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☆ We left behind our careers in Nashville to have an 'adult gap year.' We traveled a lot and now happily live in Spain.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Cait Church | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementWe left our stressful careers in the music industry in Nashville to have an "adult gap year." We spent a year traveling through Europe to find the joy and balance our lives had been missing. We fell in love with València, Spain, on our trip and have since moved there. Each place had its own unique charm, but one stood out above the rest: València, Spain. We're now living in Spain and happily getting settledWe couldn't stop thinking about Spain even after we'd left.

Persons: we'd, València, We're, we're Organizations: Cait Locations: Nashville, Europe, València, Spain, Tennessee, Portugal, France, Montenegro, Greece, Albania, Ireland, England

☆ Frustration grows as federal agency struggles to combat election lies spread by Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Some internal proposals to support election officials’ efforts to combat disinformation have made little headway. Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in an interview in Washington, DC, on October 2, 2024. Ben Curtis/APThe agency has advised election officials on how to communicate clearly with voters and to prepare for security incidents. Some election officials interviewed by CNN were skeptical about the federal government’s ability to debunk election lies that are part of a broader rise of misinformation in America. The agency now has a team of former election officials who provide physical and cybersecurity services to election offices around the country.

Persons: Homeland Security’s, CISA, Jen, Ben Curtis, Sen, Mark Warner, “, Elon Musk, Hurricane Helene, ”, ‘, Cait Conley, Stephen Richer, Conley, we’ve, ” Conley, ” Adrian Fontes Organizations: CNN, The Department, Homeland, Agency, Infrastructure Security Agency, Senate Intelligence Committee, Virginia Democrat, Social, Republican, Capitol, Meta, Twitter, YouTube, US, FBI, Russian Locations: Washington ,, Virginia, America, Maricopa County

☆ I've been a digital nomad for 11 years. The hardest part of this lifestyle is dating.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Cait Charles | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In 2013, I took my first step into the digital nomad lifestyle by becoming an online English teacher. The author, with a camel on Mount Sinai, has made friends while dating as a digital nomad. Related storiesWe met on Nomad Soulmates, a dating app for digital nomads under the most surreal of circumstances. Go with your gutI was just getting out of another failed relationship when I went on my first Tinder date. When you're dating on the road, the temptation to do so is strong, and connecting at a speed that would seem crazy in the "real world" is commonplace.

Persons: —, I've, Buddha, Cait Charles, Nomad Soulmates, Moishe, bode Organizations: Service, Business, Central Locations: Thailand, Nepal, Mount Sinai, South Korea, Pennsylvania, Florida, Mexico, Central America

☆ Companies are caving to anti-DEI crusaders. That’s bad for business
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-06 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

(And in doing so, gave rise to a generation of hilarious “That’s why, for this pride month, I’ve partnered with” memes. But more damaging than the cringe of a tone-deaf tweet about diversity is when companies give up on the performance altogether. This week, Molson Coors, a longtime sponsor of Pride events and partner to LGBTQ+ nonprofits, joined the list. A Molson Coors representative declined to comment beyond the memo. Coors Light may have looked at its rival getting pummeled by right-wing pundits and feared being the next target.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Kendell Jenner, I’ve, John Deere, Davidson, Molson Coors, Coors, Robby Starbuck, ”, Nathaniel Meyesohn, Starbuck, George Floyd, Bud Light, Cait Lamberton, “, you’ve, pummeled, they’re, Tom Sebok, Molson, Sebok Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Pepsi, Harley, Tractor Supply, Molson Coors, Molson, Human Rights, Coors, DEI, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, The New England Consulting Locations: New York, America, United States

