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

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

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

☆ AI gadgets have been a bust so far. Apple aims to change that
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-05 | by ( Steve Kovach | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The system is called Apple Intelligence, and it'll be rolling out over the coming months. Apple plans to roll out Apple Intelligence in stages. Plus, app developers will be able tap into Apple intelligence, so you can use it everywhere on your phone. In the PC market, Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs launched this summer, but without their marquee AI feature, Recall. Without Recall, there's not much AI in this batch of AI PCs.

Persons: they've, Nabila Popal, they'll, Canalys, Gerrit Schneemann, Tim Cook, Nic Coury, supercharge Siri, Schneemann, IDC's Popal, Popal, it's, there's, Alex Katouzian, Katouzian, Corie Barry, Jaque Silva Organizations: Microsoft, Meta, Google, Nvidia, Apple, Samsung, Dell, HP, Qualcomm, Apple Intelligence, Will Apple Intelligence, IDC, Counterpoint Technology, Developers Conference, Afp, Getty, Motorola, Gemini Locations: China, U.S, Cupertino , California

☆ Abbott launches its first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-05 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Abbott Laboratories announced Thursday its over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor Lingo is available in the U.S. starting at $49. These devices, called continuous glucose monitors, are small sensors that stick through the skin to measure real-time glucose levels. Continuous glucose monitors have served as tools for patients with diabetes, but Lingo is not intended for diabetes management. The company released its over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor geared toward this demographic in late August. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Dexcom's Stelo in March, and it cleared two over-the-counter continuous glucose monitoring systems from Abbott in June.

Persons: Lingo, it's, Abbott, That's, Ben Fohner, Abbott's, Olivier Ropars, Ropars, Dexcom's Organizations: Abbott, CNBC, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Dexcom's Stelo, Libre, Libre Rio Locations: U.S

☆ Wasteful consumerism has a new worst enemy: Gen Alpha tweens
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Some Gen Alpha kids are taking a stand against buying too much stuff — and dragging their parents along for the ride. AdvertisementA 2024 survey of 1,000 Gen Alpha parents found that 63% of their kids care about sustainability. While Zoomers and millennials prefer to shop online, Gen Alpha specifically likes shopping in-store. Som Gen Alpha kids are "minimalists." Overall, Delisle doesn't think it's likely that every Gen Alpha child is above consumerism.

Persons: Yuriy Boykiv, we'll, Gen, McCrindle, Boykiv, Zers, Gen Alpha, Alpha, Wunderman Thompson, Alphas, Julie, she's, aren't, Laura Ascher, Alpha's, Stephen Yalof, David Delisle, Helenor Gilmour, Gilmour, Delisle, spender Organizations: Service, Alpha, Business, — Business, Gen Alpha, Wunderman Thompson Commerce, Gen, tweens, Stanley, Brain Locations: skincare

☆ DirecTV is compensating customers affected by the Disney outage. But they have to take action to get it
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —For DirecTV subscribers frustrated by the loss of ESPN and other Disney-owned channels, the TV provider is offering some compensation as the blackout stretches into its third day. The company is offering credits of at least $20 to customers who have DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-Verse services — but customers won’t get the credit automatically. They must go to a special website and apply for it using their account’s email, and the credit will show up on a future bill. “We’re pursuing every avenue to get your station back,” DirecTV said on the website. “The Walt Disney Co. is once again refusing any accountability to consumers, distribution partners, and now the American judicial system,” Rob Thun, chief content officer at DirecTV, said in a previous statement.

