Business

Rhode Island's governor has said he is open to a public-union proposal for a three-percentage-point surcharge on households with more than $1 million in income as the state faces an estimated $100 million budget shortfall.

By the 40s and 50s retirement feels more immediate and 401(k) balances matter especially for those considering early retirement because funds generally cannot be accessed without penalty until age 59½.

President Trump told the Detroit Economic Club he regarded his first year back as the "greatest first year in history," citing inflation and GDP data; reporting notes that inflation has eased from earlier highs but remains above typical levels and many Americans continue to express affordability concerns.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to start drafting an ordinance to bar civil immigration enforcement from county-owned and county-controlled properties, and county counsel has 30 days to return a draft.

Coastal announced it has been acquired by Tata Consultancy Services and will operate as its own brand under TCS to broaden Salesforce, data, and AI services at global scale.

A LendingClub-commissioned Talker Research survey of 2,000 Americans found limited familiarity with high-yield savings accounts (30%) and that 43% of respondents do not know their savings account interest rate.

Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar said 2026 "will be the year of price pressure" after the company’s U.S. pricing deal and the arrival of cheaper generics, and he expects to expand the incretin market with both new oral and injectable Wegovy products; other executives at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference described a cautiously optimistic outlook for 2026.

Morocco welcomed about 19.8 million international tourists in 2025 (up 14%), and Egypt recorded roughly 19 million visitors (up 21%), with both countries reporting record-breaking arrivals amid a post-pandemic recovery.

Edible Garden announced Pickle Party, its fresh fermented pickles and krauts, is now available at Woodman's Markets in Wisconsin and Illinois; the products are described as raw, refrigerated, fermented, Kosher, and Non-GMO.

U.S. retail sales rose 0.6% in November, driven by a 1.0% gain at car and autoparts dealers and broad strength in restaurants, online retailers and specialty stores.

Retail sales rose 0.6% in November after a revised 0.1% decline in October, the Commerce Department reported; the release was delayed by a 43-day government shutdown.

Producer prices rose 0.2% in November, below forecasts, while retail sales increased 0.6% as consumer spending was broad-based.

A recent leak suggests Google may unveil the Pixel 10a on February 17, with retail listings indicating 128GB and 256GB models and European prices near €500 and €600 respectively.

Nvidia's app update (v11.0.6) rolls out DLSS 4.5 to all RTX owners and adds remaining Nvidia Surround settings from the legacy Control Panel.

Netflix is reported to be weighing an all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets, while Paramount Skydance has filed a lawsuit in Delaware challenging the process; WBD's board currently favors Netflix's cash-and-stock proposal.

A month-by-month checklist of common personal finance items for 2026 highlights key dates — including the Jan. 15, 2026 final estimated tax payment for 2025 and the April 15 federal tax-return and retirement-contribution deadlines.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said pandemic-era business rates relief will end in April and the government has provided £4.3bn to phase the transition; she said an announcement on additional targeted support for pubs is due in the next few days.

Midtown Manhattan stores report that women's business pants — often wide-cut, high-waist and made from premium fabrics — are the current popular item among finance professionals, with prices typically ranging from about $60 to $350.

U.S. Treasury yields were little changed as investors awaited several U.S. economic reports, and the consumer price index rose 2.7% year‑over‑year in December.

US restrictions on institutional purchases of single-family homes may prompt large US investors to increase activity in UK new-build housing, and tenants' groups have raised concerns about possible higher rents and lower upkeep.

The UK awarded contracts totalling about 8.4GW of offshore wind projects across England, Scotland and Wales, including the planned Berwick Bank farm; officials say these additions help progress the government’s 43GW offshore target for 2030, while analysts warn delivering the capacity by 2030 will be challenging.

The Louvre is introducing a two-tier ticketing system that raises admission for most non-European visitors from 22 euros to 32 euros, a 45% increase; some groups, including visitors under 18 and some younger European residents, remain eligible for free entry.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tied to renovation work, and the Fed said it was served grand jury subpoenas; Powell called the action an unprecedented challenge to the Fed's independence.

Ford said the 2027 Bronco RTR will join the Bronco lineup as an eighth model, described as a mix of off-road and street performance and a 'more attainable' gateway to the Raptor; pricing was not disclosed but it is expected to sit between the $51,475 Bronco Heritage Edition and roughly $80,000 Bronco Raptor.

Prosecutors say Paul Caneiro took about $78,000 from his brother shortly before the brother and three relatives were killed in 2018, and they presented surveillance audio and testimony in court. Caneiro has pleaded not guilty and is facing a trial expected to last about two and a half months.

The article mentions that JPMorgan beat earnings and revenue but its shares fell about 4.2% after the close, and Jim Cramer said the stock often rebounds after such dips.

The Labour government pledged up to £45bn for Northern Powerhouse Rail and has made about £1.1bn available to develop a detailed three-stage plan to improve links between cities from Liverpool to Newcastle.

Netflix is discussing revised terms for its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, including an all-cash offer, after lining up substantial financing and amid a competing bid from Paramount Skydance.

Tim Macklin Sr. remembered Renee Good as outgoing and "a real good person" and said he is praying for their six-year-old son; federal authorities, including the FBI, are investigating Good's Jan. 7 death after an encounter with an ICE agent.

The Senate Banking Committee released the full text of a proposed market-structure bill that includes limits on stablecoin rewards and is scheduled for committee markup this week.