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☆ US unemployment rate rises, wage growth cools as labor market slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The labor market is slowing in response to the U.S. central bank's hefty rate hikes to cool demand in the economy. Leisure and hospitality payrolls increased by 40,000. Household employment increased by 222,000. As a result, the unemployment rate increased to 3.8%, the highest level since February 2022, from 3.5% in July. The labor force participation rate, or the proportion of working-age Americans who have a job or are looking for one, increased to 62.8%.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Bill Adams, Nonfarm, Lucia Mutikani, Nick Zieminski, Chizu Nomiyama, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Employment, Comerica Bank, Reuters, Hollywood, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, Dallas

☆ 13 brands, from Coca-Cola to REI, that are pouring money into movies and TV to reach consumers with Hollywood-style storytelling
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Mattel's Barbie is just one of many big brands getting serious about making Hollywood-style entertainment. "Barbie" may be the movie of the summer, but lots of other big brands are getting serious about making Hollywood-style entertainment. Brands are also getting more systematic about tracking the projects' outcome so they can justify the cost. Neutrogena: Neutrogena Studios launched in 2021 and is J&J Consumer's first brand-funded content studio to make feature documentaries and scripted shorts. Showtime/PepsiPepsiCo: PepsiCo's Content Studio is led by veteran PepsiCo marketer Lou Arbetter.

Persons: Barbie, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Oscar, Michael Sugar, Brian Newman, REI, Michael Sugar's, Jae Goodman, Lauren Denowitz, Coke, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard's, Selman Careaga, John Deere, Mara Downing, Al Roker, Jill Wilfert, Robbie Brenner, J.J, Abrams, Lena Dunham, Barney, Daniel Kaluuya, J, Sebastian Garcia, Laurie Hernandez, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck's, Entertainment —, Justin Biskin —, Howard, Lou Arbetter, Max, Robert Rodriguez, Nadia Hallgre, Stanley Nelson, Arbetter, It's, Procter, Kimberly Doebereiner, Paolo Mottola, Kyra Sedgwick, Watiti, Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello, Saint, Pedro Almodóvar, Ethan Hawke, Pedro Pascal, it's, Paolo Sorrentino, David Cronenberg, Kelly Mullen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Lena Waithe, WePresent, Holly Fraser, Moses Sumney, Solange Knowles, Riz Ahmed, Aneil, Fraser Organizations: Hollywood, Procter, Gamble, Brands, Unilever, InBev, Waffle Iron Entertainment, draftLine Entertainment, Netflix, Coca Cola, Entertainment, Global, Deere, Warner Bros, Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, Mattel, Neutrogena Studios, Studio, Kerry, Seattle Film, Ghetto Film, HBO Nike, Nike, Waffle, Apple, HBO, Showtime, Pepsi PepsiCo, PepsiCo, Pepsi Super, Pepsi, G Studios, Imagine, Amazon's, Hulu, Paramount, Blue Fox Entertainment, Saint Laurent Productions, Unilever Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment, Monotype Locations: Hollywood, Kerry Washington, American, Cannes, Britain

☆ US consumer spending accelerates; monthly inflation rates cooling
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Consumer spending is being supported by a tight labor market, with other data showing first-time applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly falling last week. "How long inflation can continue to come down with consumer spending this strong is an open question." When adjusted for inflation, consumer spending increased 0.6%, also the largest gain since January. The so-called real consumer spending rose 0.4% in June. The annual PCE inflation rates were lifted by a lower base of comparison last year.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Christopher Rupkey, nonfarm payrolls, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Commerce Department, Services, Treasury, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Fed, Employers, Labor Department, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York, outlays

☆ US private payrolls growth slows sharply in August - ADP
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - U.S. private payrolls increased less than expected in August, the latest indication that the labor market was losing steam, though it remains tight. Private payrolls rose by 177,000 jobs last month, the ADP National Employment report showed on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private employment would increase by 195,000. It has not been a reliable gauge in trying to predict the private payrolls count in the employment report. According to a Reuters survey of economists, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to report that private payrolls increased by 150,000 jobs in August.