Persons: won’t, “ We’re, ”, Rob Thun, it’s, CNN’s Liam Reilly Organizations: New, New York CNN —, DirecTV, ESPN, Disney, NFL, US, ABC, Walt Disney Co, CNN Locations: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, American

☆ It's no wonder Taco Bell is winning the fast-food wars. Just look at how they treat their biggest fans.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-02 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

When Taco Bell announced the event back in July, it invited hundreds of fast-food lovers to slow down and enjoy "early retirement" with all-you-can-eat Taco Bell meals and "senior-inspired recreation." Hanging among the racks were limited-edition Taco Bell merchandise, vintage T-shirts, basketball shorts, hot pants, and many, many hats. I opted for the Cantina chicken burrito and soft taco, my favorite new menu items at Taco Bell. Tim revealed he was an avid runner who had trekked two miles to grab a single taco from Taco Bell for 97 days in a row. Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderWhen I asked Rotter why Taco Bell was so important to him, he recalled a trip to the only Taco Bell in Hawaii that sells kalua pork, where the staff lit up over his Hawaiian Taco Bell shirt.

Persons: —, Taco, Taco Bell, Uber, tacos, Kenny Rotter, Rotter, fanny, there's, Snoop, I've, Anneta, Taylor Montgomery, Taco Bell's, Montgomery, Dolly Parton, Bell, Gen Z, Tim, dink, influencer Joey Zauzig, Zauzig, Will, James, Caroline Organizations: Service, Taco Bell, Bell, Business, New York, Subway, Planters, KFC, Mac Locations: San Diego, La Valle, San Diego's, Santa Fe, Los Angeles, San, Woodstock, LA, Taco, Hawaii, America

☆ Best Buy shares surge on profit beat and guidance hike
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-29 | by ( Ece Yildirim | In Ecedyildirim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

People walk into a Best Buy store in a Brooklyn mall on August 29, 2023 in New York City. Best Buy raised its fiscal-year profit guidance Thursday after exceeding earnings and revenue expectations for the most recent quarter. Shares of Best Buy jumped more than 15% in morning trading Thursday. Best Buy has been in the midst of an attempted turnaround in response to a two-year sales slump. "We capitalized on demand driven by our customers' desire to replace or upgrade their products, combined with new innovation," Barry said during the company's earnings call.

Persons: Matt Bilunas, Corie Barry, Barry Organizations: LSEG, Apple, Microsoft Locations: Brooklyn, New York City

☆ A popular website that connects caregivers with people in need deceived its users of millions of dollars, the FTC says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-28 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The website, which connects people with babysitters, senior care workers, or housesitters, used "inflated job numbers and baseless earnings claims" to deceive both customers and workers, the FTC said in a statement. AdvertisementTo communicate with a caregiver on Care, both job posters and job seekers must create an account on the website with an auto-renewed subscription, according to the release. AdvertisementCare said in the statement that the renewing subscriptions users have to buy are actually an annual "screening fee."

Persons: —, Samuel Levine, Care.com, Care Organizations: Service, Federal Trade Commission, Business, of Consumer, Forbes, FTC, Care Locations: United States

☆ Lego revenue jumps 13% in first half of 2024, boosted by Lego Fortnite and diverse brick sets
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-28 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesAn inflation-fueled sales slump hit the toy industry in the first half of 2024, but one company is gaining market share brick by brick. On Wednesday, Lego said revenue during the first six months of the year jumped 13%, reaching 31 billion Danish kroner, or about $4.65 billion. Last year, Lego saw a trend of consumers "trading down" or opting for lower-priced sets, while still buying the same volume as the year before. Lego has continued to build on pandemic-era growth with a diverse slate of products that cater to kids and adults alike. Sales in the U.S. and Europe remain strong, Christiansen noted, while China sales are flat.

Persons: Niels Christiansen, Christiansen, Barbie, Harry Potter Organizations: Nurphoto, CNBC, Epic, Mattel, Hasbro, Star, Sustainability Locations: Shanghai, China, Danish, U.S, Europe

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

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

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

☆ 2 reasons why Disney's stock is worth buying despite a theme-park slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

In fiscal 2022 and 2023 combined, Disney's experiences unit, which houses the parks, generated 67.5% of the company's operating income. That represents a significant deceleration in growth from its first and second quarters, when operating income rose 8% and 12%, respectively. Nispel argued that negative sentiment around Disney's theme parks performance could be a reason to have less conviction on the stock in the near term. The more excitement around its movies, the more interest in everything from theme parks to streaming services to branded merchandise. Operating income, in particular, rose more than $350 million year over year to $254 million.