Expensive Big Mac meals and fears of surge pricing at grocery stores have put food chains and consumer product companies in politicians' crosshairs. Walmart , McDonald's and Kroger are just a few of the companies that have found themselves in the debate over high inflation in the 2024 election. Democrats — particularly those like Casey who are trying to win races in competitive swing states — are trying to capitalize on frustration against companies over inflation. (The source of the data is unclear, and McDonald's has denied that its average prices have risen that much.) The criticism could also add to the pressure companies face to show they can lower prices or offer value.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Bob Casey, Kroger, Rodney McMullen, —, Casey, Joe Biden, McDonald's, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, Trump, Biden, Cait Lamberton, That's Organizations: Walmart, McDonald's, Kroger, Albertsons, House Republican, Taco Bell, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Locations: Sens, McDonald's

☆ Why some women stay in religious groups that don’t let them become leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

“It hurt,” says Muse, the executive pastor of Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nikki Hardeman, of Atlanta, an advocacy director for Baptist Women in Ministry, left, Meredith Stone, executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, center, and Christa Brown, an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and a supporter of the Baptist Women in Ministry, protest outside the venue of a Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting on June 11, 2024, in Indianapolis. Some Southern Baptist leaders, for example, say they do not oppose women running for political office. And yet millions of women still give their time and money to church groups that won’t allow them to lead men. Meredith Stone, executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, a group that works with the SBC and other Baptist groups.

Persons: Kristen Muse, Muse, Paul, Timothy, ”, Hayes Barton, “, –, Clint Pressley, Nikki Hardeman, Meredith Stone, Christa Brown, Doug McSchooler, Albert Mohler Jr, Kamala Harris, Shelby Tauber, ” Muse, Christ, Mary Kassian, Beth Allison Barr, Barr, Jesus, Pope Francis, lectors, Beth Moore, Terry Wyatt, Moore, Infants, ” Barr, it’s, they’re, Rick Warren, Peter Smith, that’s, she’s, Rabbi Nachman, Rosh Hashana, Sergei Supinsky, don’t, ‘, Bishop Teresa Jefferson, Jay Reeves, Deborah, Lydia, Priscilla, Dorcas, Mary Magdalene, Mary, Luke, hasn’t, John Blake Organizations: CNN, National Public Radio, Southern Baptist Convention, Hayes Barton Baptist Church, SBC, Baptist Women, Ministry, Southern Baptist, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Roman Catholic Church, of God, Reuters, complementarianism, Children, Baylor University, Research, Saddleback Church, Saddleback, Getty, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Moody Temple CME Church, Jefferson Locations: manila, Raleigh , North Carolina, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Indiana, Dallas , Texas, Nashville , Tennessee, Texas, Saddleback, Southern California, New Orleans, Uman, Ukraine, AFP, Raleigh, Moody, Fairfield , Alabama, Israel

For the fifth year, Business Insider is highlighting the leading PR pros in the creator economy. These professionals help their clients manage media appearances and image. The publicists work with top influencers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Bailey is a publicist with Align Public Relations, a firm founded by Nicole Perez-Krueger, who's built most of the business on digital-first talent. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Alex Cooper, Cooper, Cait Bailey —, Alix Earle, Remi Bader, Bailey, Nicole Perez, Krueger, who's, Perez Organizations: Business, YouTube, Vogue, Public, The New York Times Locations: TikTok, The

☆ Why Corporate America is keeping quiet on abortion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Eight years ago, when North Carolina tried regulate how transgender people use public bathrooms, Corporate America revolted. Nearly two dozen states have either banned or severely curtailed abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned two years ago. Lamberton: What we’ve seen is the natural life cycle of an idea. But in the last few years, we’ve seen that position softening. Economically, we’ve seen a great deal of volatility just in the last half decade.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Roe, Wade, we’ve, Bud, Cait Lamberton, ” Lamberton, ”, Lamberton, We’ve, Bud Light, Busch, isn’t, it’s, they’re, John Wanamaker Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN —, America, PayPal, Associated Press, —, American Civil Liberties Union, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, Consumers, Anheuser, Bud, Brands, Coca Cola, Companies, Technology Locations: New York, North Carolina, Ukraine, Georgia, Philadelphia

