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Business news, market updates, and economic developments
In 2026, key topics affecting the economy include changes in AI, tax cuts, trade policies, and leadership at the Federal Reserve. President Trump's policy actions and AI investments may significantly impact economic growth. Upcoming decisions, such as Supreme Court rulings and new Federal Reserve leadership, add elements of uncertainty.
Key Facts
AI investments are a major focus in the economy, with debates about their impact on jobs and productivity.
The "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act," signed by President Trump, could boost economic growth with tax cuts affecting individuals and corporations.
The Supreme Court is set to rule on President Trump's ability to impose tariffs, which may change trade dynamics and fiscal revenues.
Changes at the Federal Reserve are pending, with President Trump emphasizing a preference for lower interest rates in appointing the next Fed chair.
Federal spending on immigration enforcement is increasing due to recent legislation.
AI spending has supported economic growth and lifted the stock market in 2025.
The effects of AI and other policies on the economy may not fully unravel until after 2026.
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Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen warned that the increasing national debt of the United States might hinder policymakers' ability to address other financial challenges. She highlighted a risk called "fiscal dominance," where the central bank might be pressured to keep interest rates low to help manage the country's debt. This situation could interfere with the Federal Reserve's duties to control inflation and support employment.
Key Facts
Janet Yellen spoke about the risks of rising national debt at a panel discussion on the "Future of the Fed."
The U.S. national debt surpassed $38 trillion in late 2025.
The Congressional Budget Office projects the debt could reach $50 trillion within a decade.
High national debt could lead to "fiscal dominance," pressuring the Fed to keep interest rates low.
Keeping rates low might limit the Fed's ability to manage inflation and employment effectively.
There have been tensions between President Trump and the Federal Reserve over interest rates.
The U.S. had its credit rating downgraded by Moody’s due to large fiscal deficits and rising interest costs.
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A Chick-fil-A location in Orem, Utah, posted on Facebook to celebrate a gay couple's wedding, which led to mixed reactions from customers. Some people supported the post and said it gave them a positive view of the restaurant, while others criticized it, saying it did not align with their beliefs about the company's Christian values.
Key Facts
The Chick-fil-A location in Orem, Utah, posted a Facebook message celebrating the marriage of a gay couple, Dougie and Toby.
Chick-fil-A is known for its Christian values, and some people consider it a conservative company.
Some customers supported the Facebook post, expressing happiness and saying it might make them more likely to visit the chain.
Other customers criticized the post, believing it didn't fit with their understanding of Chick-fil-A's Christian foundation.
Chick-fil-A has faced past controversies, including donations to groups seen as anti-LGBTQ+.
The company announced in 2019 it would change its charity focus to education, homelessness, and hunger.
The restaurant chain is made up of various independent owners who manage their locations and engage with the community as they choose.
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A lawsuit claims that McDonald's misleads consumers with the branding of its McRib sandwich, saying it contains no actual pork rib meat. The case, filed in Illinois, seeks to represent all McRib buyers in the U.S. as a group in court. The lawsuit could influence how courts handle consumer protection cases involving fast-food branding and ingredient disclosure.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed on December 23, 2025, in Illinois.
Plaintiffs want the case to cover all McRib buyers in the U.S., potentially as a class-action lawsuit.
The complaint says the McRib does not actually contain pork rib meat, which the name implies.
According to McDonald's, the McRib is made with 100% seasoned boneless pork.
McDonald's denies using ingredients like pork hearts, tripe, or scalded stomach in the McRib.
The legal case will examine if fast-food product names can mislead consumers.
If the lawsuit moves forward, the court will decide on the collective representation of consumers based on shared legal issues.
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A class action lawsuit filed in Illinois claims McDonald's misleads customers about the McRib sandwich's pork content. The plaintiffs argue the name and shape imply it contains real rib meat, while McDonald’s states it uses 100% pork from U.S. sources. If the lawsuit is successful, past customers may receive compensation.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed on December 23, 2025, in Illinois.
Plaintiffs argue the McRib misleads people into thinking it has rib meat.
McDonald's denies the claims, stating the McRib uses 100% pork.
McDonald’s claims transparency in its ingredient use.
The McRib sandwich costs between $4.49 and $5.99, depending on the location.
