Tesla has raised lease prices for all its vehicles in the US after a $7,500 federal tax credit that helped boost electric vehicle sales expired, according to the company’s website on Wednesday.The change follows the end of tax incentives under sweeping legislation passed by Congress, which eliminated the $7,500 credit for new EV leases and purchases, as well as a $4,000 credit for used EVs, effective Sept. 30.Elon Musk’s Tesla and its rivals had been passing these credits on to customers through competitive ...

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes fell at the start of Wednesday’s trading session as Wall Street pondered the long-term implications of a federal government shutdown and its impact on the US economy.The S&P shed 0.2% while the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.3%, falling more than 70 points just after the opening bell on Wednesday.The Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered near flat after an early 52-point decline. 3 The major stock indexes fell on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors digested the news of a federal g ...

Core Viewpoint - Walmart is eliminating synthetic dyes and artificial ingredients from its store brands by January 2027, responding to a growing consumer demand for healthier options and aligning with regulatory changes led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [1][4][7] Group 1: Company Actions - Walmart's Great Value brand is one of the largest consumer brands in the U.S., generating billions in sales annually [2] - The retailer plans to phase out about 30 artificial ingredients, including sweeteners and preservatives, from over 1,000 products [3][9] - Walmart is specifically targeting ingredients like titanium dioxide and azodicarbonamide, while aiming to keep prices stable despite these changes [4][10] Group 2: Industry Impact - The shift in Walmart's ingredient policy is expected to influence the broader U.S. food supply chain, affecting suppliers and other retailers [3] - Several major food companies, including Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Nestlé, and Tyson Foods, have also announced plans to remove artificial dyes from their products [7] - The trend towards natural ingredients is driven by increasing health consciousness among American shoppers, with over half checking food package ingredients [8][15] Group 3: Challenges and Considerations - Natural alternatives to artificial dyes often struggle to replicate the vibrant colors and stability of synthetic options, presenting challenges for manufacturers [10][14] - Walmart has faced difficulties in maintaining appealing colors in beverages and baked goods during the transition to natural dyes [17][18] - Consumer reactions to new products with natural ingredients have been mixed, as seen in past experiences with brands like General Mills [17]

A US government agency is suing Apple for allegedly discriminating against a Jewish worker – forcing him to work on his Sabbath and later firing him because of his religion, according to a suit filed in Virginia federal court.The suit alleged Tyler Steele, a 16-year employee at Apple’s Reston, Va., store, consistently received positive performance reviews during his time as an Apple “genius,” helping customers troubleshoot tech issues on their devices.Starting in 2023, after Steele converted to Judaism, the ...

Google is willing to cough up more advertising data to publishers to address concerns about its illegal monopoly over digital advertising technology, a top executive at the search giant said Tuesday.Glenn Berntson, an engineering director for Google Ad Manager, acknowledged the potential remedy during the second week of a high-stakes antitrust trial in Virginia federal court. He was called as a witness by Google’s defense lawyers.Providing “publishers with these detailed insights, I think, is a good idea,” ...

Starbucks’ surprise plans to close dozens of stores across New York City are claiming dozens of high-profile locations — and sparking chaos for employees, city officials and landlords alike, The Post has learned.The Seattle-based coffee giant – which laid off 900 corporate staffers last week in a $1 billion restructuring plan — is shuttering some 400 plus stores across the country after reporting six consecutive quarters of sales declines. Those include 54 coffee shops across the city’s five boroughs, accor ...

Core Points - Kia America is recalling over 39,500 vehicles in the US due to a faulty HVAC system that poses a fire risk and potential injury [1][3] - The recall affects approximately 1% of the vehicles, equating to around 395 cars, specifically certain 2021-2023 Sorento models [1][4] - The issue is attributed to a quality control problem at a parts supplier in Mexico, leading to unusually thin wiring gauges that may cause overheating [3][4] Recall Details - The recall includes all 2021-2023 Kia Sorento LX vehicles manufactured from September 10, 2020, to December 29, 2023, at Kia's Georgia factory [4] - Owners are advised to take their vehicles to a Kia dealership for free replacement of the wiring harness and blower motor resistor [5] - Interim notification letters to owners regarding the risk are expected to be mailed on November 24, with additional letters to follow once a final remedy is available, likely in December [7]

Tariff Announcement - President Trump announced a new 10% tariff on wood imports and delayed 25% duties on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and upholstered furniture until October 14 [1][13] - Tariffs on upholstered furniture are set to increase to 30% and on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities to 50% by January 1, 2026, unless trade agreements are reached [2] Justification and Impact - The Trump administration justified the tariffs on national security grounds, citing the impact of softwood lumber imports on the US economy and the closure of US wood mills [4][5] - The proclamation emphasized the importance of domestic manufacturing capabilities in the wood and lumber sector for national security [6] International Relations - Canada, the largest supplier of softwood lumber to the US, is facing significant anti-dumping tariffs and is negotiating for lower rates [6][8] - The US has established more favorable tariff rates for the UK (maximum 10%), EU, and Japan (maximum 15%) due to existing trade deals [8][9] Historical Context - Previous tariffs on Chinese furniture were set at 25% during Trump's first term, with Mexico and Vietnam emerging as significant producers since then [12]

Core Insights - Disney experienced a significant loss of over 1.7 million paid subscribers across its streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN, following the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, marking a 436% increase in subscriber churn compared to the baseline [1][11]. Subscriber Impact - The cancellations occurred over a six-day period from September 17 to September 23, coinciding with the controversy surrounding Kimmel's comments on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk [1][2]. - Social media users shared screenshots of their subscription cancellations, indicating a strong public reaction to Disney's decision [2]. Kimmel's Suspension and Backlash - Kimmel's suspension led to accusations of government-imposed censorship from Hollywood creatives, labor unions, and media figures [6]. - Following the backlash, Disney reached an agreement to reinstate Kimmel, although Sinclair and Nexstar initially refused to air the show, affecting its availability to a significant portion of the audience [6][7]. Viewership Trends - Kimmel's return to the airwaves initially garnered record ratings, with 6.5 million viewers for the first episode, but viewership dropped significantly to 2.3 million by the following Thursday, representing a 64% decline [8]. - The show also saw a drastic decrease in key demographics, losing 73% of viewers aged 25-54 and 18-49 within 48 hours of its return [10]. Pricing Changes - Concurrently, Disney announced upcoming price increases for its streaming services, with the Disney+/Hulu bundle rising from $11 to $13, and Disney+ Premium increasing from $16 to $19 [12]. - The ad-supported Disney+ plan will increase from $10 to $12, while Hulu + Live TV with ads will see the largest jump from $83 to $90 [13].

The chief executive of American Eagle Outfitters resisted pressure on social media to pull its provocative ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney — telling his charges to remain calm in the face of accusations that the brand was promoting racist and sexist tropes, according to a report.In the weeks that followed, the campaign proved to be a hit — bringing in almost a million new customers to American Eagle between July and September, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company’s stock surged and sales o ...