U.S. economic growth slowed more than expected in the fourth quarter, with GDP rising at an annual rate of 0.5%, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The slowdown was driven by weaker government spending and exports, partly linked to a 43-day federal funding lapse. Consumer spending and investment still supported growth, but overall momentum fell sharply from earlier in the year. The economy expanded 2.1% … Continue reading Economic growth downgraded to 0.5 percent

The United States Postal Service announced it will temporarily suspend employer contributions to federal retirement annuities to preserve cash amid a severe financial crisis. The agency also proposed raising postage rates, including increasing the price of a Forever stamp to 82 cents, pending regulatory approval. Officials said the move is intended to maintain payroll, supplier payments, and mail service, while warning the United States Postal Service could run out … Continue reading USPS to suspend pension contributions, seeks 4-cent stamp price hike

Minutes from the Federal Reserve March meeting show officials still expect to cut interest rates later this year despite uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict and tariffs. Policymakers said the war could push them toward easier monetary policy if higher gas prices weaken consumers and the labor market. They emphasized the need to remain “nimble” as inflation stays above target and employment growth remains relatively flat. Most participants anticipated … Continue reading Fed officials still foresee rate cut this year

Deere & Co. has agreed to pay $99 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the company of monopolizing farm equipment repair services. The lawsuit claimed the company restricted access to repair software and worked with authorized dealers to limit independent repairs, leading to higher costs for farmers. Although Deere denies wrongdoing, it agreed to the settlement to resolve the case, which still requires … Continue reading Deere & Co agrees to pay $99 million to settle ‘right to repair’ lawsuit

Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines are raising checked bag fees by $10 as airlines respond to rising jet fuel costs. Southwest will charge $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second, while Delta’s new fees apply to domestic and some international flights booked starting Wednesday. These increases follow similar moves by other major carriers, including United Airlines and JetBlue Airways, as … Continue reading Delta, Southwest raise checked bag fees $10 amid jet fuel price surge

Oil prices fell sharply—by nearly 15%—after President Donald Trump delayed planned military strikes on Iran and signaled a potential two-week ceasefire tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign minister said shipping through the strait would be allowed during this period under coordination with its military, and Tehran agreed to enter negotiations with the United States. Markets reacted positively, with global stocks rising, bond … Continue reading Oil prices plunge and stocks jump after Trump announces conditional ceasefire with Iran

Samsung Electronics shares rose after the company forecast record quarterly profit driven by strong demand for AI-related chips. The company projected operating profit of about 57.2 trillion won for the first quarter, far higher than a year earlier and above market expectations. Revenue was also expected to jump significantly, reflecting booming sales in its memory chip business. Demand for high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI computing … Continue reading Samsung shares rise after profit seen jumping 8-fold

SpaceX outlined plans for its upcoming IPO, saying it will allocate an unusually large portion of shares to retail investors. The company’s CFO said retail participation will be a major focus, reflecting long-term support from everyday investors. SpaceX plans to host thousands of retail investors at events in June as part of its IPO roadshow. The offering is expected to raise about $75 billion and could … Continue reading SpaceX lays out IPO details, targets early June

Asian markets mostly rose on Monday as investors monitored the ongoing war in Iran, rising oil prices, and upcoming statements from President Donald Trump. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi both posted gains, while some regional markets remained closed for holidays. Oil prices continued to climb, with both U.S. crude and Brent crude increasing amid concerns about prolonged conflict and disruptions to the Strait … Continue reading Asian shares mostly gain while oil prices keep rising

Businesses across the U.S., including College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving co-founder Nick Friedman, are facing rising costs due to higher fuel prices, insurance, and economic pressures tied to the U.S.-Iran war. While large companies like airlines and Amazon have introduced surcharges or raised fees to offset costs, smaller businesses say they have less flexibility to pass those increases on to customers. Higher energy prices … Continue reading U.S.-Iran war ‘tax’ begins to hit American businesses and consumers

Federal officials issued a public health alert for certain frozen dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets sold at Walmart due to possible unsafe levels of lead. The alert applies to 29-ounce bags of Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets with specific lot and expiration codes. The issue was identified during routine testing, and the product may still be stored in consumers’ freezers even though it … Continue reading Dinosaur chicken nuggets sold nationwide at Walmart may contain lead

A pharmaceutical company, K.C. Pharmaceuticals, has recalled over 3 million bottles of over-the-counter eye drops due to concerns about a “lack of assurance of sterility” identified by the FDA. The recall affects multiple products sold under various brand names at major retailers like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall, meaning the products may cause temporary or … Continue reading Eye drops recalled over safety concerns, FDA says

Raw Farm is recalling several raw milk cheddar cheese products after an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to nine illnesses across California, Texas, and Florida. Three people have been hospitalized, including one who developed a serious complication, and more than half of the cases involve children under five. The FDA says all interviewed patients reported consuming raw dairy products, though testing has not yet confirmed … Continue reading California dairy recalls raw milk cheese linked to E. coli outbreak