If the lawsuit wins, customers who bought a McRib in the past four years might get compensation.
The McRib is often offered for limited times, boosting demand through scarcity.
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A large fund is being raised to develop oil projects in Venezuela after the capture of Nicolas Maduro. The Amos Global Energy Management fund, led by former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri, has identified Venezuelan assets and is looking for investors. The U.S. government has signaled support for American companies to participate in restoring Venezuela's oil production.
Key Facts
Ali Moshiri, former Chevron executive, is leading a $2 billion fund for Venezuelan oil projects.
The fund aims to develop 20,000-50,000 barrels of oil per day and 500,000 barrels of reserves from Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA.
President Trump's administration supports U.S. companies' involvement in Venezuela's oil sector after Maduro's capture.
Venezuela has reportedly larger oil reserves than Saudi Arabia, but its industry needs significant investment.
Extracting Venezuela's heavy oil reserves is expensive and requires major capital.
Chevron is currently the only major U.S. company operating in Venezuela since other companies left in 2007.
Investors are cautious due to the need for regulatory and contractual certainty in Venezuela.
Other investors, like Harold Hamm, have shown interest but have not yet made definite plans to invest.
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In 2026, the U.S. is expected to face weaker job growth and higher inflation despite stronger economic growth, according to economist Mark Zandi from Moody's Analytics. This comes after a slowdown in the labor market in 2025 and is influenced by policies such as increased tariffs and restrictive immigration measures. While there is optimism for GDP growth, employment challenges remain.
Key Facts
Economist Mark Zandi predicts weaker job growth and higher inflation in 2026.
The U.S. economy is expected to grow faster in 2026 than in 2025.
Factors contributing to the weaker job market include restrictive immigration policies and increased tariffs.
Inflation is expected to rise due to delayed effects of higher tariffs.
Artificial intelligence has contributed positively to economic growth.
The U.S. experienced a labor market slowdown in the second half of 2025.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported a 4.3% GDP growth rate in Q3 of 2025.
President Donald Trump faces scrutiny over economic handling amid these conditions.
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Starbucks will end its 2025 holiday menu in January 2026, making way for new winter items. The winter menu will introduce caramel protein drinks and pistachio flavors, starting on January 6, 2026. Rumors suggest a broader selection of themed drinks and bakery items will appear in February.
Key Facts
Starbucks' 2025 holiday menu launched on November 6, 2025.
The holiday menu includes drinks like the Caramel Brûlée Latte and Peppermint Mocha.
Holiday items will phase out in early January, depending on store supplies.
The 2026 winter menu starts on January 6, 2026.
New winter items include caramel protein drinks and pistachio flavors.
February might bring new themed drinks and bakery items, focusing on matcha and berry.
Starbucks has yet to officially confirm February's menu changes.
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President Trump sees potential for American oil companies to help rebuild Venezuela's oil industry. The U.S. is interested in Venezuela's large oil reserves and wants them controlled by a friendly government. However, U.S. companies are cautious about investing due to political and security concerns.
Key Facts
President Trump wants U.S. companies to help rebuild Venezuela's oil industry.
Venezuela has large oil reserves, but they are currently controlled by a government opposed to U.S. interests.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the importance of Venezuela's oil for U.S. policy.
U.S. companies are hesitant due to Venezuela's unstable political situation.
Investment in Venezuela depends on political stability and U.S. government guarantees.
Chevron is the only major U.S. company still operating in Venezuela.
Other companies like Exxon and ConocoPhillips left Venezuela around two decades ago.
There is potential for increased oil production if conditions become favorable.
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The CEO of the American clothing company Origin spoke out after Nicolás Maduro, a Venezuelan politician, was photographed wearing one of their hoodies. Maduro, who faces charges related to drug trafficking, was seen in New York City under DEA custody. The company's CEO commented on the symbolic nature of an individual like Maduro wearing their product.
Key Facts
Nicolás Maduro was seen wearing an Origin hoodie when he arrived in New York City under DEA custody.
Maduro was indicted for "narco-terrorism" charges by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Origin's CEO, Pete Roberts, noted the irony of Maduro wearing a product from an American company focused on reviving U.S. manufacturing.
Roberts discussed the impact of losing manufacturing jobs in American communities, leading to social issues such as narcotics use.