Persons: payrolls, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: ADP, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Conference Board, Stanford Digital Economy, Labor, of Labor Statistics, Thomson

☆ How insiders are reacting to Mark Thompson, CNN's new CEO, and how they think he'll tackle the network's challenges: 'He wants to be involved in editorial'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

WBD named Mark Thompson as CNN's new CEO in a shift by David Zaslav to an experienced news leader. Thompson is widely credited with turning the Times into a digital powerhouse, transforming a news organization that was teetering financially. Under Thompson, there also were flops along the way to success for the Times, like the failed NYT Now mobile app. Thompson is expected to be involved in editorialObservers and insiders expressed optimism about the Thompson news. They also will be watching to see how he will carry out WBD CEO David Zaslav's commitment to providing a wider range of political viewpoints, including conservative ones.

Persons: WBD, Mark Thompson, David Zaslav, Thompson, Chris Licht, Ken Doctor, Meredith Kopit Levien, who'd, Times —, Levien, Nate Silver, Jill Abramson, Abramson, wouldn't, Mark, Donald Trump, David Zaslav's, He'll, Jeff Zucker, I've, Zaslav, Licht, he'd, Semafor, James Harding, Andrew Ross Sorkin, he's, Jonathan Miller, Miller, Amy Entelis, David Leavy, Virginia Moseley, Eric Sherling, who's, Leavy Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Warner Bros, Discovery, Max, longtime Times, Times, ESPN, ABC, Observers, BBC, Company, Integrated Media Co, Editorial Locations: British

☆ US second-quarter economic growth revised lower as inventories drop
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Economists polled by Reuters had expected GDP for the second quarter would be unrevised. Inventories were a small drag to GDP growth instead of adding 0.14 percentage point as estimated last month. It is expanding at a pace well above what Fed officials regard as the non-inflationary growth rate of around 1.8%. GDPINFLATION COOLINGThe government's measure of inflation in the economy, the price index for gross domestic purchases, rose at a 1.7% rate, revised down from the 1.9% rate estimated last month. An alternative measure of growth, gross domestic income, or GDI, rebounded at a 0.5% rate in the second quarter.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Lydia Boussour, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Commerce Department, Wednesday, Federal Reserve, Gross, Reuters, Fed, ADP, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, EY, New York

☆ US labor market loses steam as job openings, resignations decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

That was reinforced by a survey from the Conference Board showing consumers' perceptions of the labor market cooled in August. Nevertheless, labor market conditions remain tight, with 1.51 job openings for every unemployed person in July, compared to 1.54 in June. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 9.465 million job openings. State and local government education job openings declined by 62,000 and there were 27,000 fewer federal government vacancies. Reuters GraphicsDeclining job openings are likely to be mirrored by slower job growth in August.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Conrad DeQuadros, payrolls, Jerome Powell, Jackson, Jeffrey Roach, Christopher Rupkey, Scott Anderson, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Labor, Survey, Labor Department, Board, Brean, Reuters, Midwest, Reuters Graphics, LPL Financial, Treasury, Fed, Companies, Bank of, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York, Northeast, West, Wyoming, Charlotte , North Carolina, Stocks, San Francisco

☆ Netflix pioneered the industry model of 100% ownership, and Hollywood followed, but now buyers like Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery are backing away from it
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Netflix popularized the model of owning shows outright, but now streamers are reconsidering licensing. But now those walls are beginning to come down at competitors like Amazon, Apple, and Warner Bros. Under the cost-plus model championed by Netflix, the streamer paid more for shows upfront than legacy TV platforms had traditionally paid. But as part of those rich deals, Netflix retained future licensing rights, depriving producers of windowing opportunities — i.e., syndication or foreign distribution rights — that could fund future projects. Now, with Hollywood entering a new phase of penny-pinching , the entertainment giants are easing up on exclusive ownership of content.