☆ Biden officials confront limits of federal response in exercise preparing for 2024 election threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Carolyn Kaster/AP/FileUS national security officials have to weigh whether publicly calling attention to disinformation might inadvertently amplify the very message they’re trying to bat down. In both scenarios, federal officials favored a muted public response, largely choosing to let state and local governments take the lead. State and local officials run elections and are more trusted voices in their communities, but how can federal officials act decisively to support them? “It’s a trick box,” said Adam Hickey, who worked on election security issues for the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “[W]e prioritize tabletop exercises that integrate the range of cyber, physical, and operational threats election officials may encounter,” Conley said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: “, ”, —, Carolyn Kaster, there’s, Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden, deepfakes, ” Sen, Mark Warner, Kevin Dietsch, Francisco Aguilar, ” Aguilar, Donald Trump’s, Adam Hickey, Hickey, Cait Conley, DHS’s, ” Conley, –, ” CNN’s Evan Perez, Natasha Bertrand, Donie O’Sullivan, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Biden White, Jeffersonville Masonic, New Hampshire, Foreign Ministry, ”, Senate, Committee, White, Senate Intelligence, Virginia Democrat, Republican, Trump, Capitol, Justice Department’s National Security, “, Justice Department, Department of Homeland, National Security Council, US Army, DHS’s Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency Locations: China, Jeffersonville, Jeffersonville , Ohio, American, Woodside , California, Nevada, Russia, Iran, Russian, Iranian

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s cybersecurity agency has launched a program aimed at boosting election security in the states, shoring up support for local offices and hoping to provide reassurance to voters that this year's presidential elections will be safe and accurate. Officials with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency planned to introduce its new election security adviser program Thursday to the National Association of State Election Directors and on Friday to the National Association of Secretaries of State. For state and local election officials, the list of security challenges keeps growing. The CISA program includes 10 new hires, all of whom join the federal agency with extensive election experience. CISA Director Jen Easterly announced plans for the program at a July meeting of the state election directors in South Carolina.

Persons: Jen, Cait Conley, ” Conley, Keith Ingram, Spencer Wood, David Stafford, “, ”, Lori Augino, CISA, Al Schmidt, Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency, National Association of State, National Association of, State, Ohio, State’s, North Carolina State Board Locations: New Hampshire, Fulton County , Georgia, Russia, South Carolina, Texas, Escambia County , Florida, Washington, ”, “

☆ The first commercial transatlantic flight powered completely by green fuels is in the air, but critics say it's a gimmick and a joke
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Pete Syme | Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Atlantic is operating the first transatlantic flight on a commercial airliner powered by 100% SAF. But it costs more than double conventional jet fuel, and production is lagging behind demand. Virgin Atlantic is operating the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to New York's JFK Airport, where it's expected to arrive around 2 p.m. "And if we didn't prove it can be done, you would never, ever get sustainable aviation fuel." On Monday, Emirates flew the world's first Airbus A380 demonstration flight using 100% SAF.

Persons: it's, Shai Weiss, Sir Richard Branson, There's, Weiss, Critics, Cait Hewitt Organizations: Virgin, SAF, Service, Virgin Atlantic, Boeing, New York's JFK, International Air Transport Association, BBC, Aviation Environment Federation, CNN, Guardian, UK's Department for Transport, Monday, Emirates, Airbus, Gulfstream, Gulfstream G600 Locations: New, Georgia, England

☆ Kirsty MacColl’s Voice Was Singular. A New Box Aims to Bring It Wider.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Bob Mehr | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“It revealed to people what you could do with those very spare songs of mine,” Bragg said, “that they were capable of being made to great big pop numbers. In 1986, MacColl sang on the Smiths single “Ask” and became a close friend and collaborator of the band’s guitarist, Johnny Marr. Later, when asked how she came up with the sequence, she shrugged: “Well, I put the song I liked best first, and the second best, second … and so on.”Bragg laughed, recalling the anecdote. A duet about a bickering couple on Christmas Eve, the song was originally sung on a demo by the Pogues’ frontman Shane MacGowan and bassist Cait O’Riordan. By the time the group cut it, O’Riordan had left the band, and the track needed a powerful female voice.

