Target goes crazy over Valentine’s Day sales of rose-colored Stanley mugs.
The desire for Stanley cups is sweeping the globe. Not the hockey kind, either. Ask Target, please. It looks like nothing will say "L-O-V-E" more profoundly to some Valentine's Day revelers this year than an oversized rose-colored stainless steel insulated tumbler. It's clunky and heavy to carry around when filled for "all-day hydration," but it will still go viral in the New Year. Target debuted a special edition Valentine's Day line of Stanley tumblers in vibrant pink and cherry red hues in December. The collection featured a 40-ounce giant mug, two-pack tumblers in adorable packaging that said "It was Love at First Sip," and a Pint-sized stacking beer tumbler. Customers pounced on the merchandise, sometimes quite violently.
US government’s proposal to boost EV sales is challenging but not impossible
The US government intends to modify vehicle pollution regulations in a way that would force automakers to market a greater number of electric vehicles. By 2032, around two-thirds of all new cars sold in the United States will need to be electric. According to Matthias Heck, an industry analyst at Moody's, electric vehicles would have achieved that kind of market share sometime beyond 2035 if not for these regulations. He claimed that although the EPA's aims are achievable, they will not be simple, and significant financial outlays will be required. Heck noted that the plan is still only that—a proposal—and that it may change before it is approved. Things will shift significantly over the next ten years, including the infrastructure for charging.
Apple is no longer selling the newest Apple Watch in America after the White House declines to overturn ban
The clock has wound down on the newest Apple Watch after the White House declined to issue a last-minute, emergency action to keep the best-selling smartwatch on store shelves. The Biden White House had until the end of Christmas day to overturn a US International Trade Commission ruling that prevents Apple from importing the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, among other newer models, because they violate patents registered to another company. But, as expected, it did not intervene. The office of US Trade Representative Katherine Tai confirmed the decision in a statement Tuesday. “After careful consultations, Ambassador Tai decided not to reverse the ITC’s determination and the ITC’s decision became final on December 26, 2023,” Tai’s office said.
Verizon settled a proposed $100 million lawsuit. Here’s how to get your share
Perhaps this week, some Verizon customers received an unexpected surprise in the mail: a chance to get a refund as part of a $100 million settlement offer related to a class-action lawsuit. Due to a lawsuit alleging that Verizon charged fees that were "unfair and not adequately disclosed," eligible customers are receiving postcards or emails advising them to register a claim by April 15 in order to collect up to $100. The plaintiffs claimed that Verizon's "administrative charge" was "misleading" as it was not included in the monthly stated price of their plan and was applied in a "deceptive and unfair manner." In a statement, Verizon maintained that it "clearly identifies and describes its wireless consumer admin charge," refuting the allegations.
The US economy added 216,000 jobs in December
According to figures issued on Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US economy added 216,000 jobs in December, exceeding forecasts and rounding off a year of resilience in the labor market. 3.7% was the unemployment rate that persisted. The unemployment rate was predicted by economists to rise to 3.8% and for December to see net job additions of 160,000. The job market's sustained strength has supported consumer spending and economic expansion. Despite the eleven rate hikes the Federal Reserve has made in the last two years to combat inflation, it has stayed strong. For a long time, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has issued warnings that the labor market needs to slow down from its frantic speed and improve the match between the number of jobs available and the number of.
Inflation isn’t beaten yet. Price rises are accelerating again in Europe
The significant and agonizing issue plaguing Europe's economies over the last two years hasn't entirely gone away. The two largest economies in the European Union, France and Germany, had increases in annual inflation in December. The upward trend in consumer price inflation in the eurozone was confirmed by the first estimate released on Friday, which increased from 2.4% in November to 2.9%. This marked the first increase in the 20 eurozone member states' yearly inflation rate since April 2023. According to EU data, the total rate increased as a result of a far less noticeable year-over-year decline in energy prices, together with further rises in the cost of services, food, alcohol, and tobacco. That might reduce some investors' euphoria over the European Central Bank (ECB)
Vintage images provide a unique look at Mumbai’s red-light area from the 1970s.
The late American photographer was renowned for her ability to make subjects feel comfortable, but initially she had trouble making friends in the infamous red-light district on the outskirts of Mumbai society. She subsequently noted in the foreword to her 1981 book "Falkland Road, Prostitutes of Bombay" that "for ten years I tried to take photographs on Falkland Road and each time (I was) met with hostility and aggression" (Bombay being the name the British gave Mumbai before its name change in 1995). She described her early visits to the most populated city in India in the late 1960s. "The women pinched me and flung water and trash. Men would assemble in droves around me. My address book was once taken by a pickpocket; another time. A reprint of the book with over 70 of Mark's photos was widely praised for bringing attention to the predicament of sex workers, many of whom were forced into prostitution by pimps and madams and were physically and mentally ill. The book was "meant almost as a metaphor for entrapment, for how difficult it is to be a woman," she said in an interview with the New York Times magazine in 1987. President of the Mary Ellen Mark Foundation, Meredith Lue, told me via video conference that the photographer, who had a difficult upbringing, gravitated toward and connected with those who were vulnerable. "These are typically small communities of people, mostly young people or women who have kind of fallen behind or not given much thought."
Experts expect that “others are bound to follow suit” after HSBC became the latest lender to lower mortgage rates.
The UK's average two-year mortgage rate fell to 5.92% on Wednesday, according…
Who is the gaming boss who took the Epic fight to Apple and Google?
Although Fortnite has been profitable for years, the owner of the developer Epic has left even more money on the table by challenging Google and Apple. As a result, the game is no longer available on two of the most well-known gaming platforms worldwide. Each match begins with one hundred participants dreaming of triumph and dressed as their favorite characters; however, only the last person standing declares victory and gets to dance over their rivals. Although his battle is far from done, Tim Sweeney, the head of the studio that created it at Epic, is feeling similarly joyful following a significant court victory over Google, which was fueled by Fortnite's popularity. Since 2017, the game has gained popularity across culture, expanding to include
Interest rate hikes are ‘net positive’ for economy but not everyone
Here's a sentence which might sound a little odd: higher interest rates…