Persons: WBD, Bob Iger, Sean Furst, they're, Furst, There's, we'll Organizations: Netflix, Producers, Apple, Warner Bros, Hollywood, Disney, Discovery

☆ US labor market cooling as job openings, quits decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

That was reinforced by a survey from the Conference Board showing consumers' perceptions of the labor market cooling in August. Nevertheless, labor market conditions remain tight, with 1.5 job openings for every unemployed person in July. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 9.465 million job openings in July. The decrease was led by the professional and business services sector, where job openings dropped 198,000. The quits rate, viewed as a measure of labor market confidence, fell to 2.3% from 2.4% in June.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Conrad DeQuadros, Jerome Powell, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Labor, Survey, Labor Department, Board, Brean, Reuters, Treasury, Fed, Companies, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York

Sports has become a hot area for private investment, from private equity to venture capital. For the first year, Insider is looking to highlight the top VCs investing in the sports industry. Submit your nominations through this Google Form by September 8. AdvertisementAdvertisementPrivate investors have flocked to sports in recent years, viewing it as a relatively stable corner of the shaky economy. For the first year, Insider is looking to highlight the top venture capitalists investing in sports startups, from seed to the later stages.

Organizations: Morning

☆ Jackson wins 200m gold in second-best time ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jackson, second in the 100m final, ran a brilliant bend, was two metres clear coming into the home straight and tore to the finish to win by a street. It also edged her closer to the late Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 21.34 world record from the 1988 Olympics. I will continue to work and I hope I can maintain at least this level and we will see if the world record will come. As for the world record - I'm close, I'm close, I'm getting there." When asked if she considered herself the "real" record holder, she said: "I won't question a world record.

Persons: Silver, Thomas, Richardson, peerless Shericka Jackson, Jackson, Eugene, Florence Griffith, Gabby Thomas, Sha'Carri Richardson, I'm, Griffith, hasn’t, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred, Briton Daryll Neita, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: Griffith, Richardson BUDAPEST, Briton, United States, Saturday's, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Jamaica

☆ Netflix nabs another top Snap exec to build its advertising business
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Netflix has drafted another top Snap alum to help build the streamer's new ads tier. David Roter joined from Snap, where he worked with now-Netflix ad leaders Jeremi Gorman and Peter Naylor. Netflix has drafted another top Snap alum to help build the streamer's new ads tier. David Roter has followed fellow Snap alums Jeremi Gorman and Peter Naylor to the streamer. The streamer conceded in its last earnings call that its ad business is still small but that it sees the business eventually generating 10% of revenue.

Persons: David Roter, Jeremi Gorman, Peter Naylor, Roter, Naylor, Gorman, It's, execs Organizations: Netflix, Global Agency, Brand, Twitter, ESPN

☆ How 4 Vice alums are building a new media company with ambitions to turn its journalism into film and TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Four top journalists have left Vice to start a new tech outlet, 404 Media. The founders discussed their plans to expand into filmed entertainment as well as other media. Behind the new venture are Jason Koebler, the former editor in chief of Vice's tech vertical, Motherboard, along with its executive editor Emanuel Maiberg, senior editor Samantha Cole, and senior staff writer Joseph Cox. "I'm very proud of our Vice work.There's a set process for how to turn something into a documentary." Vice's bankruptcy proceedings revealed high bonuses for execs while severance to laid-off workers was delayed and vendors went unpaid .

Persons: Jason Koebler, Emanuel Maiberg, Samantha Cole, Joseph Cox, Derek Mead, Mead, Koebler, Steven Spielberg's, They're, Ian Cheney, Cox Organizations: Earthbound Pictures, Amblin Television, Netflix, Vice, Ticketmaster, Fortress Investment Group

☆ How Bob Iger's big plan to shrink Disney could pay off and how it could backfire, according to industry insiders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

After a run of acquisitions during his first tour as Disney CEO, Bob Iger is looking to shrink the company. "They are our film studios, our parks business, and streaming, all of which are inextricably linked to our brands and franchises." Verizon has reached out to Disney about partnering on a new ESPN streaming service, The Information reported. 2024 will bring some clarity to Disney's streaming business. "The streaming business with ESPN going direct to consumer can generate a lot of subscriptions and hopefully be a positive earnings contributor.

