Business news summaries — Page 8
Essential facts and source links for recent business stories.
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Anna Paulson says the Fed may need modest further rate hikes
Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said modest further rate hikes may be warranted if conditions evolve as she expects. After last week’s Fed hike, she said underlying inflation showed no sign of easing and the risk of persistently high inflation had increased. -
IMF board endorses a more focused reform agenda for loan programs
The IMF board backed recommendations to focus loan programs on fewer, deeper reforms. The Fund says budget adjustments should be front-loaded only as far as feasible, alongside realistic growth measures and adequate social spending to protect vulnerable people. -
Canada's August retail sales forecast to rise 1.3% after July's 0.7% drop
Canadian retail sales fell 0.7% in July to C$73.70 billion from C$74.25 billion in June, Statistics Canada said. The agency's advance estimate points to a 1.3% increase in August, while July's fall was marginally smaller than analysts' average forecast. -
A Motley Fool writer eyes NVR and Dream Finders Homes if rates fall
With U.S. 30-year mortgage rates nearing 7% and affordability weighing on homebuying demand, a Motley Fool contributor says he would be eager to buy NVR and Dream Finders Homes if rates fall. Their gross margins were 19.2% and 14.2%, respectively, last quarter. -
Thanksgiving groceries may cost more as diesel prices hit records
Record diesel prices could raise grocery bills by Thanksgiving as freight costs rise, experts say. USDA economists forecast frozen whole hens above $1.74 a pound wholesale in 2026; if that holds, a 16-pound turkey could cost nearly $28, versus $21.50 last year. -
Initial U.S. unemployment claims dip to 197,000, below forecast
U.S. initial jobless claims fell 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 197,000 in the week ended Sept. 19, below economists’ 201,000 forecast. Claims are near 57-year lows, partly due to seasonal-adjustment issues; low layoffs support a labor market that has regained footing. -
Starbucks begins another closure round, targeting about 250 North American cafes
Starbucks is closing about 250 North American cafes this week to cut costs and improve store returns. It said the closures will incur about $300 million in restructuring charges and aims to transfer baristas from closing stores, with severance for those who leave. -
Clear decisions and accountability can make performance reviews actionable
Performance reviews can explain missed targets without stopping the same problems from recurring, Forbes argues. The article says candid discussions must lead to explicit decisions and accountability if teams are to act on what went wrong. -
A pet-sitting business’s value may hinge on how its owner’s $50,000 pay is counted
A pet-sitting business owner reports $300,000 in sales and $90,000 net income last year; a MarketWatch columnist estimates its value near $300,000. Her $50,000 salary could lift it toward $400,000 if excluded from net profit, though the columnist calls that aggressive. -
Four-source $75.1 million package backs Monroe Hotel redevelopment
Marcus & Millichap's Institutional Property Advisors arranged a $75.1 million mid-construction recapitalization for The Monroe Hotel, an 89-key luxury boutique hotel being redeveloped in Miami Beach's Faena District. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2027. -
US 10-year Treasury yield hits 5.12%, highest since 2007
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield reached 5.12% Wednesday, its highest since 2007, amid rising oil prices and stronger-than-expected business activity. New York Fed President John Williams said it was reasonable to think the Fed may need another rate hike before year-end. -
Brazil bank projects 3.1% inflation for Q2 2028, trims growth outlook
Brazil’s central bank projected annual inflation at 3.1% in Q2 2028, near its 3% target and the key horizon for its November rate decision, and at the same level through Q1 2029. It lowered its 2026 growth forecast to 1.8% from 2.0% and projected 1.4% for 2027. -
PepsiCo to end production and warehousing at Cheverly plant after 143 layoffs
PepsiCo laid off 143 workers at its Cheverly, Maryland, bottling plant Sept. 14 and plans to end manufacturing and warehouse operations. It said sales and delivery jobs would not be affected, citing changes in consumer demand, technology and its operating network. -
Michigan woman paid scammer over $270,000 after fake arrest threat
A 70-year-old Michigan woman lost over $270,000 to a scammer posing as a government agent who threatened arrest over fake drug and money-laundering charges. She cashed out her and her late husband's pensions; police arrested a 30-year-old Sacramento man. -
Razoo’s new owners roll out a menu centered on Louisiana flavors
Razoo’s Cajun Cafe has rolled out a new food menu across all its restaurants, with owner M Crowd Hospitality emphasizing scratch-made dishes, Cajun and Creole techniques and Louisiana flavors as it seeks to restore the 35-year-old brand after bankruptcy. -
Warsh’s plan for less Fed guidance may leave markets more volatile
At Jackson Hole on Aug. 28, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh called for a “quieter” Fed with less advance guidance; Motley Fool says the shift could increase market volatility. After the Sept. 16 rate hike, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw modest volatility, while the Dow fell 1.21%. -
Fed hopes anchored expectations can cool inflation without hurting jobs
After its first rate hike in three years on Sept. 16, the Federal Reserve is betting that anchored inflation expectations can slow price increases without raising unemployment. PCE inflation is 3.7%; officials project it will remain above the 2% target until 2029. -
Norway’s central bank lifts rate to 4.5%, leaves door open to another hike
Norway’s central bank raised its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.50% on Thursday and said another hike is possible if the inflation outlook warrants it. Core consumer prices rose 3% year-on-year in August, above the bank’s roughly 2% target. -
Royal Caribbean agrees to buy half of Sandals and Beaches for about $3 billion
Royal Caribbean Group agreed to invest about $3 billion for a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts, forming a joint venture with the Stewart family, which will retain the other half. The deal is expected to close in early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. -
MindyKnows’ unlimited Washington University package costs $525 a year
MindyKnows offers college students local, parent-like help when families live far away, from prescription pickups and support during illness to company during ER visits. Its unlimited Washington University package costs $525 a year. -
Newly licensed 21-year-old says family policy quote would add $7,200
On Reddit, a newly licensed 21-year-old said adding her to her mother's policy was quoted at over $1,000 extra monthly. She put the increase at $7,200—about 50% more for a household already insuring three people—and said the insurer called it a six-month charge. -
Oskar Flodstrom’s $50 pill-bottle table experiment led to $253,000 in 90-day gross sales
Oskar Flodstrom, 23, turned a $50 Facebook Marketplace experiment into a $225 pill-bottle table that generated $150,000 in gross sales in two weeks. In his interview, he said hundreds of orders were stuck in customs, with about $80,000 of Shopify funds unavailable. -
McManis lists winery and vineyard portfolio spanning 3,500 acres for nearly $78 million
McManis Family Vineyards has listed its winery and 10 vineyards, covering 3,500 acres, for just under $78 million. The US-Canada trade war was one factor behind the sale; Canadian bans cost the US wine industry $357 million in 2025, the Wine Institute says. -
Lombardelli says persistent energy costs may require BoE rate rises
Bank of England Deputy Governor Clare Lombardelli said rates are increasingly likely to need to rise if energy prices stay high, unless there is clear evidence of disinflation or weaker activity. She joined the 6-3 majority that kept Bank Rate at 3.75% last week. -
Another US rate hike may be needed before year-end, Williams says
New York Fed President John Williams said a further U.S. rate increase before the end of 2026 is a reasonable possibility to curb inflation risks, but said officials will assess incoming data before acting. The Fed raised its policy rate last week to 3.75%-4.00%. -
After the Fed's unanimous hike, Warsh's 'dose' phrase fuels talk of more increases
In a unanimous 12-0 September vote, the Fed raised its target rate 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00%. Chair Kevin Warsh repeated “removed a dose of accommodation” three times; The Motley Fool sees it as a hint of further hikes if inflation fails to cool fast enough.
