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☆ Three reasons a strong Black Friday weekend may not mean a blowout holiday season for retailers
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

And Ulta Beauty and Foot Locker 's shares rose this week, after the companies reported better-than-expected earnings and a strong start to holiday spending on sneakers, makeup and more. Adobe predicts that full holiday season online spending from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 will hit $221.8 billion, which would be a nearly 5% year-over-year jump. If the estimate ends up being correct, that means shoppers still have a little more than half of their online holiday spending to go. The NRF said this week that its survey found about half of consumers' online and in-store holiday shopping remains. "People are just about tapped out, but [with] the holiday season, people are willing to even further extend themselves," he said.

Persons: Emily Elconin, That's, Dave Kimbell, Ulta, Matt Shay, Anastasiia, It's, Vivek Pandya, Pandya, Kena Betancur, Scott Wren, Wells, Shannon Stapleton Organizations: Getty, Adobe Analytics, National Retail Federation, Consumers, Walmart, Target, Adobe Digital, Adobe, Macy's, U.S . Federal, Shoppers, Reuters Locations: Oaks, Novi , Michigan, New York , New York, Wells Fargo, Macy's, Roosevelt, Garden City , New York, U.S

☆ George Kittle's pre-game meal includes loaded breakfast bowls and filets
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Meredith Cash | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

If the game starts closer to the evening — think Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, or Thursday Night Football — the four-time Pro Bowler still starts the day with his jam-packed breakfast bowl. AdvertisementIn recent years, the 30-year-old has added another pre-game boost — one fueled by superstition — to his meal plan: a pumpkin loaf from Starbucks. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports"It is on and off a little bit," Kittle told BI. "So we were like, okay, no pumpkin loaf for a little bit," he added. "And I think it went pretty well for us on Thursday Night Football."

Persons: George Kittle, Kittle, —, Alka, Seltzer, Ross D, Pro Bowler, Sergio Estrada, Rob Schumacher Organizations: San Francisco 49ers, NFL, Service, Business, Franklin, Football, USA, GQ, 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Starbucks Locations: Kittle, Seattle

☆ How America racked up a $1 trillion credit card bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Delon Thornton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Americans have accumulated a record-breaking $1 trillion in credit card debt. This comes as the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes have caused average interest rates for credit cards to spike to more than 22%. Rates on retail credit cards are even higher, nearing 29% on average. However, big box retailers like Macy's and Nordstrom have issued warnings about a slowdown in repayments on their credit cards over the summer, highlighting a potential risk to retail revenue this holiday season. Watch the video above to find out more about how Americans' credit card debt ballooned past the $1 trillion threshold, and whether U.S. consumers can keep spending enough to keep a looming recession at bay.

Persons: Tedd Rossman, Nordstrom Organizations: National Retail Federation

☆ Palestinian-American student shot in Vermont is paralyzed
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdel Hamid and Tahseen Ahmed, three college students of Palestinian descent who were shot near the University of Vermont in Burlington on November 25, 2023 are seen in this undated handout photo. Awartani family/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 3 (Reuters) - One of the three college students of Palestinian descent who were shot in Vermont last month is paralyzed from the chest down after a bullet lodged in his spine, the student's family said. "He has demonstrated remarkable courage, resilience and fortitude - even a sense of humor - even as the reality of his paralysis sets in," Awartani's family wrote on their GoFundMe page, which had raised over $200,000 as of Sunday morning. Awartani, who is Palestinian-Irish-American, according to the fundraiser, hopes to start his next semester of college on time despite his paralysis, the family's note said. Eaton has been charged with attempted murder and is being held without bond while authorities investigate whether the Vermont shooting was a hate crime.