Persons: that's, Disney, we're, Jim Cramer, Jeff Marks, amortization —, Brandon Nispel, Nispel, Bob Iger, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Jim, Romulus, King, KeyBanc's Nispel, Jim Cramer's, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Gary Hershorn Organizations: Disney, Magic, Club, Magic Kingdom, DIS, Comcast, CNBC, KeyBanc, Universal, Americas, —, Hulu, ESPN, Walt Disney World, Corbis, Getty Locations: California, Florida, Magic, Orlando , Florida, Orlando, Animal Kingdom

☆ 3 tips for getting the most out of your fine dining experience: Interact and ask questions, one chef says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Aditi Shrikant | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For years, I didn't enjoy eating at fine dining establishments. Here are three tips from Lewis and chefs in New York City and Washington D.C. for how to best enjoy your time at a fine dining restaurant. But many fine dining establishments offer pre-fixe meals with a set cost that isn't always available ahead of time or rotating menus, so it's not clear what will actually be served that night. "A lot of fine dining establishments may not be transparent about price on their website," Lewis says. You'll probably enjoy your meal more if you don't feel blindsided by a dish or its price.

Persons: Tara Lewis, you'll, Lewis, Alessandro Farruggio, DC's Il Canale, Yelp, Bu, it's, Shin Yamaoka Organizations: Washington D.C Locations: Yelp, New York City, Washington

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

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

☆ China is Starbucks' 2nd biggest market, but sales are slumping. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Comparable store sales, a key measure for the restaurant industry, were down 14% in its most recent quarter. Sales slumpStarbucks' comparable store sales in China have been incredibly volatile over the past five years. But in recent months, they've been hit by cautious consumer spending and increased competition, then-CEO Laxman Narasimhan told investors in July. Luckin Coffee, Starbucks' biggest rival in China, has nearly three times as many stores as Starbucks in the country after monumental unit growth. "We're not interested in entering the price war," Starbucks China CEO Belinda Wong told investors in January.

Persons: —, Brian Niccol, they've, Laxman Narasimhan, Narasimhan, Sherri, Kearney, Luckin, McCafe, KFC's, Dave Xie, Oliver Wyman, Xie, latte, We're, Belinda Wong, Wong, it's, Brian Yarbrough, Edward Jones, Liu Ying Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Business, Bank of America, Bloomberg, Publishing, Getty, Reuters Locations: China, Beijing, Shanghai, Seattle, Luckin, Cotti, Xinhua

☆ I lived in Silicon Valley, New York, and London as a founder. If you're looking for a place to build a business, there's one clear winner.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I've lived in the Bay Area, New York, and the UK while building and scaling Zyper. But if you want to be laser-focused without distractions, you can't beat the Bay Area. Particularly in the Valley, there's a propensity for very quickly backing "zero-to-one ideas" and creating something entirely new. Silicon Valley is special, and I plan to stayI moved Zyper to San Francisco right before the pandemic hit. AdvertisementThere are other emerging markets, like Korea, Brazil, and China, but I think there's something very special about the ecosystem and history of Silicon Valley.

Persons: —, Amber Atherton, I've, Zyper, Y Combinator, Y, it's, Michael Seibel, Everyone's, London's, There's, overregulate Organizations: Service, Business, Patron, Nvidia Locations: San Francisco, London, New York, Palo Alto, Bay, California, Zyper, Mountain View, Hong Kong, England, American, Delaware, . New York, York, Europe, Silicon Valley, Miami, Austin, Silicon, Korea, Brazil, China

☆ Nestle CEO departure seen as 'not such a bad thing' for investors, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — Investors may think that the replacement of Nestle CEO Mark Schneider with company veteran Laurent Freixe is "not such a bad thing," analyst Jon Cox said Friday. "I think confidence has been severely hit in the case and particularly in Schneider," he told "Squawk Box Europe." "I presume most people will think it's not such a bad thing at this point for Schneider to go," he said. Freixe, who joined Nestle in 1986 and served most recently as executive vice president and CEO of the Latin America unit, will take over from Sept. 1. The company has struggled to retain market share as consumers have shifted away from labelled products amid inflationary pressures.