Amazon is introducing a 3.5% “fuel and logistics-related surcharge” on fees for third-party sellers using its fulfillment services, effective April 17 in the U.S. and Canada. The company said the move is in response to rising transportation and operating costs driven by higher oil prices tied to the ongoing Iran-related conflict. Amazon emphasized that the surcharge is temporary and meant to offset increased costs, and it claims … Continue reading Amazon to add 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for sellers

United Airlines is raising checked bag fees by $10 for tickets purchased starting Friday, with increases applying to first, second, and third bags across most routes. The airline said the first bag will rise from $35 to $45 and the second from $45 to $55, while the third bag will increase to $200, with higher prices for last-minute payments. The move follows similar increases by competitors … Continue reading United Airlines checked bag fees climbs $10-50

Tesla shares fell more than 5% after its first-quarter report showed lower deliveries and production compared with the previous quarter, despite modest year-over-year growth. The company delivered about 336,681 vehicles in Q1, slightly above last year but below analyst expectations. Overall vehicle sales have been declining in recent years, and Tesla’s stock is down roughly 20% in 2026. The bulk of deliveries still comes from its Tesla Model … Continue reading Tesla’s stock suffers steepest drop of 2026 on disappointing deliveries report

Hershey announced it will return all Reese’s products to their classic recipes starting next year, following criticism over the use of cheaper ingredients in some items. The company said that by 2027, products that currently use alternative coatings will switch back to traditional milk chocolate and dark chocolate. It also plans to make additional changes, including introducing natural colors and improving the creaminess of Kit-Kat, … Continue reading Hershey says it will shift back to classic recipe for all Reese’s products

Oil prices surged amid volatile trading after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of further military action against Iran within the next two to three weeks, raising concerns about prolonged conflict. U.S. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude both rose sharply as markets reacted to the prospect of continued instability. Trump also claimed Iran was responsible for attacks on oil tankers, while reiterating that the U.S. … Continue reading Oil prices surge with Brent rising 5% as Trump vows to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’

Oracle has begun notifying employees of thousands of job cuts as it faces financial pressure tied to heavy investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company’s stock has fallen about 25% this year, reflecting investor concerns over rising debt, declining cash flow, and competitive risks from generative AI. Oracle has been spending heavily to expand data centers and AI capabilities, including large contracts such as a … Continue reading Oracle cutting thousands in latest layoff round as company continues to ramp AI spending

Asian stock markets rose sharply on Wednesday following strong gains in U.S. markets and renewed hopes that the Iran war may be nearing an end. Major indexes across the region, including those in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, and Taiwan, posted significant gains. The rally was fueled by comments from Donald Trump suggesting the U.S. could end its attacks on Iran within weeks. … Continue reading Asian stocks jump on renewed hopes of Iran war ending

U.S. gas prices have risen above an average of $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, reaching about $4.02 nationally. The increase is driven largely by the ongoing war involving Iran, which has disrupted global oil supplies. Crude oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel as production and supply chains in the Middle East have been affected. The jump marks the largest … Continue reading Gas prices eclipse $4 a gallon in the US, the highest since 2022

Blackstone announced the close of its largest life sciences private fund, raising $6.3 billion through its Blackstone Life Sciences (BXLS) platform. The fund is significantly larger than its predecessor and is part of a platform that has grown to manage about $15 billion in assets since launching in 2018. Blackstone said its investments have helped support the development of 34 approved medicines and devices, with a … Continue reading Blackstone closes $6.3B fund for life sciences investing

The International Monetary Fund warned that an ongoing Middle East conflict disrupting oil, gas, and fertilizer supplies could lead to higher global prices and slower economic growth. It said rising energy and food costs would reduce living standards, strain businesses, and potentially force central banks to raise interest rates to control inflation. The IMF noted that heavily indebted countries may struggle to provide financial support to offset … Continue reading IMF warns Middle East conflict will lead to higher prices and slower global growth

About 12 tons of Nestlé KitKat chocolate bars—roughly 413,000 bars—were stolen after leaving a production site in Italyen route to Poland. The shipment disappeared while in transit, and the vehicle carrying it has not been found. The missing products were intended for distribution across Europe, raising concerns they could enter unofficial sales channels. Nestlé said the bars can be tracked using unique batch codes, allowing retailers and consumers to identify … Continue reading Over 400,000 KitKat candy bars stolen en route from Italy to Poland, Nestlé says

A federal judge in California temporarily halted the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna after a legal challenge raised antitrust concerns. The ruling followed a lawsuit by DirecTV and a coalition of state attorneys general, who argued the merger could raise costs, reduce competition, and harm local news coverage. The judge issued a 14-day restraining order and scheduled a hearing to further consider the case. Although the merger had already … Continue reading Judge pauses blockbuster merger between TV station owners Nexstar and Tegna