John Gretton "Jocko" Willink Jr., co-owner of Origin, also shared the photo of Maduro wearing the hoodie on social media.
Origin's hoodie seen on Maduro is not available for immediate purchase and is set to ship in spring.
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Amazon will pay $2.5 billion in a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for enrolling customers in Prime memberships using questionable tactics. As part of the settlement, Amazon is sending refunds to eligible Prime customers across the U.S. Customers began receiving payments in November 2025.
Key Facts
Amazon reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC.
The FTC claimed Amazon used deceptive methods to sign up customers for Prime and made it hard for them to cancel.
Of the settlement amount, $1.5 billion will go to Prime customers as refunds.
Automatic refunds started on November 12, 2025, and continued until December 24, 2025.
Eligible customers received emails to choose either PayPal or Venmo for refunds, or they will get checks in the mail.
Refunds are available for customers who enrolled in Prime between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025, under certain conditions.
Refunds could be up to $51, the cost of an annual Prime membership.
Amazon will make changes to improve transparency in the subscription process.
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A bluefin tuna was sold for a record 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million) at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market. The buyer was Kiyomura Corp, a sushi chain operator, whose president, Kiyoshi Kimura, often bids high at these auctions.
Key Facts
A bluefin tuna was auctioned for 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million) in Tokyo.
The auction took place at Toyosu fish market, known for high-price auctions.
Kiyomura Corp, which runs the sushi chain Sushi Zanmai, made the winning bid.
Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Corp, is called the "Tuna King" for his high bids.
Previous records set by Kimura include a 333.6 million yen bid in 2019.
The auction typically attracts both high bidders and tourists.
The auctioned tuna is intended to be served at Kimura’s restaurants.
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The article discusses the potential for a universal basic income (UBI) in the United States amid the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI). It highlights the financial challenges of implementing UBI and compares it to past debates and experiments in places like Alaska. President Trump emphasizes the U.S. goal to lead in AI development, influencing the UBI discussion.
Key Facts
Discussions about guaranteed income surfaced prominently during college debates in the U.S. in the late 1960s.
President Trump has stated that the U.S. will make significant efforts to lead in AI.
Alaska has tested a form of guaranteed income through its oil-fund dividend.
U.S. companies spent over $1 trillion on stock buybacks in the past year.
AI spending by major tech companies hit a quarterly record of $142 billion.
Some experts argue that UBI could decrease job motivation, while others see it as beneficial.
The cost of Andrew Yang's UBI proposal is estimated to be between $2.8 trillion and $3.0 trillion annually.
Critics warn that UBI might lead to higher costs in sectors like housing if not managed properly.
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Gold prices increased after the United States captured Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, causing worries about geopolitical risks. People moved their money into "safe-haven" assets like gold and silver, leading to a rise in their prices. President Donald Trump expressed intentions to use Venezuela's oil, but experts believe this won't quickly change energy prices.
Key Facts
The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. led to higher gold prices.
Gold was up about 1.8% in Monday morning Asian trading, reaching around $4,408 an ounce.
Silver prices also rose by close to 3.5%.
President Trump plans to utilize Venezuela's oil reserves.
Experts say fixing Venezuela's oil infrastructure would cost billions.
Venezuela's oil production is low, contributing only about 1% to global output.
Stock markets in Asia-Pacific saw gains, unaffected by Venezuela's situation.
Japan's Nikkei 225 rose by 2.6% on the year's first trading day.
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Newsweek, in partnership with Statista, is conducting a survey to identify the best maternity hospitals in the United States for 2026. This annual ranking will evaluate hospitals based on feedback from medical professionals and publicly available data regarding patient experiences. The survey will collect data until February 2, 2026.
Key Facts
Newsweek and Statista are evaluating America's Best Maternity Hospitals for 2026.
The survey targets hospitals providing top quality maternity, prenatal, and postpartum care.
They will use feedback from hospital managers and medical professionals.
The survey will also use publicly available hospital data about patient experiences.
The period for submitting survey responses ends on February 2, 2026.
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India is exploring the option to build passenger jets domestically. It recently signed a deal with Russia to manufacture the SJ-100 aircraft in India. However, the plan faces several challenges, including questions about cost, feasibility, and logistics.