Persons: Mark Schneider, Laurent Freixe, Jon Cox, Cox, Kepler Cheuvreux, Schneider, Freixe, Laurent, Nestlé, Paul Bulcke Organizations: Nestle, Kepler, CNBC, America Locations: Schneider, London, Swiss

☆ If Your Debt Is Ballooning, There Are Steps You Can Take
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Americans are increasingly struggling with credit card debt and other loans, and consumers are paying more for basic banking services like A.T.M. And 42 percent of households carrying balances on credit cards reported that their overall debt level was “unmanageable,” up from 38 percent in 2022, the network found. More borrowers have been falling behind on credit card payments, especially those who have maxed out spending on their cards, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Making payments on credit cards as well as car loans, student loans and other installment loans has been increasingly challenging for consumers, the financial network found. (The analysis, which the network publishes annually, is based on public data and a nationally representative survey of consumers.)

Persons: ”, Hannah Gdalman Organizations: Financial Health Network, Federal Reserve Bank of New Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Meta director who used to work for Elon Musk says companies without an internal AI tool are 'already behind the curve'
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-19 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewIn addition to its suite of consumer-facing AI offerings like Meta AI, Facebook's parent company also has its an internal tool for employees. She said she uses the tool "all the time for efficiency gains," — and companies that don't have their own internal AI tool are "already behind the curve." Any sizable company operating without an internal AI tool is already behind the curve. The company's internal AI tool, which is called VaultBot, answers "around 32% of all engineering questions," according to a company announcement from January. Other big tech giants are also developing internal AI tools alongside consumer-facing products.

Persons: —, Alex Heath, Mark Zuckerberg's, Heath, Esther Crawford, that’s, Esther Crawford ✨, Crawford, Kaz Nejatian, EY, PwC, Banks, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Service, Business, Elon, Twitter, Meta, KPMG, McKinsey, QuantumBlack, JPMorgan, OpenAI, Bain & Company Locations: Meta

☆ Travel isn’t dead. It’s just taking a vacation
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-19 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —CEOs of many of the biggest US hotel and travel companies are coming off a bit like doomsayers these days with their warnings about the declining health of consumers and their waning appetite for travel. Gary Hershorn/Getty ImagesMuch of the revenue growth that travel companies reported in recent years resulted from inflation, said David Tinsley, a senior economist at Bank of America Institute. “It was always going to be tough to expect travel spending to be showing the kind of momentum it showed 12 months ago,” he told CNN. “I don’t think the current situation is particularly bleak — it’s reasonable to see more normalization playing out,” he said, referring to travel spending getting back on par with pre-pandemic trends. Still, it’s not hard to see why this mixed picture is prompting travel companies to tread carefully.

Persons: —, ”, Brian Chesky, “ It’s, Ellie Mertz, Chris Nassetta, Airbnb’s Mertz, haven’t, Jan Freitag, ” Freitag, Walt Disney, Gary Hershorn, David Tinsley, Tinsley, “, Steve Hafner, it’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Conference, Bank of America Institute, CNN Locations: New York, ”

☆ Mars, maker of M&M’s and Snickers, to buy Cheez-It owner Kellanova for nearly $30 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Mars, whose brands include M&M’s, Snickers and Skittles, is buying food company Kellanova in a deal worth nearly $30 billion, giving it access to a huge portfolio of consumer brands from Cheez-It to Pop-Tarts. Kellanova, based in Chicago, houses many brands, including Pringles, Town House, MorningStar Farms and Rice Krispies Treats. Once it is complete, Kellanova will become part of Mars Snacking. “The Kellanova brands significantly expand our snacking platform, allowing us to even more effectively meet consumer needs and drive profitable business growth,” Andrew Clarke, global president of Mars Snacking, said in a statement. Shares of Kellanova rose nearly 8% before the opening bell Wednesday.

