Kudos to Fed board members Stephen Miran and Chris Waller for dissenting at today’s Open Market Committee meeting. In favor of lowering the Fed funds by one quarter of a percentage point. The economy is in a disinflationary supply-side boom. Growth is strong, but inflation pressures are actually easing. Some quick numbers: over the past three months, the core personal consumption expenditures price index has increased only 2.3 percent annually, and has been coming down. The three-month core consumer price i ...

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol must now use the coffee giant's private aircraft for all travel to enhance his security, a company spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business.  The Seattle-based company said an independent security review identified "credible" risks to Niccol that warrant enhanced protection, pointing to his high-profile position, increased media exposure and the broader threat environment, according to a Monday regulatory filing."Given Mr. Niccol’s CEO role, the enhanced media attention to which Mr. ...

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was asked about his future at the central bank beyond the end of his term in May and also offered some advice to his successor. Powell spoke at a news conference Wednesday after the central bank left interest rates unchanged at its January meeting after it cut the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points at each of its final three meetings last year.His term as chairman of the Federal Reserve expires in May, though he could remain at the Fed as a member of the cent ...

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced it will leave interest rates unchanged, breaking a streak of three straight rate cuts amid uncertainty over the labor market and inflation. Fed policymakers voted to leave the benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at its current range of 3.5% to 3.75%. The move follows three successive 25 basis point rate cuts in September, October and December to close out last year.Economic data showing a slowdown in the labor market along with inflation continuing to run hotter ...

Core Insights - Demand at Starbucks is rebounding, indicating that CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround efforts are effective [1][6] - The company reported a 4% increase in sales at North American stores open for at least a year, marking the first sales growth in eight quarters [1][3] - Global sales also rose by 4%, driven by increased purchases and spending from existing customers [2] Financial Performance - Starbucks reported revenue of $9.9 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations for sales and revenue, although it missed profit estimates [3] - The company's stock has increased by $16.24 this year, reflecting a 19.34% rise [3] Strategic Initiatives - Niccol's turnaround strategy includes an aggressive redesign, enhanced rewards program, and new food and beverage items [9] - The company is hosting its first investor day under Niccol, focusing on returning to its coffeehouse roots and encouraging customers to stay longer [5] - Several initiatives, such as a new protein menu and the Green Apron Service model, have been implemented faster than expected [14] Market Context - Despite the positive sales momentum, Starbucks stores in the U.S. have experienced a decline in store visits due to broader economic factors affecting consumer spending [12] - Niccol has expressed confidence in the company's trajectory, stating that the sales momentum is just the beginning of the turnaround [6][8]

United Postal Service CEO Carol Tome said Tuesday that the company is officially retiring its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo planes after one of them was involved in a deadly crash in Louisville.  Tome told analysts on its fourth-quarter earnings call that the shipping giant has taken a "systematic programmatic approach to modernizing" its global air fleet, which included "the decision to accelerate our plans and retire all MD-11 aircraft in our fleet." That was completed in the fourth quarter.Tome ...

Leadership Transition - A major leadership transition is occurring at Walmart, with CEO Doug McMillon set to retire on January 31, 2026, after over 40 years at the company [1] Consumer Behavior and Market Position - Inflation is reshaping consumer behavior, with higher-income households increasingly turning to Walmart for value, a shift attributed to years of investment beyond its traditional price-focused image [2] - Walmart's evolution towards a multi-platform retail model has integrated physical stores with e-commerce, curbside pickup, and delivery, enhancing customer flexibility and expanding product assortment [4] Changes in Customer Interaction - Higher-income customers have begun to engage with Walmart differently, moving beyond basic purchases to include discretionary goods, influenced by changes in merchandise and the convenience of e-commerce [5] - Convenience has become nearly as important as price for consumers, with internal surveys indicating that Walmart is now rated almost equally for convenience and affordability [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - FAT Brands, a restaurant franchiser with a significant debt of approximately $1.3 billion, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its debt and support the continued growth of its brands [1][6]. Company Overview - FAT Brands operates 18 restaurant brands, including Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, and Twin Peaks, with over 2,200 locations globally [1]. - The company’s subsidiary, Twin Hospitality Group, which operates the Twin Peaks chain, also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy [2]. Financial Situation - The company reported having only $2.1 million in cash at the time of the bankruptcy filing and had missed payments prior to mid-November of the previous year [9]. - Following the bankruptcy announcement, shares of FAT Brands dropped by 45% [7]. Market Conditions - The company cited common challenges in the restaurant industry, such as inflation and declining customer demand for casual dining, as contributing factors to its financial difficulties [5][6]. - Erin Mandzik, a communications senior director, noted that the market conditions have been difficult and largely unforeseen, impacting the company's ability to restructure its debt [6]. Operational Impact - Despite the bankruptcy filing, FAT Brands expects its signature brands to continue operating as usual during the Chapter 11 process [12]. - The company had plans to expand its Fatburger chain by adding at least 40 new locations in Florida before the bankruptcy filing [2].

Core Insights - U.S. consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since 2014, dropping 9.7 points to 84.5 in January, below pandemic-era lows [1][2] Group 1: Consumer Confidence Index - The January reading of 84.5 is the lowest since May 2014, when the index was at 82.2, and it has fallen below the worst levels recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic [2] - All five components of the consumer confidence index deteriorated, indicating a broad decline in consumer sentiment [3][8] Group 2: Present Situation and Expectations - The present situation index decreased by 9.9 points to 113.7, reflecting worsened perceptions of current business and labor market conditions [5] - The expectations index fell by 9.5 points to 65.1, significantly below the 80 threshold that typically signals an impending recession [5][6] Group 3: Demographic Insights - The decline in consumer confidence was widespread across political affiliations, with the sharpest drop observed among Independents [8] - Confidence levels varied by age and income, with consumers under 35 showing more optimism compared to older groups, while those earning less than $15,000 remained the least optimistic [9] Group 4: Financial Outlook - Consumers' views on their current financial situation improved slightly in January, but expectations for future financial conditions declined [12] - The proportion of consumers believing a recession is "very likely" in the next year increased, while those who think a recession is "not likely" decreased [13][14]

Federal Reserve policymakers are expected to hold interest rates steady when they conclude their first meeting of the new year on Wednesday, as central bank officials look to navigate stubborn inflation and a softening labor market. The central bank's monetary policy panel, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), is expected to leave the Fed's benchmark federal funds rate target unchanged at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%. It would be the first time the central bank left interest rates unchanged since last summ ...