Persons: Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdel Hamid, Tahseen Ahmed, Jason Eaton, Eaton, Tahseen Aliahmad, Kinnan Abdalhamid, Awartani, Gabriella Borter, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: University of Vermont, REUTERS, Brown University, West Bank, Haverford College, Trinity College in, Palestinian, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Burlington, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Trinity College in Connecticut, Palestinian, United States, Israel, Washington

But Greene said she had a tougher time connecting with Speaker Mike Johnson, who doesn’t have a strong relationship with the congresswoman. “I haven’t heard much from him,” Greene told CNN earlier this week. Greene said Johnson heard her out and gave her assurances that her impeachment articles would move through committee and on to the floor. Taking a page from his predecessor’s playbook, Johnson has tried to dole out commitments and face-time to some of his potential critics. GOP Rep. Bob Good of Virginia said the Freedom Caucus made clear to the speaker on Thursday what their expectations are.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Alejandro Mayorkas, Greene –, –, Kevin McCarthy’s, Greene, Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Greene, George Santos, playbook, Max Miller, ”, He’s, I’m, ” Miller, he’d, I’ve, Chip Roy, Roy, “ We’re, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Hunter, James Biden, Scott Perry, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, they’d, Kevin McCarthy, Dusty Johnson, “, McCarthy derangement, Tom Cole of, “ It’s, She’s, ” Rep, Don Bacon, Joe Biden, impeaching Mayorkas, Darrell Issa of, Issa, It’s, Tom McClintock of, bombast, ” McClintock, Rashida Tlaib, there’s, Santos, can’t, Bob Good, Virginia, ” Good, Mike Garcia, Mike, ” Roy Organizations: Georgia Republican, impeaching Homeland, Republican, CNN, Louisiana Republican, GOP, Ohio Republican, Texas, Freedom Caucus, White, Capitol, Republican Conference, South Dakota Republican, ” Veteran GOP, ”, GOP Rep, Caucus, Democratic Locations: Georgia, Louisiana, Israel, Florida, Scott Perry of, “, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Darrell Issa of California, Tom McClintock of California, Ukraine, Taiwan, ” California

☆ While Black Friday and Cyber Monday did good, Giving Tuesday lagged
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Sergio Padilla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Americans seemed more willing to spend money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but less willing to donate money on Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday’s decline in participation is not an isolated incident, but rather, as its organization acknowledges, part of larger trends philanthropic organizations are experiencing. According to a report by Giving USA from this past June, Americans are giving the lowest percentage of their disposable income since 1995. Americans gave just 1.7% of their disposable income in 2022, with charitable giving declining from 2021 by 3.4% to $499.3 billion, which represents an even larger decline of 10.5% when adjusted for inflation. “I think the numbers are very interesting in terms of Black Friday and Cyber Monday but they don’t tell you the whole picture,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail.

Persons: “, ”, Asha Curran, Ebenezer Scrooge, Neil Saunders, ” Saunders, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn, Elisabeth Buchwald Organizations: New, New York CNN, Black, CNN, GivingTuesday, United Nations Foundation, National Retail Federation, Adobe, Federal, GlobalData, Adobe Analytics, Charities Aid Locations: New York, New York City

Her concert picture, “ Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” opened in first place with $21 million in North American ticket sales, according to estimates from AMC Theatres Sunday. The 39-city, 56-show “Renaissance” tour, which kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden in May and ended in Kansas City, Missouri in the fall, made over $500 million and attracted over 2.7 million concertgoers. Toho's 33rd Godzilla film is set in the aftermath of World War II, stars Ryunosuke Kamiki and was directed by Takashi Yamazaki. “Trolls Band Together” landed in fourth place in its third weekend with $7.6 million, bringing its domestic total to $74.8 million. “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” $21 million.

Persons: Beyoncé, ”, Elizabeth Frank, “, John Woo, Paul Dergarabedian, “ Taylor Swift, it’s, Swift, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, EntTelligence, ” Dergarabedian, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Takashi Yamazaki, Koji Ueda, Ridley Scott’s “ Napoleon ”, Joaquin Phoenix, “ Wonka, Comscore, “ Napoleon Organizations: North, AMC Theatres, AMC, Films, Comscore, Netflix, Swift's, Rotten, Toho International, Toho Global, Apple Original, Sony Pictures Locations: U.S, Canada, Stockholm, Sweden, Kansas City , Missouri, Japan

☆ Walmart Stops Ads on X, Joining the Advertising Exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Sarah Nassauer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Walmart says the move has nothing to do with Elon Musk’s statements ‘on or off the platform.’ Photo: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg NewsWalmart said it had stopped advertising on Elon Musk’s X, joining the parade of major marketers that have left the social-media platform in recent weeks. The retail behemoth said the halt—in the middle of its critical holiday shopping season—wasn’t because of a change in its advertising policies, but about how well advertisements on X have performed. Walmart largely stopped purchasing ads in October and the last ones ran around Thanksgiving.

