Business news summaries — Page 3
Essential facts and source links for recent business stories.
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Therapists explain why a friend’s pricey treats can fuel resentment
Therapists say it can be normal to resent a wealthier friend who repeatedly pays for expensive meals and outings, even when the gifts are appreciated. They advise identifying the source of the discomfort and talking about lower-cost ways to spend time together. -
Motley Fool says tariffs and Iran war are entrenching U.S. inflation
Motley Fool says Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war are spreading inflation beyond energy: core PCE, excluding food and energy, stood at 3.3% in June and July, down from 3.5% in May. It warns sticky prices could complicate Fed policy and threaten AI stocks. -
Volkswagen pares Wolfsburg shifts as German EV orders reportedly outpace orders for combustion cars
Volkswagen is dropping planned extra shifts in Wolfsburg and expects annual output near 580,000 vehicles, below an earlier plan of 600,000 or more, as new orders for its electric models reportedly outnumber those for gasoline and diesel cars in Germany. -
U.S. House approves proposal to restore tax deduction for pyrrhotite-damaged foundations
The U.S. House approved a proposal to restore a federal casualty-loss deduction for homeowners repairing foundations damaged by pyrrhotite. Senate approval is still required; if enacted, it would let them claim repair costs retroactively through tax year 2021. -
Costco ends Next marketplace, plans to integrate top items in app and site
Costco ended its Costco Next marketplace in September, CFO Gary Millerchip said, aiming to bring its most popular brands and items into the app and website for a better member experience and higher sales. He said the change is not material to results. -
Speed and fuel economy helped monoplanes overtake biplanes
Biplanes largely gave way to monoplanes by the late 1930s because their second wing and supports created drag and hurt fuel efficiency. Stronger engines and improved materials helped monoplanes offer greater speed and structural strength, while giving pilots better visibility. -
Motley Fool estimates 225% upside for Oklo in a 14-GW scenario
Oklo could reach about $130 a share—roughly 225% above its current price—if it deploys its 14-GW pipeline, Motley Fool estimates. At 90% capacity and $0.09/kWh, that fleet could generate nearly $10 billion in annual revenue; deployment would take years. -
Why a Motley Fool analysis favors Reddit over The Trade Desk in 2026
The Motley Fool article favors Reddit over The Trade Desk for 2026, citing Reddit’s 18% rise in daily active users to 130.3 million and Trade Desk’s slowdown. Reddit’s FY2025 revenue grew 69.4% to $2.2 billion, and it posted $529.7 million in net income. -
Lauren and Steven Keys say low spending helped them leave full-time work before 30
Lauren and Steven Keys say they left full-time work before 30 after keeping spending below $22,000 a year for several years and investing about half their income. Their net worth topped $1 million in December 2023; businesses and rental income cover their costs. -
PepsiCo plans select snack and drink price increases by early 2027
PepsiCo plans low- to mid-single-digit percentage price increases on select snacks and some soft drinks by the end of 2026 or early 2027, including Lay’s, Doritos, Ruffles, SunChips, Tostitos salsa and Fritos canned dips. It has not released product-specific prices. -
Florida homeowner questions FPL bill after solar app shows higher exports
A Florida homeowner questioned whether FPL applied net-metering credits after spotting an export gap: the bill listed 254 kilowatt-hours sent to the grid, versus 338.5 in Enphase data. Grid imports were nearly equal: 595 kilowatt-hours on FPL's bill and 596.6 in Enphase data. -
Starbucks plans to close 250 North American coffeehouses this week
Starbucks plans to close 250 North American coffeehouses later this week, saying some cannot consistently deliver its desired customer and employee experience or lack a path to acceptable financial performance. The closures are about 1% of over 18,000 North American stores. -
B-52’s aluminum skin can wrinkle as it flexes under flight loads
The B-52’s aluminum skin is designed to flex in flight, and forces on the aircraft can make it wrinkle or buckle, according to Air Force manuals. Maintenance crews monitor the skin because abnormal wrinkles can signal damaging stress rather than normal flexing. -
Vanguard expects one more Fed hike; economist says rates above 5% could hit the economy
Vanguard forecasts one more Fed hike by year-end, with a target range of 4%–4.25%. Chief economist Joe Davis said short-term rates would likely need to rise well above 4%—certainly above 5%—before Vanguard would discuss significant pressure on earnings and economic activity. -
