Family-owned furniture and barware business Barrel-Art has weathered three US presidential elections, but the lead-up to the 2024 race has introduced a new layer of unpredictability. Sales slowed in the months before Election Day as the business world and consumers alike held their breath, awaiting the election's outcome. However, the moment the race was called, demand for Barrel-Art's handcrafted, whiskey and wine barrel products surged once more.

McDonald's has allocated a staggering $100 million to bolster its marketing efforts and to provide critical support to franchises that have been significantly impacted by a recent E. coli outbreak. This outbreak has led to over 100 cases of illness and has had a detrimental effect on the company's sales. According to an internal memo to staff, which was later obtained by CNN, McDonald's has earmarked $35 million specifically for marketing initiatives. One such initiative includes a promotional campaign highlighting the value of their chicken nuggets. An additional $65 million is being allocated to assist franchisees who have experienced a decline in business in states affected by the outbreak.

US households are accumulating debt at unprecedented levels, yet for a significant portion, this financial burden remains manageable, as per recent data. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit reveals that as of September 30, US household debt has reached an all-time high of $17.94 trillion, unadjusted for inflation. This growth is observed across all major categories of debt, with credit card balances and auto loans showing the most significant increases. However, the majority of households have been coping with this escalating debt, as their after-tax income has increased even more substantially. The New York Fed reports that disposable personal income soared to $21.8 trillion in Q3, resulting in a debt-to-income ratio of 82%. This is a decrease from the 86% ratio recorded in 2019 and significantly lower than the peak of 120% during the Great Recession in 2008.

At Starbucks, skilled baristas are capable of crafting beverages with up to eight shots of espresso and can infuse drinks with flavors reminiscent of strawberries, apple pie, or the warm spices of pumpkin. However, there is one customer, Amanda Poore, whose coffee preferences have proven challenging for the staff to consistently meet. Poore prefers a minimal amount of creamer in her decaf iced espresso, a detail that has been difficult to convey to the baristas. As a result, she has avoided certain Starbucks locations known for their excessive creamer servings. For years, Poore enjoyed her customized coffee without any issues at the Seattle Starbucks, where self-serve stations offered a variety of milk, sugar, sweeteners, spices, and stirrers. However, during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, Starbucks removed these stations due to concerns about viral transmission on surfaces, and they have not been reintroduced since. The company also faced issues with milk waste and theft at these stations, as reported by employees.

On Thursday, Disney made an exceptional move, presenting investors with a rare three-year financial forecast amidst economic volatility. The company expressed strong confidence in the returns on its substantial investments in park expansions, film production, and even traditional television assets. This optimism was reflected in Disney's (DIS) stock, which surged by 10% shortly after the market opened on Thursday. The company reported a 74% increase in net income for the quarter, reaching $460 million, or 25 cents per share, bringing its total fiscal year earnings close to $5 billion. Disney anticipates high single-digit growth in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the upcoming fiscal year, with double-digit growth expected in fiscal 2026 and 2027, which end in September of those respective years.

U.S. wholesale inflation accelerated more than anticipated in October, signaling ongoing price pressures at the producer level. The Producer Price Index (PPI), which gauges the average change in prices experienced by producers and manufacturers, experienced a 0.2% increase on a month-to-month basis and a 2.4% rise for the 12-month period ending in October. This marks a pickup from September, where the monthly increase was a mere 0.1%, and the yearly growth was 1.9%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Thursday. Analysts anticipated a rise in prices, largely due to base effects from the same period last year when wholesale inflation decelerated significantly, and even recorded outright price drops.

The European Union has imposed a substantial penalty of €798 million (equivalent to $840 million) on Meta Platforms, citing the company's exploitative tactics that favored Facebook Marketplace. In a formal announcement, the European Commission declared that Meta had violated EU antitrust regulations by integrating its online classified advertising platform, Facebook Marketplace, with its personal social networking service, Facebook, and by enforcing inequitable trading conditions on competing online classified advertising platforms. Meta, which is listed as META, has indicated its intention to contest the ruling, but in the interim, it has committed to adhere to the decision and to expedite the development and implementation of a solution that addresses the concerns raised by the European Commission. This action by the European Commission follows two years of allegations that the American technology conglomerate had provided its classified advertising service, Facebook Marketplace, with an undue advantage by combining the two services.