Persons: Elon, Victor J, Elon Musk’s Organizations: Walmart, Bloomberg, Elon, behemoth

☆ Hollywood box office sales slump in November
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Movie theaters slumped into a “Slow-vember,” say industry analysts, as several of the season’s most anticipated movies drew underwhelming box office sales last month. Domestic theaters grossed about $553.6 million this November, a 12% decline from last year and still more than $400 million short of pre-pandemic levels, according to data from research firm Comscore. Between 2009 and 2019, Novembers were a reliably lucrative month and could be counted on to rake in nearly a billion dollars, owing in part to the long Thanksgiving weekend. It was also surpassed by “The Hunger Games,” which was the top movie over Thanksgiving weekend, grossing $42 million. December could see a similar slump, according to Robbins, given the “Ghostbusters” sequel has been delayed until next year and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” will likely not live up to the first movie’s box office revenue.

Persons: Novembers, “, ”, Paul Dergarabedian, ” “, Shawn Robbins, Robbins, Marvel’s, Mockingjay, Jennifer Lawrence’s Organizations: CNN, Marvel, Box, SAG

☆ Dolly Parton and Cher remind us it’s greater, later
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Something to sip on…Dolly Parton In the film "Rhinestone" in 1984 and Cher in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. Getty ImagesDolly Parton and Cher are both making 77 years old look lovely. The same day Parton was on the football field, Cher performed her new Christmas single “DJ Play a Christmas Song” at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. You should listen to…Sir Paul McCartney performing in 2017. Poet Paul Muldoon collaborated with Sir Paul McCartney on the bestselling book, “The Lyrics: 1965 to Present,” and their relationship is clear in the ease of their conversations on this podcast.

Persons: Lisa Respers, Dolly Parton, Cher, Parton, Diana Ross, Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Martin, Samuel L, Jackson, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Kevin Mazur, Giselle Knowles Carter, Beyoncé ”, – she’s, Bey, EGOT, Oscar, Tony, Sir Paul McCartney, “ McCartney, Paul Muldoon, McCartney, ”, … Catherine Tate, David Tennant, Who, ” Peope, Russell T Davies, it’s “ Organizations: CNN, Getty, Dallas Cowboys, ”, Disney Locations: Lisa Respers France, Los Angeles , California, London, England, Atlanta, AFP

☆ The inmate accused of stabbing Derek Chauvin 22 times was nearing the end of his current sentence
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An inmate was charged Friday with stabbing ex-Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd and was serving his sentence in a federal prison in Arizona. The inmate, who nearing the end of a 30-year sentence, was accused of planning the attack. John Turscak stabbed Chauvin 22 times at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson and said he would have killed Chauvin had correctional officers not responded so quickly, federal prosecutors said. He became an FBI informant in 1997, providing information about the gang and recordings of conversations he had with other Mexican Mafia members and associates.

Persons: Derek Chauvin, Chauvin, George Floyd, —, John Turscak, Turscak, Eric Nelson, Nelson, Floyd, Black Organizations: Service, FBI, Federal Correctional Institution, Mexican Mafia, Prisons, FCI Tucson, Mafia Locations: Minneapolis, Arizona, Tucson, Minnesota, Los Angeles

☆ No shortage of Christmas trees this year, but don’t expect any red-tag deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

As far as trees go, farms are promising there will be an adequate supply of trees this year. It typically takes eight to 10 years to grow a Christmas tree, depending on the variety and location, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, a trade group representing growers. “I haven’t heard of any community in America where people haven’t been able to get a Christmas tree and I don’t expect that will be the case this year,” said Tim O’Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association. The Real Christmas Tree Board, an industry trade group, in September surveyed 49 wholesale growers of Christmas trees who collectively account for two-thirds of the nation’s tree supply about their outlook for the holiday season. “The starting wholesale price is gonna be much more controlled this year than what we had to experience last year.