Persons: MacColl, Jamie, Louis, Billy Bragg’s “, ” Bragg, Kirsty, ”, Robert Plant, ” Lillywhite, Johnny Marr, “, ” Marr, Joshua Tree, Lillywhite, “ That’s, Shane MacGowan, Cait O’Riordan, O’Riordan Organizations: England ”, Lillywhite, Pogues Locations: England, York

☆ Period care brands August, Rael and others form coalition to fight the 'tampon tax,' reimburse consumers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Cait Freda | In Caitfreda | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Starting Wednesday, consumers paying state sales tax on menstrual products will be able to get those costs on some period care purchases reimbursed. The Tampon Tax Back Coalition — an initiative of period care brands August, Cora, LOLA, The Honey Pot, Rael, Here We Flo, Saalt and DIVA — will reimburse consumers for the tax paid on eligible items sold by the eight participating brands. The coalition aims to stop the "tampon tax," a term used to describe the state sales tax imposed on products such as tampons, pads and menstrual cups in more than a dozen U.S. states. Many states exempt essential products such as food and medications from being subject to sales tax but leave out period care products, because their current state tax codes consider them nonessential goods. The Tampon Tax Back Coalition was born out of an initiative by August that launched in May.

Persons: Cora, LOLA, Rael, Flo, Saalt, —, Nadya Okamoto, We've, there's, Okamoto Organizations: Coalition, Alliance, Supplies Locations: U.S

However, the fall Prime event might have better prices for home goods. In fact, the best prices happened on days that were not key shopping event days. Regardless, the July Prime event offered a deeper discount to shoppers when compared to last year's October Prime sale and Super Saturday. The product did go on sale during last October's Prime member event and this past July's Prime sale, but the discounts were not as deep. Downloads of Amazon's shopping app have declined steadily during each subsequent Prime member shopping event since Amazon's Prime Days in July 2021, according to data intelligence platform Apptopia, which tracks mobile app usage for brands like Amazon.

Persons: Tom Williams, Nick Handrinos, Julie Ramhold, it's, Ramhold, iRobot's, Keurig, AF101, fryer, The Bissell Organizations: Washington , D.C, Cq, Inc, Getty, Adobe, Amazon Prime, Gallup, Finance, Deloitte, CNBC, Electronics, Deal, CoreSight Research, NBC, Scout, Amazon, Sony, Black, Health, Revlon, Philips, July's Locations: Washington ,, Research's U.S

"It's not a $30 billion deal," Tome told CNBC's Frank Holland in an exclusive interview on Monday. Averting a crisisThe labor contract reached in July prevented a potentially widespread and disruptive work stoppage. In June, Teamsters members authorized a UPS strike during the negotiations. The union ratified the UPS contract on Aug. 25 with record turnout of 58% of members voting and a record 86% approving the deal. A 'win-win-win'After the tentative deal for the Teamsters contract was reached, Tome called it a "win-win-win" for the union, customers and the company.

Persons: Carol Tome, Donald Trump, Jonathan Ernst, Tome, CNBC's Frank Holland, We'll, We've, Weeks Organizations: Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Reuters, Teamsters, UPS, Anderson Economic Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, U.S

The law also prohibits funding recipients from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in China or other countries deemed a national security risk by the United States government. A year after President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law, the U.S. semiconductor industry is still waiting on the windfall. The potential for federal funding has spurred some potential huge investments in the semiconductor sector. "The back-end semiconductor manufacturing sector that Integra participates in, operates on very thin margins that just don't make it possible without the CHIPS Act support to do this," Integra CEO Brett Robinson said. Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and silicon carbide producer Wolfspeed have all hired workers and started construction despite not receiving any federal CHIPS Act funding.