Amazon's $195 Cobizi gazebo covers 15 by 10 feet and sets up solo
Amazon is featuring Cobizi’s 15-by-10-foot pop-up gazebo for $195; one person can set it up. It has a powder-coated, adjustable-height stainless-steel frame, a waterproof, UV-protective dual-level canopy, curtains for all four sides, four sandbags and a carrying bag. -
A claim at 62 can cut Social Security benefits 30%, versus Trustees’ possible 22% cut
Claiming Social Security at 62 can reduce benefits by 30%, while the Trustees project a possible 22% across-the-board cut if the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund runs out in Q4 2032. Waiting until full retirement age avoids the early-claim reduction. -
Tahoe Joe’s Visalia closure leaves just two locations open
Tahoe Joe’s closed its Visalia, Calif., site Sept. 21; only its Fresno and Bakersfield restaurants remain. An employee told KSEE she and more than 30 workers received no advance notice; a regional director cited the chain’s failure to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. -
Bloomingdale’s pairs with Ritz-Carlton for a hotel-inspired NYC store experience
Bloomingdale’s has partnered with The Ritz-Carlton on Hotel Bloomingdale’s, an immersive shopping experience at its New York 59th Street flagship through Oct. 19, 2026. It combines fashion, beauty, wellness, home and travel offerings in an effort to bring shoppers into stores. -
Frugal Fannie's begins last-store liquidation after 43 years
Frugal Fannie's, a discount women's clothing chain, is closing its last store after 43 years. Its liquidation sale began Sept. 24 at the original Westwood, Massachusetts, location; owners cited health considerations, key staff retirements and a lease with no renewal option. -
Costco's August sales rose 9.9% amid tighter household budgets
Costco reported $23.70 billion in August net sales, up 9.9% year over year, and comparable sales increased 8.4%. Surveys show U.S. shoppers are increasingly comparing prices, buying private-label goods and purchasing in bulk amid higher household costs. -
Howard Marks says shifting investments abroad carries risks amid $40 trillion U.S. debt
The U.S. national debt topped $40 trillion in August, and federal interest costs reached $1.25 trillion in 2025. Investor Howard Marks says moving money out of U.S. markets carries risks; the article recommends maintaining a long-term, diversified stock-and-bond plan. -
Several countries restrict Iranian flights after Bessent’s dollar warning
On Sept. 21, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that foreign airports and firms serving Iranian airlines would lose access to the dollar system if they continued. By Sept. 23, several countries had restricted flights, but the global shutdown he predicted had not occurred. -
Piston helicopters use avgas, while turboshaft models run on Jet A or A1
Helicopters use aviation gasoline (avgas) with piston engines and Jet A or A1 with turboshaft engines. The article reports hourly fuel use of 5–20 gallons for piston models and 25 to over 1,000 gallons for turbine-powered helicopters. -
Paranair will suspend all flights for two weeks during jet maintenance
Paraguayan budget airline Paranair will suspend all flights from Sept. 30 through Oct. 12 while its only Bombardier CRJ-200 undergoes scheduled maintenance, then plans to resume regular routes Oct. 13. Affected passengers will be offered rebooking or refunds. -
Tariffs, Iran war and AI spending complicate Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s inflation fight
On Sept. 16, the Fed unanimously raised interest rates by 25 basis points, to 3.75%-4.00%; inflation had remained above its 2% target for 66 consecutive months. The article attributes ongoing price pressure to tariffs, the Iran conflict and AI-infrastructure demand. -
BJ’s birthday sale offers 42% off select essentials through Oct. 31
BJ’s launched a 42nd-birthday sale on Sept. 24, offering members 42% off dozens of select groceries and household essentials through Oct. 31. Discounted items include fresh apples, lean ground beef and Kraft Mac & Cheese, available in stores and on BJ’s app and website. -
CATL finds 14-year-old storage cells retain about 85% capacity
CATL found that over 50 LFP cells from the Zhangbei Project retained about 85% of their original capacity after nearly 14 years. No project cells had been replaced; tested cells could support another decade in secondary storage, with about 1,000 cycles possible. -
Dollar General CEO says six-figure shoppers no longer feel like high earners
Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said shoppers at all income levels show strain: some visit more often but buy less per trip. He said customers earning $100,000 or more increasingly tell the company they no longer feel like high earners amid inflation.
