Jiajia Zou, General Atlantic Cornelia Gomez, Josh Raffaelli, Ng, ” Organizations: SGS, Tuv, General Atlantic, Brookfield Growth Locations: China, Shein, Singapore, Openview, Tuv Rheinland, QIMA, London, China’s Guangdong, Turkey, Brazil

☆ Economist Paul Krugman defends Harris' price-gouging plan — but 'Shark Tank' star Kevin O'Leary calls it a 'horror film'
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. What works is to flood the market with supply: lots of oil means lower oil prices, lots of labor means lower labor prices, lots of whatever means lower prices — it's a simple supply and demand curve. Obviously, this is a populist political gesture — a way to offer something to voters upset about high food prices. Krugman noted that many states including Texas have laws banning businesses from overcharging for essentials like food and fuel during disasters.

Persons: —, Kamala Harris, Harris, Lindsay Owens, Donald Trump, Mark Zandi, Kamala, Dave Ramsey, It's, cramp, Kevin O'Leary, there's, That's, There's, O'Leary, it's, Kamala Harris's, Gus Ruelas, Paul Krugman, I've, Richard Nixon, Nicolas Maduro, Krugman, Brian Cornell, Cornell Organizations: Service, Democratic, Business, Federal, CBS, Republican, York Post, Fox, Netflix, Fox News, Laureate, Princeton, New York Times, CNBC Locations: York, America, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Soviet Union, Texas, overcharging

July marked a third straight month that egg prices rose on an annual basis, a reversal from a year of relative decreases. The culprit was a continued battle against the highly pathogenic avian influenza, known in short as HPAI or the bird flu. Inflation in egg prices became a focus for consumers during the pandemic given their ubiquity in everyday cooking. The bird flu had a historic outbreak in 2022 and surged once again at the end of 2023. That can underscore the impact of any bird flu outbreaks on the prices customers see on grocery store shelves.

Persons: Luke Sharrett, Caitlinn Hubbell, Hubbell, resurgences Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Purdue University's Center, Food, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: West Lafayette , Indiana, Colorado, California

☆ Shopping hauls are so back
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-17 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Aria Liu, 17, regularly posts shopping haul videos to her YouTube channel, which has 300,000 subscribers. “I don’t know what it is, but when I’m shopping online, money doesn’t feel real.”Liu’s not alone. Shopping hauls have existed for years, if not decades. Aria Liu says that the shopping haul videos she posts on her YouTube channel, “urmomsushi,” are the ones that garner the most views. There’s also a growing body of research that is questioning whether social media can be dangerous, especially for younger users.

Persons: Aria Liu, ”, “, ” Liu’s, Liu It’s, Philippa Ward, Katie Fang, TikTok, Fang, hashtags, Alistair Berg, Matthias Lehner, ” Lehner, Katrina Caspelich, There’s, there’s, ” Caspelich Organizations: CNN, YouTube, Consumer, US Commerce Department, Consumer Financial, University of Gloucestershire, Research, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Centre for Retail Research, Lund University Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, TikTok, Lund , Sweden, “

Despite the gloom about grocery costs, food price increases have generally been cooling for months. A central issue has plagued the Biden administration for most of its term: the steep rise in grocery prices. Despite the gloom about grocery costs, food price increases have generally been cooling for months. Image Several economists said they expected to see grocery inflation remain around current rates in the coming months. Grocery inflation remains a major political issueHigh food costs continue to pose a political challenge for the Biden administration.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, Trump, ”, David Ortega, Ortega, “ We’re, Mr, Jessica Attie, Omair Sharif, Sharif, Kamala Harris, Christopher B, Barrett, Jerlyn, “, Heisz Organizations: Bloomberg, Federal Reserve, Investors, Republican, White, Workers, Michigan State University, The New York Times, Agriculture Department, KPMG, Democratic, PepsiCo, Cornell University Locations: Ukraine, Platteville, Wis

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