Persons: Fraser, haven’t, ”, Tim O’Connor, O’Conner, it’s, Marsha Gray, ” Gray, “, ” Lauren Segedin, “ We’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Association, Tree Association, Board Locations: New York, America, Glenville , North Carolina, Fraser Fir

☆ The inmate accused of stabbing Derek Chauvin 22 times bizarrely said he attacked him on Black Friday as a symbolic connection to BLM
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The accused attacker told FBI agents he struck on Black Friday in connection to the BLM movement. The suspect, John Turscak, told FBI agents that he attacked Chauvin on Black Friday as a symbolic connection to the Black Lives Matter movement, the Associated Press reported. The Black Lives Matter movement gained global momentum in 2020 following the death of Black man George Floyd, whom Chauvin was later convicted of murdering. It has no connection to the Black Lives Matter movement. AdvertisementTurscak is accused of stabbing Chauvin 22 times with an improvised knife in the prison's law library in Tucson, Arizona.

Persons: Derek Chauvin, George Floyd, —, John Turscak, Chauvin, Black, Turscak Organizations: Service, FBI, Associated Press, Mexican Mafia, AP Locations: Minneapolis, United States, Tucson , Arizona, Los Angeles

☆ Turkey prices are down. A deadly bird flu could change that
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Egg and turkey prices are down. But a deadly bird flu is still threatening poultry flocks, turkey in particular. Turkey takes a hitThis year, turkey prices were low ahead of Thanksgiving — partially because turkey farmers expected an outbreak in the spring that didn’t really happen, boosting turkey supplies, explained Matt Busardo, poultry market reporter at Urner Barry. But the uptick of bird flu cases has hit turkey farms hard, and threatens to tighten supply in groceries this spring. In part that’s because unlike eggs, turkey isn’t a kitchen staple — meaning that higher prices could just lead people to skip that turkey sandwich after all.

Persons: ” Dennis Summers, Summers, We’re, ” Summers, Emily Metz, “ We’ve, Ryan Hojnowski, Urner Barry, skyrocket, ”, Hojnowski, it’s, Matt Busardo, Barry, “, there’s, ” Busardo, —, Kasinger, Ohio’s Summers, Christine McCracken Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, American Egg Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bloomberg, Getty, Rabobank, “ Locations: New York, United States, Iowa, Ohio, Turkey, Minnesota

☆ Airbnb hosts both love and loathe Christmas as they try to make as much money as possible: 'It's something we count on for the winter months'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Advertisement"It's something we count on for the winter months," Johnson told Business Insider. Hosts like Johnson will charge as much as they need to — so it's no shock your Christmastime Airbnb costs a pretty penny. Courtesy of AirDNAAirDNA data shows the last week of the year is typically the second highest-income week for short-term rentals, surpassed only by the Fourth of July. But for Thanksgiving, it was listed for $1,500 to $1,700 per night; around Christmas, it will go for $2,000 to $2,300 a night.

Persons: —, Melinda Johnson, Johnson, they'd, Jamie Lane, Lane, Austin Weinerman, Weinerman, Ryan Villines Organizations: Service, nab, Business Locations: Tennessee, Smoky, Angeles, South Florida, Warsaw , Missouri, Acapulco

☆ Opinion: In Gaza, my 71-year-old mom watches over the rubble encasing her family
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Opinion Hani Almadhoun | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Writer Hani Almadhoun with his family in Gaza, during a visit over summer. They mourn the departed, yet there have been so many loved ones lost, leaving very little time to properly grieve. This news struck me deeply – I’m grappling with a crisis of faith witnessing a genocide unfold, while my mother living under bombs and burying her loved ones still clings to her spirituality. I wondered: who will step into the shoes of those gifted doctors, caring nurses and compassionate medical staff lost in Gaza? Hani AlmadhounThese are irreplaceable individuals, not merely statistics or collateral damage but people cherished deeply by their loved ones.