Persons: Raimondo, Gina Raimondo, Joe Biden, Brett Robinson, Robinson, Tom Sonderman, I've, Brian Harrison, It's Organizations: Department of Commerce, United, UAW, Integra Technologies, Integra, SkyWater Technology, of Commerce, Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Commerce Department Locations: America, China, United States, U.S, Taylor , Michigan, Wichita , Kansas, West Lafayette , Indiana, Arizona

☆ Angus Cloud, Actor on ‘Euphoria,’ Dies at 25
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Livia Albeck-Ripka | More About Livia Albeck-Ripka | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Angus Cloud, the actor best known for portraying Fezco, a lovable drug dealer on the HBO television show “Euphoria,” died on Monday at his family home in Oakland, Calif. The death was confirmed by Cait Bailey, Mr. Cloud’s representative, who shared a statement from his family. The family did not specify a cause, but said that Mr. Cloud had “intensely struggled” after the recent death of his father, whom he buried last week. “The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend,” the family said.

Persons: Angus Cloud, Fezco, ”, Cait Bailey, Cloud’s, Cloud, Angus, “ Angus Organizations: HBO Locations: Oakland, Calif

The Credit Card Competition Act was reintroduced last month in both the House and the Senate, after not being brought up for a vote in either chamber during the previous Congress. Retailers in support of the legislation argue credit card processing costs are hurting consumers by driving up the cost of business, and, in turn, the price shoppers pay at checkout. On the other side of the fight, major credit card processing networks like Visa , Mastercard , Discover and Capital One say the bill will actually hurt consumers by diminishing popular credit card rewards programs and lessening fraud protections. Visa and Mastercard account for 80% of all credit card volume, according to data from the Nilson Report, a publication tracking the global payment industry. On average, U.S. credit card swipe fees account for 2.24% of a transaction, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition.

Persons: Doug Kantor, Sen, Dick Durbin, He's, Nilson, Durbin, Harley Finkelstein, Finkelstein Organizations: Visa Inc, Mastercard Inc, Visa, Mastercard, Kroger, Walmart, Discover, Merchants Payments Coalition, CNBC, Main, Electronic Payments Coalition Locations: Tiskilwa , Illinois, U.S, Washington, Shopify, Target, America

☆ Is indicted Chinese billionaire tycoon Guo Wengui secretly bankrolling George Santos's bail?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

In recent months, he's become supportive of exiled Chinese tycoon and Republican patron Guo Wengui. There's a very strong chance that one person putting up the money — directly or indirectly — is the jailed exiled Chinese billionaire tycoon Guo Wengui. Even Ghislaine Maxwell and SBF didn't get this kind of secrecySantos certainly doesn't want us to know who these bond sponsors are. (An affinity for using multiple names, which are variations of each other, is something Guo shares with George Anthony Devolder Santos.) So, is Guo one of Santos's bail sponsors?

Persons: George Santos's, you'll, Santos, he's, Guo Wengui, —, George Santos, Ghislaine Maxwell, SBF didn't, Joanna Seybert, Jeremy A, Chase, Alexandra Settelmayer, Davis Wright Tremaine, Lokman Vural, Sam Bankman, Larry Kramer, Andreas Paepcke —, Lewis Kaplan, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Maxwell, Guo, Steve Bannon, Forbes, Miles Kwok, Carlo Allegri, Bannon, Miles Guo, George Anthony Devolder Santos, Cait Corrigan, Santos didn't, Joe Murray, Guo didn't, Santos doesn't Organizations: Service, Rep, Republican, New York Times, US, Federal, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Stanford University, REUTERS, New Federal, Chinese Communist Party, Law Foundation, Law Society, Santos, Justice Department Locations: New York, Long, Santos, Washington, DC, Central Islip, Central Islip , New York, Manhattan, United States, China, New Federal State of China, New Federal State