Persons: Mars, Kellanova, Kellogg, Rice Krispies, ” Andrew Clarke, Mars Snacking Organizations: Kellogg Co, MorningStar, Rice, Mars Inc Locations: Cheez, Chicago, Pringles

☆ Treasury yields slip ahead of consumer inflation figures
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The 2-year Treasury yield was last at 3.929% after rising by 1 basis point. U.S. Treasury yields fell slightly on Wednesday as investors considered the latest inflation data and what it could mean for the economy and monetary policy. Treasury yields had tumbled on Tuesday after the producer price index increased 0.1% on a monthly bass in July, less than the forecast 0.2% rise. The wholesale inflation figure was released ahead of Wednesday's consumer price index. Investors will also be scanning the inflation figures for hints the outlook for interest rates.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Treasury, CPI, Federal, Traders, Fed

☆ 3 data points that could impact how big of a Fed rate cut the market gets next month
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Management blamed "higher interest rates and greater macroeconomic uncertainty" for pressuring consumer spending on home improvement projects. The recent data certainly supports the idea of a rate cut at the Fed's mid-September meeting. However, that's weeks away, we know things can turn on a dime in the data and the stock market. Lower rates can certainly impact the stock market — but when it comes to picking individual stocks, we remain focused on earnings. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

Persons: Thursday's, Stanley Black, Decker, Stifel, bode, Russell, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Spencer Platt Organizations: Nasdaq, PPI, Management, Dow, Home Depot, Trade, Costco, Depot, CNBC, New York Stock Exchange, Getty Locations: U.S, New York City

☆ Home Depot issues a warning about the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Home Depot says consumers are feeling crummy about the economy, and they’re dishing out less to remodel their homes. The home improvement giant, a bellwether of consumer spending and the housing market, lowered its sales expectations for the year. It said customers were spending less on home improvement projects, pressured by higher interest rates and concerns that the economy is getting worse. Home Depot said Tuesday it expects sales at stores open at least 12 months to fall between 3% and 4% this year compared to last year. Still, Decker remained optimistic, saying “The underlying long-term fundamentals supporting home improvement demand are strong.”Home Depot’s (HD) stock fell nearly 5% in premarket trading.

Persons: they’re, Ted Decker, That’s, Decker Organizations: New, New York CNN, Depot Locations: New York

☆ Stock market today: Indexes climb as producer inflation comes in cool
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Max Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Stocks were higher on Tuesday after PPI showed wholesale inflation was less than expected in July. Investors are now bracing for the consumer inflation reading due out on Wednesday. AdvertisementUS stocks were up on Tuesday after the producer price index for July showed wholesale inflation rose less than expected. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that producer prices increased 0.1% last month compared to estimates of 0.2%. The cooler-than-expected reading should boost optimism for consumer prices to show a decline in inflation when the consumer price index is released on Wednesday.

Persons: —, Chris Zaccarelli, Laxman Narasimhan, Brian Niccol, Elon Musk Organizations: PPI, Investors, Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, Fed, Depot, Bank of America, Starbucks, Trump Media, Elon

☆ Warren Buffett's company is so big it's like a mini US economy. Here's what it signals about the state of consumers.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe latest figures from Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway suggest consumers are faring better than they were just a year or two ago. Thomson ReutersHomeServicesReal estate brokerage revenues were almost flat and after-tax earnings rose 21%. New home unit sales rose 11% after dropping 20%, but pre-tax earnings fell 10%, similar to their 12% decline last year. But pre-tax earnings jumped 10% due to higher margins and lower operating expenses that offset the lower sales. AdvertisementRetailThe odd one out was the retailing subdivision, where revenues fell 4.5% and pre-tax earnings fell 23%.

Persons: —, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Here's, Thomson, Warren Buffett, Clayton, Rick Wilking, Berkshire, They've, There's Organizations: Service, Business, Thomson Reuters, Clayton Homes, Reuters McLane, Berkhire Hathaway Locations: Warren Buffett's, Berkshire, Renton , Washington, Omaha , Nebraska

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