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☆ Americans are buying more Kei trucks from Japan. Is it a sign of a growing “tiny truck” movement?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Measuring about half the length of a Ford F-150, Kei trucks look almost like toys in comparison to your standard pickup truck. Instagram page Kei Trucks Appreciation Society (@keitrucksas) sells Kei truck-themed merchandise from hoodies to stickers and posts memes for its more than 95,000 followers. On X, Kei truck fans share pictures of mini trucks they spot in the wild. Most states lack Kei-specific regulation entirely, and so far, only 19 states allow Kei trucks on public roads. And data from Edmunds showed that Americans were trading in more midsize and large pickup trucks for compact trucks than vice versa.

Persons: Kei, ”, George Zotos, Bill Pugliano, Zotos, Tetsu Ichino, “, I’ve, it’s, Andrew O’Bright, Kei truck’s, ” Zotos, Melissa Torre, Torre, Mark Schirmer, Mercedes ’ Smart, ” Schirmer, Ford, Edmunds, Ivan Drury, Drury, ’ Organizations: CNN, Ford, Silverado, American International Detroit Auto, Research, JDM Imports, Philadelphia, Torre, Daihatsu, Cox Automotive, Mercedes, Benz, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Ford Maverick, Hyundai, Hyundai Santa Cruz Locations: Japan, New York, Detroit , Michigan, Rockville , Maryland, Maryland, Chicago, Kei, U.S, Hyundai Santa

☆ Your bank is about to reveal key information about the US economy’s health
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Dave Sekera, chief US market strategist at Morningstar, says that he’s watching for insights on banks’ delinquency rates. Consumers have increasingly fallen behind on or missed payments in recent months as they get squeezed by high interest rates. But banks could see higher losses compared to 2023 if the economy were to experience a downturn, the Fed warned. Investors are wagering that the central bank will begin easing rates as soon as September, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. “The worst outcome for all of us is what you call stagflation: higher rates and recession,” Dimon said in an interview with CNBC.

Persons: Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Dave Sekera, Stocks, JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, Dimon, Matt Egan, it’s, ”, Joe Brusuelas, Mark Zandi, ” Zandi, “, Jerome Powell, Erika Tulfo, “ It’s, Neil Saunders, Abrigo, Gen Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, United, United States ’, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morningstar, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Fed, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, JPMorgan, CNBC, Federal, RSM, “, Moody’s, CNN, GlobalData, Apple Locations: New York, United States, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, China

☆ Target will stop accepting this old-school form of payment
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Target will stop accepting personal checks from customers starting July 15, the latest retailer to stop taking the increasingly rare form of payment and to try to make checkout less cumbersome for shoppers. “It’s hardly surprising Target has decided to stop accepting them,” said Neil Saunders, retail analyst at GlobalData. Around 61% of Americans are still writing checks, according to a 2024 report by Abrigo, a financial software solutions company. It also found that younger consumers, including Gen Z and Millennials, self reported writing more checks than older consumers from Gen X. The decision to stop accepting personal checks comes as the latest move in a series of changes to the retailer’s checkout experience.

Persons: “ It’s, ”, Neil Saunders, Abrigo, Gen Organizations: CNN, GlobalData, Apple, Target

☆ As heat levels climb, so do power bills. Here’s how you can keep costs down
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But on the tail of a record-breaking heatwave that swept the Midwest and Northeast, she’s finding it difficult to keep costs down. Americans’ power bills are expected to soar this summer, as heat waves have already begun baking parts of the country. But keeping your AC off when you’re not home may actually result in higher bills later on. In an aerial view, high voltage power lines run along the electrical power grid on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. A higher rating indicates lower energy consumption levels and, in turn, lower costs of cooling.

Persons: Emma Corrado, “, ”, Corrado, Annie Carforo, Carforo, Anthony Behar, SIPPL, Jamie McShane, Con Edison, ” Carforo, you’re, Mark Wolfe, Wolfe, Joe Raedle, ” McShane, Con, ” Wolfe Organizations: CNN, University of Wisconsin -, WE ACT, Environmental Justice, Costco, Department of Energy, National Energy Assistance, Association Locations: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Midwest, Madison , Wisconsin, York, Queens, New York City, NY, New York, acclimate, West Palm Beach , Florida, Bronx , Brooklyn, Manhattan, Westchester

☆ Cup Noodles wants to rethink the way you eat ramen with new s’mores flavor
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Cup Noodles is trying to change that — with a new s’mores-flavored instant ramen. While this marks Cup Noodles’ first foray into dessert territory, the noodle maker is no stranger to non-traditional ramen pairings. “Cup Noodles Campfire S’mores” is the latest in a series of seasonal flavors aimed at shaking up how consumers perceive the brand. Despite the saturated s’mores market, Saunders sees Cup Noodles as occupying a unique position that could get people talking because of ramen’s association with traditionally savory flavors. Stanton says younger buyers tend to be more playful with their tastes, adding that the s’mores flavor appeals to the connection between food and childhood memories.

Persons: Noodles, graham, ’, Nissin, Neil Saunders, It’s, ” Saunders, Priscila Stanton, ”, “, there’s, Saunders, ” Nissin, Gen Z, Stanton, Saunders doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Walmart, Nissin, USA Locations: ”

☆ Sizzling out? As peak barbecue season begins, fewer Americans are buying grills
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Lockdown was a grill (seller)’s best friendIt’s not a result of Americans cooking outside on grills less. Roy Morchian, owner of American Royal Hardware in Montclair, New Jersey, says grill sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels at the local True Value franchise. Downey sees Home Depot’s grill sales stabilizing now following the lockdown-driven high. Weber Grills are offered for sale at a home improvement store on July 23, 2021 in Palatine, Illinois. Traeger Grills holds demos and activations at Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and specialty retailers across the country.