Persons: Hani Almadhoun, Read, CNN —, Majed, Safaa, Ali, Omar, Lucky, Hani, Mom, won’t, Joe Biden, Hani Almadhoun's Organizations: United Nations Relief, Works Agency, CNN Locations: Gaza, Greece, Siwar, breadlines

☆ How Do the Pros Create Holiday Magic? (Yes, You Can Try This at Home.)
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Tim Mckeough | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

It’s that time of year again. The Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, and the December holidays beckon. Yes, it’s time to decorate. Whether that means running wild with ribbon and lights, breaking out the family heirlooms or bringing in greenery and flowering bulbs, there are few firm dos and don’ts. But the goal is always the same: creating a festive environment that makes you happy, whichever holidays traditions you observe.

Persons: Jung Lee, Elizabeth Roberts, Peter Pennoyer, Katie Ridder, — Locations: beckon

☆ Should Trump Believe the Polls?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Lauren Camera | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +11 min

Former President Donald Trump is a polls guy. He’s currently languishing in fourth place, according to polls, behind Trump, Florida Gov. “In 2016, we experienced the phenomenon of the silent Trump voter, those who were secretly for Trump but feared being ostracized if they said so publicly,” he wrote. “A majority of the party is Maybe Trump,” Ayres says. A separate New Hampshire primary poll from Monmouth University and The Washington Post taken Nov. 9-14 shows similar results.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Trump, Bradley, –, Tom Bradley, ”, Adam Geller, “, MAGA, Chris Christie’s, Christie, ” Christie, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, Sen, Rick Santorum, Ben Carson, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, hasn’t, He’s, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, they’re, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mark McKinnon, George W, Bush, John McCain, he’d, Whit Ayres, ” Ayres, Joe Biden, Haley, Ramaswamy, Civiqs, DeSantis, Jamie Dimon, Ayres, Jesus Organizations: White, Los Angeles, GOP, Capitol, National Research Inc, Trump, New, New Jersey Gov, Granite State Republicans, Donald Trump View, Arkansas Gov, MAGA Republican, Trump , Florida Gov, South Carolina Gov, South Carolina, Republican, North Star Opinion Research, Republican Party, University of New Hampshire Survey Center, Monmouth University, The Washington, Koch Locations: California, ”, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Iowa, Trump, Texas, Trump , Florida, Georgia, Hampshire, Tuscaloosa , Alabama, Florida

The main super PAC supporting Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign has been rocked by another significant departure, as Adam Laxalt, a friend and former roommate of the Florida governor, has stepped down as chairman of the group. Mr. Laxalt, who unsuccessfully ran to become a Republican senator in Nevada in 2022, lived with Mr. DeSantis when he was training as a naval officer. He said in the note that he was still committed to Mr. DeSantis’s becoming president. The departure represents the second major departure from Never Back Down in the last two weeks. In a statement put out by the group after the resignation, Mr. Jankowski said that his differences at the group went “well beyond” strategic arguments, without explaining more.

Persons: Ron DeSantis’s, Adam Laxalt, Laxalt, DeSantis, “, ” Mr, DeSantis’s, Chris Jankowski, Jankowski Organizations: Republican, The New York Times Locations: Florida, Nevada

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - Retailers like Amazon.com and Foot Locker are signaling optimism for holiday season sales after stronger-than-expected figures during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as heavy discounts lured budget-strained customers on the peak U.S. shopping days. Early estimates on holiday shopping have been encouraging to some investors after retailers sounded cautious notes in the lead-up to the season. "We know we're buying for wallet share with a value-conscious consumer this holiday season. Deep discounts have been a key feature heading into this year's holiday shopping season and holiday discounts could get even bigger in December, according to some retail executives. Kohl's (KSS.N) CEO Tom Kingsbury said last week the company was "coming out on holiday very aggressively in terms of promotions."

