Business

Planet Money's 'The Indicator': The life and death spirals of social networks

5:18am August 11, 2023

Meta's new social media platform Threads had a rocket-like start when it launched a month ago as a challenger to X, formerly known as Twitter. But it's hard to tell which platform will dominate.

A pint of beer is poured at Pressure Drop Brewery, in north London, in 2022.

World News

Beer in Britain's pubs just got cheaper, thanks to changes in the alcohol tax

5:02am August 11, 2023

by Fatima Al-Kassab

The U.K. has lowered taxes on draft beers in pubs, in what it's calling its biggest shakeup to alcohol tax in a century. But taxes on other alcoholic beverages are rising, so not everyone is cheering.

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Bond yields remain high this year after a miserable 2022 in debt markets. That's raising borrowing costs such as interest rate payments for credit cards.

Economy

Why the sell-off in bond markets could impact you

5:00am August 11, 2023

by David Gura

The bond markets are being hit hard by the Fed's aggressive rate hikes and recent events including a downgrade of the country's ratings. These are three ways in which that could impact the U.S.

The latest inflation report is reinforcing hopes about a soft landing in the economy — or when inflation eases without sparking a downturn.

Economy

Here's where inflation stands today — and why it's raising hope about the economy

4:53pm August 10, 2023

Consumer prices rose 3.2% in July from a year ago, higher than the 3% gain seen in June — but it was largely due to math. Overall, inflation continues to ease, raising optimism about the economy.

Yellowstone's later seasons were filmed in Montana.

Hollywood strikes' economic impacts are hitting far beyond LA

4:42pm August 10, 2023

by Tilda Wilson

The writers and actors strikes in Hollywood are affecting jobs across the U.S. The Motion Picture Association says film and TV productions employ more than 1.7 million people outside California.

A woman walks past Coach bags in a store window in New York City in 2017.

Arts

Coach parent Tapestry and Versace owner Capri fashion a $8.5 billion merger

1:46pm August 10, 2023

by Chloe Veltman

The latest megadeal aims to give Tapestry a competitive edge against major European luxury goods conglomerates like Kering and LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

A sign points visitors toward the financial services department at Grady Memorial Hospital, in Atlanta.

Getting clear prices for hospital care could get easier under a proposed rule

10:50am August 10, 2023

by Julie Appleby

The Biden administration wants hospitals to do more to make their prices understandable, so that consumers know in advance what a health care service will cost them.

Inflation has been falling over the last 12 months. July data ended the streak

9:14am August 10, 2023

The Labor Department's new cost of living report showed an uptick in inflation last month — for the first time in a year. The 3.2% jump in consumer prices was within expectations.

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Annual inflation accelerated slightly in July, although the uptick was modest and within expectations.

Economy

Inflation got a little higher in July as prices for rent and gas spiked

8:55am August 10, 2023

by Scott Horsley

Consumer prices rose 3.2% in July from a year ago, up slightly from the 3% annual rise see in June — but still within analyst expectations

U.S. bans some American investments in high-end technology sectors in China

7:20am August 10, 2023

President Biden signed an executive order that will prohibit certain U.S. investments in sensitive technology in China.

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