☆ This startup wants to curb fast fashion by helping you rent out your closet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Cait Freda | In Caitfreda | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

By Rotation, a U.K.-based clothing rental app, hopes to eliminate the need for fast fashion by making peer-to-peer clothing rental mainstream in the United States. Individual users decide if they are willing to ship their items to users in other states. Despite the expected growth, online fashion rental and resale has proven to be a difficult business, especially on Wall Street. As the app grows, the startup is taking steps to ensure renters are trustworthy and lenders' items are protected from damage. "I wanted to wear nice clothes on my holiday and I thought about renting but there was no sort of digital fashion rental player here in the U.K. or even Europe," she said.

Persons: Eshita Kabra, Davies, Uber, we've, Kabra, Randi Wood, Wood, Martha Petrocheilos, Esther Gross, Ester Gross Organizations: Research, European Environment Agency, Marathon Asset Management Locations: U.K, United States, New York City, U.S, London, Los Angeles, Mexico, Rajasthan, India, Europe, Africa, Asia, New York

☆ The 18 best ways to make money by reading, from submitting book reviews for cash to narrating audiobooks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Zulie Rane | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

She always wanted to earn money from reading books, but said the best way to do that doesn't exist. Here are a few of the best ways to make money by reading books using social media. The good news is that BookTok is one of the best ways to make money by reading books. Post your book reviews on a publication like Books Are Our Superpower and make money by reading books that way. Until then, I hope this article helps you find the best ways to make money by reading books.

☆ Lavish Indian Weddings Are Back and Bigger Than Ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Praachi Raniwala | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Indian weddings can be elaborate occasions, often lasting several days. But a break from tradition because of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that intimate or at-home nuptials became the norm for many. Now, the grand Indian wedding is not just back, it’s bigger than ever for the couples with the means to host extravagant affairs. CAIT reported that a majority of the weddings during the end of last year cost $3,657 to $121,902 . Devika Narain, a wedding designer who is a go-to for Indian celebrities, said such weddings could cost anywhere from $1 million to $5 million, or even more, for about 250 to 500 guests.

Qaem-5 precision-guided munition, documented by Conflict Armament Research in Ukraine. Shahed-131 UAV documented by Conflict Armament Research in Ukraine. Circuit boards of four different items of Russian military equipment found in Ukraine by Conflict Armament Research investigators. Electronic components documented by Conflict Armament Research investigators in Ukraine. Source: Conflict Armament Research

☆ Consumers keep spending. That might not be good news for them or the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

And by November and December, those predictions appeared to be materializing, when data showed consumers had pulled back during the holiday shopping season. During a month chock full of suprisingly strong economic data, the Commerce Department’s retail sales and consumer spending reports far surpassed expectations. “It’s not sustainable to keep spending above their means.”Eyes on the FedHearty consumer spending at a time like this is a double-edged sword, said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for Bankrate and CreditCards.com. “The resilience of consumer spending is probably the biggest thing that’s pushed this recession timetable out,” Rossman said. The Home Depot (HD) warned of flat sales for 2023 as consumers continue shift spending from goods to services.

"We have a nice little sign in front of our register that says 'Hey, credit card fees, they cost us a lot of money,'" Victor Garcia, longtime owner of Sol Dias, told CNBC. CNBC | Cait FredaThe swipe fees aren't new, but the worsening problem comes at a time when Main Street businesses across the country are increasingly struggling with changing macroeconomic conditions. Although the central bank does not conduct the same survey for credit card transactions, the processes used for debit and credit cards are similar. Meanwhile, credit card fees amount to the third-highest operating expense on average for restaurants, according to the Texas Restaurant Association. The European Union cracked down on similar increases, capping fees in 2015 at 0.2% for debit card purchases and 0.3% for credit card purchases.

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