A recent legal development has brought Kraft Heinz into the spotlight as a federal judge has ruled that the company must confront a proposed nationwide class action lawsuit. The suit alleges that Kraft Heinz has been misleading consumers by asserting that its iconic Kraft macaroni and cheese product is free from artificial preservatives. In a ruling on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland determined that the consumers from Illinois, California, and New York who initiated the legal action have presented a plausible case. They claim that Kraft Mac & Cheese contains a synthetic version of citric acid, which is distinct from the natural form, as well as sodium phosphates. According to the judge, the plaintiffs have specifically contended that these ingredients act as preservatives, thereby rendering Kraft Heinz's label claim of "No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives or Dyes" to be false. They have bolstered their argument with academic research and guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Judge Rowland stated, "These allegations are sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss," in her written decision.

Automotive giant Ford has been hit with a substantial penalty of up to $165 million by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for its sluggish response in recalling vehicles equipped with defective rearview cameras. This decision follows a three-year-long investigation initiated by the NHTSA to ascertain whether Ford's 2020 recall of 600,000 cars, concerning non-compliant rearview cameras, was unduly delayed. Reports from drivers in that year indicated that the cameras would intermittently display a blank screen.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicated on Thursday that although further interest rate reductions are anticipated, the extent of these decreases may not be as significant in the coming months. Powell's comments suggested that additional rate cuts are probable due to the sustained economic trends and dynamics, including a decelerating job market and subdued inflation, exacerbated by interest rates that remain at levels considered restrictively high. Maintaining borrowing costs at these elevated levels could potentially lead to an increase in unemployment. "We are progressively aligning our policy towards a more neutral stance," Powell stated in his prepared remarks for an event in Dallas. "The current economic indicators do not suggest an urgent need to reduce rates rapidly." Following Powell's speech, U.S. stocks experienced a broad decline.

Satirical news platform The Onion has emerged victorious in the auction for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars, a platform that was put up for sale to settle a defamation claim stemming from Jones' false assertions that the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy was a hoax. The Onion's winning bid was supported by the families of eight victims of the school shooting and one first responder. Additionally, The Onion secured an exclusive advertising partnership with the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. The news of The Onion's participation in the auction was initially reported by another outlet. However, a federal judge in Texas has called for a hearing to scrutinize The Onion's acquisition process after Jones and his legal team raised concerns about the auction's conduct. Jones was previously mandated to compensate the families of the Sandy Hook victims to the tune of $1.5 billion, yet he has been reluctant to fulfill this financial obligation, despite court documents indicating ongoing substantial monthly expenditures. The auction included a wide range of assets, from the platform's studio equipment and online dietary supplement store to a Terradyne armored truck, social media accounts, and even a Winnebago motorhome, all aimed at satisfying the settlement debts. The exact amount of The Onion's bid remains undisclosed.

On Thursday, the stock market witnessed a significant decline in the shares of leading vaccine manufacturers following the announcement by President-elect Donald Trump that he had chosen Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the role of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

A Dutch appellate tribunal has determined that Royal Dutch Shell is not required to make substantial cuts to its greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2030, a decision that environmental campaigners view as a setback in the battle against climate change. The ruling, which came as the COP29 climate conference commenced in Baku, Azerbaijan, reversed a prior judgment that had mandated significant reductions in carbon emissions for the multinational oil and gas corporation. Shell's CEO, Wael Sawan, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, stating, "We believe this is the right outcome for the global energy transition, the Netherlands, and Shell as a company." This appeal overturned a 2021 ruling that had ordered Shell to reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030, relative to 2019 levels, encompassing both direct emissions from its operations and those from the sale of energy products.