Persons: Bob Iger, He's, Iger, Wells, Steven Cahall, MoffettNathanson's Michael Nathanson, Iger's, hasn't, Macquarie, Tim Nollen, Doug Shapiro, Shapiro, Disney, It'll, there's, Tim Cook, Eddy, Drew Angerer, Disney's, Penn, Joel Simkins, Stratechery's Ben Thompson, Thompson, — Iger, mused, signups, he's, Kevin Lansberry, I'm, Nollen Organizations: Disney, ABC, FX, Geographic, ESPN, Google, Netflix, Warner Bros, Discovery, Warner Bros . Discovery, Comcast, Marvel, Pixar, Apple, Walt Disney, Turner Broadcasting System, Apple's, Hulu, ESPN Iger, Penn Entertainment, Houlihan, Global Technology Group, LightShed Partners, Verizon, Flagship Locations: Orlando , Florida, Sun

☆ Media and entertainment companies are finding more investment from the Middle East, but it can come with controversy. Here are 11 of the most notable deals.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Insider broke down 11 top media companies with Middle Eastern backing or partnerships. Middle Eastern investment has poured into US media and entertainment, and US media companies have been eager recipients. Here's a rundown of 11 key Western media and entertainment companies, listed alphabetically, that have licensing and investment partnerships with Middle Eastern entities. Jimmy Finkelstein's news startup The Messenger has Middle Eastern funding via its acquisition of IMI-backed startup Grid, which is now shuttered. The North Road, Peter Chernin and Providence Equity's production roll-up, took a $150 million investment in January from the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar's main investment vehicle, to support its expansion.

Persons: Peter Chernin, Jeff Zucker, Uber, Jamal Khashoggi's, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, —, hasn't, Mohammed bin Salman, SRMG, Abu, Abu Dhabi's, Jimmy Finkelstein's, BeIn, Stone, Ian Orefice, WBD Organizations: Providence, North, IMI, ex, CNN, Public Investment Fund, Blackstone, Washington Post, Saudi Crown, Saudi, Guardian, Media, Bloomberg Media, Saudi Research, Media Group, Media Investments, CNN Business, Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation, Sky News Arabia, Business, Independent, SRMG, Miramax, BeIn, Paramount, Qatar Investment Authority, Penske Media Corporation, Billboard, Variety, Penske, Vox Media, New York, Billboard Arabia, RedBird Capital, Mideast, MBC Group, MBC, Fortress Investment Group, Investment, Warner Bros Locations: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, West, Saudi, Abu Dhabi, ViacomCBS, SRMG

☆ Microsoft took down a string of embarrassing travel articles created with 'algorithmic techniques.' But it says AI isn't the problem.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Microsoft took down a string of embarrassing and offensive travel articles last week. The company said the articles were not published by "unsupervised AI" and blamed "human error." Last week, Microsoft took down a string of articles published by "Microsoft Travel" that included a bizarre recommendation for visitors to Ottawa to visit the Ottawa Food Bank and to "consider going into it on an empty stomach." "This article has been removed and we have identified that the issue was due to human error," a Microsoft spokesperson said. Based on the examples I found, whatever human controls Microsoft had in place were so minimal as to be functionally useless.

Persons: Paris Marx, isn't, Lucia Moses, Kai Xiang Teo Organizations: Microsoft, Morning, Ottawa Food Bank, MSN, CNET Locations: Ottawa, Montreal, Canada, Anchorage, Tokyo

☆ Mutineers silent as Spain enjoy Women's World Cup triumph
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Twelve of the 15 players who took part in the mutiny and ended up not making Spain's World Cup squad decided to stay silent, giving no interviews and making no mention of the Women's World Cup on their personal social media accounts. The 15 e-mails from 15 players sent to RFEF President Luis Rubiales demanded radical changes in the team's structure. PLAYERS SILENTReuters tried to contact the players through their agents, who said they will remain silent. However, Spanish agent Carlota Planas, who represents world champions Mariona Caldentey, Cata Coll and four of the players who were left behind -- Pina, Guijarro, Lola Gallardo and Leila Aouhabi -- told Reuters the revolt played a major role in Spain's World Cup success. "Without them and their bravery, surely the RFEF would not have even considered making any improvements at all," Planas said.