Key Facts
India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world.
IndiGo and Air India are the major airlines in India and have ordered nearly 1,500 planes in the next decade.
India and Russia signed an agreement to manufacture the SJ-100 passenger plane in India.
The SJ-100 aircraft is a twin-engine plane carrying up to 103 passengers and is used by Russian airlines.
Western sanctions have affected the aircraft production in Russia by limiting spare parts supply.
India has tried to domestically manufacture passenger planes since the 1950s with limited success.
Past projects like the Saras and Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) have faced delays and challenges.
Experts cite the lack of domestic demand, skilled labor, and a small manufacturing infrastructure as challenges.
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President Donald Trump has a plan to boost U.S. involvement in Venezuela's oil industry by encouraging American companies to invest billions to improve the country's oil infrastructure. Venezuela has large oil reserves, but produces much less oil compared to its potential due to infrastructure and political issues. Experts say that the plan faces many challenges and would take a very long time and a lot of money to make a real impact.
Key Facts
President Trump wants U.S. oil companies to invest in Venezuela, which has the largest oil reserves in the world.
Venezuela's oil output has significantly decreased since the early 2000s.
U.S. companies, like Chevron, still operate in Venezuela but have reduced their operations due to U.S. sanctions.
Venezuela's oil is "heavy, sour," making it difficult to refine; the U.S. mainly produces "light, sweet" oil.
Legal and political hurdles, including requiring government agreements, are major barriers to Trump's plan.
Experts warn it could take tens of billions of dollars and up to a decade to restore Venezuela's oil production.
The International Energy Agency reported Venezuela produced about 860,000 barrels per day as of November.
Analysts believe Trump's plan would have little immediate impact on global oil prices due to the lengthy timeline and obstacles involved.
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James Cameron's new movie, "Avatar: Fire and Ash," hit over $1 billion at the box office. It is Cameron's fourth film to reach this milestone. The movie earned $306 million in the U.S. and $777.1 million internationally.
Key Facts
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" is now the fourth James Cameron movie to surpass $1 billion in box office sales.
The film has made $306 million from U.S. ticket sales.
It has also earned $777.1 million outside the U.S., making the total $1.083 billion.
It took 18 days for the movie to pass the $1 billion mark.
Previous "Avatar" films reached the $1 billion milestone faster, with the first film taking 17 days and "Avatar: The Way of Water" taking 14 days.
The original "Avatar" is the highest-grossing movie ever, making $2.93 billion, and its sequel "Avatar: The Way of Water" earned $2.343 billion.
If "Avatar: Fire and Ash" does well, Cameron could have four out of the five top-grossing films in history.
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In the East of England, many people are using food banks, indicating ongoing cost of living challenges. Measures in the recent budget might impact the economy, with changes like raising the minimum wage and removing some energy taxes. Business owners, like those in the hospitality sector, express concerns over rising costs and their ability to survive financially.
Key Facts
Over 330,000 people used food banks in the East of England last year.
Food bank usage indicates ongoing financial difficulties, affecting even teachers, police officers, and nurses.
The recent budget includes measures like raising the minimum wage and removing certain energy taxes.
Business confidence is currently low in the East of England, according to local chambers of commerce.
Hospitality business owners report increased expenses due to rising minimum wage and business rates.
The food bank co-director expects changes from the budget to take time to impact people's finances.
A Treasury spokesperson highlighted measures like freezing rail fares to help with the cost of living.
Industry body Hospitality UK expects that average business rates will nearly double over three years.
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The British plush toy brand Jellycat has become very popular in China, particularly during the pandemic. The toys, originally aimed at children, have found a large market among young adults in China who buy them for comfort.
Key Facts
Stella Huang started collecting Jellycat plush toys during the pandemic and now owns 120 of them.
Jellycat toys were originally for children but became popular with young adults in China seeking comfort.
The Amuseable line of toys features faces on items like boiled eggs and toilet rolls.
Jellycat entered the Chinese market in 2015 and increased its focus during the pandemic.
The company used pop-up store events and local cultural references, like teapot plushies, to attract buyers.
In 2024, Jellycat's revenue increased by two-thirds to £333 million.
The collectable-toy market in China is expected to reach 110 billion yuan in 2024.
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