Persons: Mike Segar, Jimmy Lee, we've, Mary Dillon, Tom Kingsbury, Cos, Jason Benowitz, Deborah Sophia, Juby Babu, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, Adobe Analytics, National Retail Federation, Wealth Consulting, Amazon, Black, BofA, Walmart, Abercrombie, Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Roosevelt, Thomson Locations: Robbinsville , New Jersey, U.S, Bengaluru

EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) — Star Memphis basketball recruit Mikey Williams pleaded guilty to one felony charge in a gun case on Thursday, and one of his attorneys said he does not expect the 19-year-old to face jail time. In a deal with prosecutors, Williams pleaded guilty to one felony count of making a criminal threat and to a special allegation of using a firearm during the threat, attorney Randy M. Grossman said. Although a judge would have the discretion to sentence Williams to a year in jail, “no custody is contemplated,” the attorney said. “Nobody was injured in this case, nobody testified that anybody saw Mikey actually fire the gun and he didn’t admit he was the one who fired the gun,” Grossman said. “He admitted responsibility and pleaded guilty.

Persons: Mikey Williams, Williams, Randy M, Grossman, “, I'm, didn't, Penny Hardaway, Laird Veatch, Melissa Garbayo, Sherry M, Thompson, Taylor, George Modlin, Tesla, Troy Owens, Mikey, “ Nobody, ” Grossman Organizations: CAJON, — Star Memphis, Superior Court, San, Memphis, Puma, District Locations: Calif, San Diego, San Ysidro, Memphis, Jamul, San Diego County

☆ Cramer's optimistic on retail stocks' performance and consumer spending during the holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday said retail stocks have performed well during the holiday season so far, and the strength of consumer spending in November may have taken retailers and many on Wall Street by surprise. PVH also reported a disappointing quarter that hurt its stock, Cramer said. Ulta Beauty also indicated the holiday season was off to a good start when it reported earnings Thursday night, projecting little hesitation about its performance during Christmas, Cramer said. I think it's not too early to reach a conclusion: we may, once again, be seeing growth without inflation," Cramer said. "That means a business as usual holiday quarter, which, frankly, feels incredibly unusual and very positive."

Persons: CNBC's Jim Cramer, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, PVH, Cramer, Friday's Locations: North America, Europe

The 300 volunteers were divided into eight teams, each named for a different Santa’s reindeer. The transformation — praised by Jill Biden, the first lady, as a result of “hard work and painstaking attention to detail” by the droves of volunteers — resulted in a holiday-themed White House overflowing with historical touches. No matter the administration, turning the White House complex into a wonderland is a feat that relies on donated materials and the time of volunteers. Here are a few numbers behind this year’s display. 200: Age of ‘’Twas the Night Before Christmas’When planning began this spring, Dr. Biden told her team that she wanted visitors to experience the décor through the eyes of a child.

Persons: Jill Biden, ’, Biden Organizations: House, Cross Locations: Nantucket

☆ US consumer spending slows; labor market steadily easing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Those hopes were reinforced by other data on Thursday showing the labor market gradually easing. Though wages remain elevated, the pace of increase has slowed from earlier in the year as the labor market eases. Personal consumptionINFLATION COOLINGInflation as measured by the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was unchanged in October after rising 0.4% in September. Stripping out housing, the core PCE price index edged up 0.1% after gaining 0.3% in September. Still, the labor market is cooling in tandem with overall demand in the economy.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Jerome, Powell, Conrad DeQuadros, Nancy Vanden Houten, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci Organizations: El Progreso Market, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Brean, Commerce Department's, United Auto Workers, Treasury, Fed, Labor Department, Oxford Economics, Thomson Locations: Mount Pleasant, Washington ,, New York, outlays, U.S

☆ Price hikes and spending cooled last month, Fed’s preferred inflation gauge shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The core PCE price index is at its lowest annual rate since April 2021, marking another step toward the Fed’s target of 2% inflation. When including gas and food prices, the overall PCE index was unchanged last month. Consumer expenditures increased 0.2% last month, a marked pullback from the 0.7% jump seen in September. When taking out inflation, however, the 0.2% real spending in October was down only slightly from September’s 0.3% gain. Holiday uncertaintyThe spending patterns last month align with the ongoing trend of people spending their money more on experiences.

Persons: Bharat Ramamurti, Kayla Bruun, Jill Renslow, Bruun, ” Ramamurti, ” Organizations: Minneapolis CNN, The Commerce Department, Federal Reserve, PCE, National Economic Council, CNN, Consumers, Morning, of, National Retail Federation Locations: Minneapolis, of America, Bloomington , Minnesota

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