Persons: Spain's Misa Rodriguez, Juan Medina, Spain's, Jorge Vilda, Luis Rubiales, Ona, Mariona, Aitana Bonmati, Sandra Panos, Patri, Mapi Leon, Claudia Pina, Carlota Planas, Mariona Caldentey, Cata Coll, Pina, Guijarro, Lola Gallardo, Leila Aouhabi, Planas, Marta Diaz, Manchester United's Lucia Garcia, Diaz, Fernando Kallas, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Rights, La Roja, England, Spanish FA, World, League, Reuters, BePlayer Agency, Manchester, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Madrid, Sydney, Spanish

☆ Amazon's 'Thursday Night Football' is winning over advertisers after a bumpy launch year, and a top exec says it will be 'aggressive' in pursuing more live sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The tech giant is gearing up for a big 'Thursday Night Football' season with key matchups and new ad offerings. After hitting some snags with its inaugural NFL "Thursday Night Football" season on Prime Video last year, Amazon is bringing plenty of swagger to the field this year. Amazon is getting more TV ad dollars this year as the twin Hollywood strikes rage on, a top exec said. Amazon last year had also softened on its initial ask that advertisers buy the entire season's games and gave them the option to buy a portion of the games. Some advertisers were forgiving, though, given it was Amazon's first go at a live sports broadcast.

Persons: It's, Jay, Amazon's, We're, Al Michaels, Kaylee Hartung, NFL's, haven't, Kelly Metz, Marine, We'll, we'll Organizations: NFL, Football, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Toyota, Fox, ESPN, Amazon, Marine, Omnicom Media

☆ Richardson scrapes into 100m final after shocking start in semi
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jackson was clear and eased at the end, allowing Ta Lou to exactly match her 10.79 finishing time, even to the thousandth of a second. A desperate Richardson had to strain every sinew to claim third in 10.84 – which proved good enough to send her through as one of the two fastest losers. She recovered from a sluggish start to drive home, with American Tamari Davis going through alongside with 10.98. Julien Alfred of St Lucia had a scare, being given a warning card after moving in the blocks in the third heat. She then had a terrible start in the restarted race but finished well to win in 10.92.

Persons: Jamaica's Shericka Jackson, Cote D'Ivoire's Marie, Josee Ta Lou, Sha'carri Richardson, Sha'Carri Richardson, Shericka Jackson, Marie, American Richardson, Jamaican Jackson, Ta Lou, Jackson, Richardson, Jamaica's Shelly, Ann Fraser, Pryce, American Tamari Davis, Julien Alfred of St Lucia, Dina Asher, Smith, Poland's Ewa Swodoba, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: Athletics Centre, Cote D'Ivoire's, American, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, BUDAPEST, American, Jamaican

☆ Bob Iger is moving to shrink Disney — here's how industry insiders see his playbook and its potential pitfalls: 'Everything is not OK'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

After a run of acquisitions during his first tour as Disney CEO, Bob Iger is looking to shrink the company. He's looking to Disney's IP-driven parks, streaming, and film studios to drive growth. "They are our film studios, our parks business, and streaming, all of which are inextricably linked to our brands and franchises." 2024 will bring some clarity to Disney's streaming business. "The streaming business with ESPN going direct to consumer can generate a lot of subscriptions and hopefully be a positive earnings contributor.