Red Lobster, a seafood dining institution, is set to reintroduce its iconic hush puppies to its menu, a move that comes amidst a series of strategic changes following the restaurant chain's emergence from bankruptcy. Under the guidance of its new 35-year-old CEO, Damola Adamolekun, Red Lobster is aiming to revitalize its brand and regain its former glory. This week sees the launch of a revamped menu, which, despite being 20% smaller, boasts nine new additions, including the much-missed cornmeal fritters. "There was an uproar on social media when we removed the hush puppies a few years back," Adamolekun shared with NBC News. "I anticipate a rush of customers eager to enjoy the return of this classic dish," he humorously added. The new menu also introduces bacon-wrapped scallops, lobster bisque, lobster pappardelle, and a Parmesan-crusted chicken dish. Red Lobster is also working on a new tartar sauce that aims to recapture the essence of its original recipe, as announced on their Facebook page. Efforts have been made to reach out to Red Lobster for further details on these updates.

The conclusion of Boeing's eight-week-long strike involving 33,000 employees marks the end of an immediate crisis. However, the company still grapples with more profound issues, such as substantial financial losses, quality control, and safety concerns, which persist and may intensify. The return of the last batch of striking workers on Tuesday signifies a step forward, yet it is anticipated that it will take several weeks for the production of aircraft to resume at pre-strike levels, with the company cautioning that a smooth transition is not guaranteed. Boeing's CEO, Kelly Ortberg, had previously warned investors about the challenges of resuming operations, emphasizing that a swift recovery is not on the horizon. The financial repercussions have been stark, with nearly $40 billion in losses since 2019, highlighting the precarious state of affairs even before the strike.

Maverik, a prominent convenience store chain, has announced plans to rebrand its recently acquired competitor, Kum & Go, under the Maverik name. This strategic move aims to consolidate the two companies' extensive retail presence into a single, unified brand. The transition is expected to mark the end of Kum & Go's 49-year-old moniker, which has often been the subject of humorous commentary due to its unintended double entendre. A spokesperson for Maverik has stated that the company is committed to a thoughtful and gradual rebranding process, focusing on a market-by-market approach to ensure optimal customer experience before finalizing the rebrand in each state. The exact timeline for the complete phase-out of the Kum & Go name has not been disclosed.

In the spring of 2021, amidst widespread celebrations of the economic rebound from the pandemic, it was Larry Summers who raised a cautionary flag to the White House and Washington, D.C., warning of the potential perils of inflation.His foresight was vindicated as price surges swept through the U.S. economy, burdening consumers and compelling the Federal Reserve to escalate interest rates to their highest levels in decades.

Last week, KFC took legal action against Church’s Texas Chicken, alleging that the latter infringed upon KFC's trademark rights by incorporating the term "Original Recipe" into its marketing efforts. KFC's lawsuit, filed in the US District Court in Texas, claimed that Church’s began using the phrase without authorization from September 30, disregarding KFC's cease-and-desist letter dated October 24.

With President-elect Donald Trump's anticipated return to the White House, the potential for significant alterations to the Federal Reserve's operations looms large. However, a more pressing issue has emerged: whether the central bank will continue to function at all. Elon Musk, a prominent Trump supporter expected to wield considerable influence in shaping Trump's policies, has sparked debate by reposting a message from Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah on social media platform X, advocating for the abolition of the Federal Reserve.

On a Wednesday morning, the controversial media empire of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, known as Infowars, is scheduled to be auctioned off in a court-ordered sale. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, a bid in the seven-figure range has already been placed, with the bidder being described as an "ally" of Jones who wishes for Jones to continue his broadcasts on the Infowars platform under new ownership. The identity of the bidder remains undisclosed. Jones has repeatedly stated that his supporters are placing bids on his company, which is being sold to help cover the over $1 billion in damages he owes to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. Jones was found guilty of defamation by juries in Texas and Connecticut for using his Infowars platform to falsely claim that the massacre was a hoax.