Author: Felix Richter
Rise of the robots: The global operational stock of industrial robots
While more and more consumers enjoy the convenience of having a robot vacuum their home or take care of the lawn, it is in industrial applications …
Nintendo’s highscores
If there was a prize for boldness in the video game industry, Nintendo would certainly be a serial winner. After failing miserably to replicate the success …
U.S. consumers spend more bucks for the same bang
U.S. retail sales declined for the first time since March last month, as Americans cut back spending on big-ticket items such as cars, furniture and building …
U.S. consumer debt climbs to $17.3 trillion
According to the New York Fed’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, total household debt in the United States grew by $228 billion in the …
Out of office: Global office space vacancies at record high
Fresh rumors about a possible bankruptcy of WeWork sent shockwaves around the commercial real estate market last week, leaving office landlords around the world trembling with …
Is Christmas going to be less jolly for Americans because of inflation?
With everything that’s going on in the world, be it the war in Ukraine, the violent response to Iran’s protest movement, or, more domestically, the …
Despite inflation, Americans still shelling out for this fancy Starbucks drink
In another sign that consumers keep spending money, undeterred by inflation, Starbucks reported record sales for its fourth fiscal quarter that ended October 2. The world’s largest …
The shocking number of Americans who get their news from social media
Despite several studies finding that social media is rife with misinformation and widespread consensus that foreign actors tried to use social media to influence the past two …
Adidas has 99 problems & Kanye is one
Ending a successful partnership dating back all the way to 2013, Adidas announced today that it’s cutting all ties with Kanye West, effective immediately. The …
Refinance boom dies down as mortgage rates soar
For large parts of the past two years, mortgage refinancing has been booming, as historically low mortgage rates and surging home prices created an opportunity …
Is America falling out of love with the NFL?
While baseball is often referred to as “America’s favorite pastime,” the NFL has long surpassed the MLB as the nation’s favorite professional sports league. For …
Americans plan on spending less on these things because of inflation
While Wall Street celebrated the slight cooling of inflation in July, the latest reading won’t be enough to ease the financial pressure on millions of households …
9 things Americans say they can’t afford because of inflation
With inflation at the highest level since 1981 and wages not keeping pace, many Americans are struggling to make ends meet. And while a fresh poll from Morning Consult and …
Here’s where people are spending the most on summer vacations
As summer solstice marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern hemisphere, holiday season is quickly approaching. After two summers with subdued travel due …
This region of the world apparently doesn’t like chocolate
Everybody loves chocolate, right? Well, not everybody, at least not to the same degree. According to data from Statista’s Global Consumer Outlook, there’s a huge gulf …
Record number of guns seized at US airports last year
TSA agents at U.S. airports make unusual finds every day but some truly stand out. The Transport Security Administration published its list of the most unusual items …
Most Americans are (begrudgingly) back in the office
As society is gradually moving away from pandemic restrictions and protective measures, companies in the United States and internationally are, some more gently than others, …
These Americans are suffering paycuts as inflation soars
Despite the Fed’s most aggressive interest rate hike since 2000, consumer prices continued to surge in May, adding to fears that inflation may be out …
How big a bite is inflation really taking out of American savings?
As prices for everyday purchases continue to surge in the United States, many families struggle to make ends meet. And even among those who manage …
The No. 1 issue Americans are worried about right now
As inflation creeped up to the highest level in more than 40 years in recent months, the issue of rising costs of living has also …
Bear market: How deep is your financial loss?
In response to June 10’s worse-than-expected inflation reading, which makes another drastic rate hike a foregone conclusion ahead of this week’s Fed meeting, stocks were …
Gas prices soar to a new high in the US … again
Americans are plagued by inflation in many different way, but gas prices must be one of the worst headaches. The price of one gallon of …
The No. 1 thing making Americans feel safe traveling during Covid
When a federal court struck down the mask mandate in public transportation settings last month, the initial reaction was split. While many applauded the decision, happy …
Here’s why new home sales are plunging across the US
Sales of new single-family houses dropped for the fourth consecutive month in the United States, as potential home buyers face a perfect storm of unfavorable conditions. …
Don’t plan on inflation cooling down any time soon. Here’s why
In face of the highest inflation in 40 years, the Federal Reserve announced another widely expected rate hike last Wednesday. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) …
Looking to buy a home? Not so fast
Americans looking to buy a house are currently facing an almost perfect storm of unfavorable conditions. Not only is it hard to find a home, but it …
Do Americans really share their Netflix passwords?
One of the factors identified by Netflix as a driver of its latest subscriber slowdown is the widespread practice of account sharing. In addition to …
Mask mandates led to rise in ‘unruly’ passengers
The Transport Security Administration stopped enforcing the Biden administration’s mask mandate on planes, trains and other forms of public transportation after a federal judge struck it down. In …
Has global air travel bounced back since the pandemic began?
While few industries have been spared by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, even fewer have been hit as hard as the tourism sector. As 2021 …
Mortgage rates are at a 13-year high. Here’s why
Mortgage rates in the United States continued their steep climb last week, adding to the woes of would-be home buyers that are already facing historically high …