Persons: Weber, ”, Brian Bushfield, It’s, Roy Morchian, Paul Glader, Joe Downey, Jessica Hernandez, ” Corey Martin, Traeger’s, Covid, ” Martin, Downey, Scott Olson, Jeremy Andrus, Simeon Siegel, they’re, “, Price, Shikhiu Ing, fryer, Andrus, Ayla Dunkley, Dunkley Organizations: CNN, West, Barbecue Association, American, Hardware, Depot Senior Merchant, CNN San Diego Grill, Texas, Grill, Downey, Getty, Weber, Rewards, Depot, BMO Capital Markets, US Department of Agriculture, “, ”, American Farm Bureau Federation Locations: Traqline, San Diego , California, Covid, Montclair , New Jersey, Montclair , NJ, Houston, Palatine , Illinois, Bloomfield , New Jersey, Newark , New Jersey, Pennsylvania

☆ Krispy Kreme is rolling out ‘Friends’-themed doughnuts. But you probably can’t get any
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“We’re constantly innovating, constantly bringing excitement to the brand, and we’re fresh, fresh daily,” said CEO Josh Charlesworth on a first-quarter earnings call in May, according to a transcript made available by FactSet. But fans had a few words for Krispy Kreme on that score. “This is where I am just confused by the decision making process,” noted one commenter under an Instagram post by “Snackolator“ about the release. Krispy Kreme has launched its own share of US-exclusive doughnuts, including its most recent collaboration with singer Dolly Parton, the Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection, announced in May. A representative for Krispy Kreme declined to comment on whether the “Friends” collaboration would be made available in the US and told CNN there was “nothing additional to share at this time.”

Persons: ”, Krispy Kreme, “ We’re, Josh Charlesworth, “ Snackolator, Ashley Smith, “, Monica Geller’s, Courtney Cox, Ross Geller’s, David Schwimmer, Rachel Green, Jennifer Aniston, Dolly Parton Organizations: CNN, Ireland, Warner Bros, FactSet Locations: New York

☆ Netflix houses: Experiential venues to open in King of Prussia and Dallas
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The ‘experiential’ complexes, called Netflix Houses, will include elaborate events, themed gift shops and restaurants. In a repurposing of empty retail space, the houses will occupy former department store locations at Dallas Galleria and King of Prussia Mall (near Philadelphia). Shonda Rhimes, Golda Rosheuvel and cast members visit The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience in New York on April 30, 2023. For years (the show launched in 2020) the “Queen’s Ball” has been staged in various cities two or three times daily. “Netflix House represents the next generation of our distinctive offerings,” said Netflix Chief Marketing Officer Marian Lee, in a statement.

Persons: of, ”, Neil Saunders, São Paulo, “, Saunders, Shonda Rhimes, Golda Rosheuvel, Ilya S, Netflix TikTok, Carrie Berk, influencers, Marian Lee, ” Berk Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Dallas Galleria, GlobalData, “ Disney, Netflix House Locations: of Prussia, Philadelphia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Toronto, Canada, Brazil, New York, Queen

☆ McDonald’s pulls AI ordering from drive-thrus — for now
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —McDonald’s is pulling the plug on artificial intelligence ordering technology it was testing at more than 100 restaurant drive-thru systems in the US, a possible hiccup in the rapid rollout of AI in the fast food industry. The company had worked with IBM to develop and test AI-driven, voice-automated ordering at some of its restaurants. McDonald’s says this is not the end of its AI efforts. McDonald’s is not the only fast-food chain experimenting with AI. Other companies like White Castle tested out an automated drive-thru ordering system in 2021, and Wendy’s expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to roll out its own AI ordering tool in May last year.

Persons: it’s, ” McDonald’s, McDonald’s Organizations: CNN, IBM, McDonald’s, Google

☆ Hot dog eating champs Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi to face off on Netflix
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —World record holder Joey Chestnut may not be competing at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest this year, but now fans will be able to watch Chestnut face off with his rival Takeru Kobayashi on Netflix on Labor Day. The two professional competitive eaters will face off in a Netflix special titled “CHESTNUT VS. KOBAYASHI: UNFINISHED BEEF,” which the streaming company advertised as a determination of the ultimate hot dog eating champion. Netflix’s announcement comes just a day after Chestnut was banned from competing in Nathan’s hot dog eating contest because he signed a deal with rival plant-based food company Impossible Foods. Chestnut is a hot dog champ. Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi stuff hot dogs into their mouths during Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in Coney Island in New York City, on July 4, 2009.

Persons: Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi, Chestnut, He’s, Kobayashi, Yana Paskova, ”, Kobayashi —, —, CNN’s Erika Tulfo Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nathan’s, Netflix, Labor, Impossible Foods, League Eating Locations: New York, Coney Island, New York City

☆ Nathan’s hot dog eating champ Joey Chestnut out over vegan sponsorship
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Erika Tulfo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Dynastic hot dog eating champion Joey Chestnut will not compete in this year’s Nathan’s hot dog eating contest after he struck a deal with plant-based food company Impossible Foods. “We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” the Major League Eating organization, which oversees the event, said in a statement. The organization said that to come back Chestnut must renounce deals with brands that rival Nathan’s. We would love nothing more than to have him at Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, which he has dominated for years. Joey Chestnut, Nathan’s and its parent company, Smithfield Foods, did not reply to requests for comment.

Persons: Joey Chestnut, Chestnut Organizations: New, New York CNN, Impossible Foods, League Eating, Labor, Smithfield Foods Locations: New York, American

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