For decades, car ownership has been a trademark of the American lifestyle, with vehicles becoming symbols of freedom, independence and even rebellion, as well as a necessity. But in 2024, the country’s legendary love story with the automobile appears to have reached a crucial point of potential no return, as cars have become unaffordable to […]
Category: Business
After 50 years, say goodbye to Fruit Stripe Gum
It’s the end of an era for Fruit Stripe, the decades-old gum brand that was known for its fruit-inspired flavors and zebra-print product: The brand’s owner is discontinuing the striped treat. “The decision to sunset this product was not taken lightly,” a representative for Ferrara, Fruit Stripe’s owner, told CNN on Wednesday. “We considered many […]
What’s with this Stanley Tumbler craze?
t seems that every so often, a different water bottle has its turn at being the cup everyone has to have. There was Nalgene, CamelBak, then S’well and, in the past few years, Hydro Flask — indicating the growing desire over the years for reusable bottles that are nonplastic. Now, it’s the Stanley cup’s turn […]
DVD & Blu-Ray sales surge; Streaming distrusted
Christopher Nolan has achieved some great feats of cinema in his career – but last November he pulled off something impressive on the smaller screen, too. Deep into the streaming era, where physical media can sometimes feel like a distant memory, the Blu-ray home video release of Nolan’s Oppenheimer – one of 2023’s biggest box […]
4600 retail stores were shuttered in 2023
This year was a rough one for some major retailers, as illustrated by an 80% surge in store closures in 2023 from the year before, according to Coresight Research. The reasons for this year’s more than 4,600 store closures are varied, ranging from the bankruptcy of a major retail chain to some operators closing underperforming […]
Can women become Barbie with Ozempic?
The buzzy new drug Ozempic was designed in a lab to treat diabetes, but sometimes it seems like it was also designed in a lab to spark bad-faith corporate conversations about body positivity. Ozempic and its generic name, semaglutide, are such provocations: After years of brands selling feel-good taglines about how all bodies are beautiful, […]
Disney films flopped hard in 2023
Untill quite recently, Disney looked unstoppable on its way to dominating Hollywood. But in 2023, its box office plummeted, and its magic faded. What has gone wrong? The year 2023 should have been a magical one for The Walt Disney Company. The studio was founded by Walt and Roy Disney in 1923, so a host […]
The math for buying a home no longer adds up
Homeownership has become a pipe dream for more Americans, even those who could afford to buy just a few years ago. Many would-be buyers were already feeling stretched thin by home prices that shot quickly higher in the pandemic, but at least mortgage rates were low. Now that they are high, many people are just […]
The economy is Biden’s #1 trouble spot
The economy’s good. The economy’s bad. It depends on who you ask — and increasingly which party is in the White House when you ask. It was yet another strong jobs report Friday, exceeding expectations. Almost 200,000 jobs were created last month and unemployment dropped to 3.7%, which is near full employment. People are also […]
Mcdonald’s launches new coffee chain, CosMc’s
McDonald’s announced on Wednesday that it is piloting a new cafe concept called CosMc’s, which will mostly sell indulgent, highly customizable caffeinated beverages with some food. The first CosMc’s location is now open in Illinois, and nine more are planned in Texas in the coming months. For many, the news probably raised one main question: […]
What is Basel III Endgame? And why is it scary?
The past three years of economic volatility have exacted a profound toll on many Americans, testing the resilience of households and businesses alike. During this period, the largest banks, fundamentally strengthened by a series of changes, have served as a source of support by extending enormous amounts of credit, helping customers navigate uncertainty, and stabilizing […]
EV demand plummets, Dealers are panicking
From inflation to gas-stove bans, it’s clear President Biden and his top officials are living in an alternate reality. Perhaps no issue proves this point more than their unrealistic mandate for electric-vehicles, a multibillion-dollar effort to force Americans into cars they simply don’t want and can’t afford. In a recent speech President Biden bragged that […]