Today the retail industry got a small piece of good news in the form of some data from July that was better than expected. The government announced this morning that retail sales last month were up 0.6 percent during the previous month and more than 4 percent from this time last year. Not bad for […]
The U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent federal agency, starts hearings Tuesday on whether U.S. solar manufacturers are being hurt by foreign competition. The hearings could lead to tariffs being put in place on all foreign-made panels. Such tariffs could have consequences for the entire solar industry. Click the audio player above to hear the […]
Bank of America plans to launch a new premium rewards credit card next month. The bank is entering a crowded field of similar products from American Express and Chase, whose Sapphire Reserve card made headlines for its initial 100,000-point sign-up bonus and $450 annual fee. As a result, banks are changing the way they try […]
Netflix, the big video on demand company, committed what amounts to a raid on the content stable of Disney. It has signed a multiyear production contract with Shonda Rhimes —creator of hit TV series such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal.” With more than 50 original shows under its belt just this year, Netflix is doubling […]
Online audio platform SoundCloud, a favorite of indie musicians, has been struggling to stay afloat financially. Last month, it laid off 40 percent of its staff, and the company has been urgently seeking a reported $170 million cash injection to keep going. Today it got that emergency investment approved by shareholders. As part of that […]
Last month President Trump announced a deal with Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn to bring as many as 13,000 jobs to southeastern Wisconsin in exchange for $3 billion in tax breaks. Now legislative analysts are projecting the state won’t break even on that investment for more than 25 years. These sorts of mega-incentives to lure employers […]
Two of the country’s largest institutional landlords are joining forces. Starwood Waypoint Homes and Blackstone’s Invitation Homes are merging, becoming a mega landlord with 82,000 homes in metropolitan areas across the country. The merger tells us a lot about the housing and single-family home rental markets. Click the audio player above to hear the full […]
Uber, amidst its many troubles, will be winding down one chunk of its business. The Wall Street Journal reports that Uber will end it’s car leasing program by the end of the year. You may remember from 2015 that Uber started an auto leasing division as a way to attract new drivers. The idea being, […]