☆ US leading indicator falls further in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk on the corner of 34th street and 8th avenue outside Pennsylvania Station in New York City, U.S., June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - A gauge of future U.S. economic activity dropped for the 16th straight month in July, though the pace of decline slowed from earlier in the year, a survey showed on Thursday. The Conference Board said its Leading Economic Index fell 0.4% last month after declining 0.7% in June. "The leading index continues to suggest that economic activity is likely to decelerate and descend into mild contraction in the months ahead," said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, Senior Manager, Business Cycle Indicators, at The Conference Board. Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Justyna, Monica, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Board, The Conference Board, Conference Board, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ US weekly jobless claims fall; tight labor market underpinning economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The labor market is only slowing at the margin, with job gains in July being the second-smallest since December 2020. Labor market strength, excess savings accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic and greater credit card usage to fund purchases have kept a recession at bay. Some economists saw the slight elevation as indicating a small margin of slack in the job market. The Philadelphia Fed’s business conditions index increased to a reading of 12.0 this month from -13.5 in July. A survey this week from the New York Fed showed business conditions in the “Empire State” remained depressed in August.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, ”, Christopher Rupkey, Jerome Powell’s, Jeffrey Roach, Bill Adams, Daniel Silver Organizations: WASHINGTON, REUTERS, Federal, Labor Department, Reuters, Treasury, Conference, Labor, LPL Financial, Conference Board, Comerica Bank, Philadelphia Fed, New York Fed, JPMorgan Locations: New York City, U.S, New York, Ohio, California, Texas , Michigan , New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Charlotte , North Carolina, Dallas, New Jersey, Delaware, Philadelphia, “

☆ Renata Scotto Spun an Actor’s Insight Into Vocal Gold
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Oussama Zahr | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Scotto contained multitudes, and that extended to her vocal categorization, too. Some have described her as a lyric by fach and a spinto by temperament, attributing her vocal decline — inevitable for any singer — to the irreconcilability of the two. Her Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” preserved on two studio recordings, exploits the permeable boundary among those voice types. The progress is not linear; her voice responds to hopes and doubts that the heroine continually surfaces and suppresses. Scotto’s morbidezza — her ability to inflect her middle voice with captivating softness — was arguably her most impressive quality.

Persons: Scotto, fach, —, Puccini, ”, “, Lorin Maazel, morbidezza, Verdi’s, ” Scotto, pesky, It’s, Riccardo Muti’s, Violetta, Lucia, Mimì, Desdemona Organizations: Cio Locations: Puccini’s, “ La

☆ US housing starts surge in boost to economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The sharp rebound in groundbreaking on single-family housing units reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday was another sign of the economy continuing to defy dire forecasts of a recession. Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, jumped 6.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 983,000 units last month. The increase in groundbreaking was led by the West, where single-family starts soared 28.5%. Overall housing starts increased 3.9% to a rate of 1.452 million units in July. TIGHT SUPPLYDespite the rise in starts, housing supply is likely to remain tight.

Persons: Mike Blake, homebuilding, Christopher Rupkey, Freddie Mac, Nancy Vanden, Daniel Silver, Goldman Sachs, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Commerce Department, Federal, National Association of Home Builders, Reuters, Oxford Economics, Treasury, Realtors, U.S, Fed, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: San Marcos , California, U.S, New York, homebuilding, Nancy Vanden Houten, Midwest

☆ Strong US retail sales underscore economy's resilience
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

SummaryCompanies Retail sales increase 0.7% in July; June sales revised upCore retail sales jump 1.0%; June sales revised downImport prices rebound 0.4%; down 4.4% year-on-yearWASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in July as Americans boosted online purchases and dined out more, suggesting the economy continued to expand early in the third quarter and keeping a recession at bay. Retail sales jumped 0.7% last month. Sales at food services and drinking places, the only services category in the retail sales report, shot up 1.4% after rising 0.8% in June. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales surged 1.0% in July. Data for June was revised lower to show these so-called core retail sales increasing 0.5% instead of the previously reported 0.6%.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Andrew Hunter, David Russell, Matthew Martin, Ben Ayers, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: Commerce Department, Capital Economics, Retail, Reuters, Consumers, Market Intelligence, Wall, Treasury, Labor Department, Oxford Economics, delinquencies, New York Fed, Nationwide, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, New York, Columbus , Ohio

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