Week of July 1st, 2019

Plus Cadillac car sales are up in China and what the latest jobs report says about the state of the economy.

While it’s been on a decades-long slide in the U.S., Cadillac sales are booming in China.

A bill to regulate so-called “Teflon” chemicals found in nonstick pans and waterproof clothing is moving quickly through Congress.

The game’s had its moments in the sun before.

The company is currently known for its signature orange smiley face. But it had some growing pains when it came to branding.

Canadian musician Dave Carroll looks back on the viral hit that made United Airlines sit up and listen.

The traditional “water of life” is facing threats from potential U.S. tariffs on top of global competition.

June’s solid job growth followed a tepid gain of 72,000 jobs in May, a result that had fueled concerns about the economy.

People who don’t qualify for traditional mortgages can get “unconventional” loans. But what if the economy slips?

Jobs rebounded in a big way in June. Amazon turns 25. Tariffs are changing the taste of your Scotch.

Amazon opened as an online bookstore. But chief executive Jeff Bezos always wanted to sell more than books.

Who wins and who loses with a lower trade deficit? Amazon turns 25 today. Who is watching the MLB All-Star Game Tuesday?

India wants to double the size of its economy in the next five years. As the U.S. threatens whisky tariffs on Europe, the Scotch association relaxes rules governing how to craft the spirit.

The VR gaming community doesn’t trust Facebook, so they’re skeptical about Oculus purchases.

Some people are opening up about salary with colleagues, whiskey and tariffs do NOT go well together, and much more.

Recent years hadn’t been kind to the industry, and that was before the Jim Beam fire.

Greater transparency around salaries could help close racial and gender pay gaps but can be tricky to navigate.

“I have to have a second job to help support myself,” says Megan Johnson from Lansing, Kansas.

As Amazon turns 25, a look the relationship with one of its biggest target markets: India.

Cryptic product tie-ins for the show have been everywhere in recent months.

According to one farmer, the “new NAFTA” spells disastrous consequences for her family’s business.

The big question: Is the trade war affecting hiring?

Tanks, flyovers and extra policing all add to the tab for a military-themed “Salute to America.”

In the heart of LA’s Thai community, low-income immigrants are getting ready to launch their first businesses in a new food hall.

How did the jobs number hold up during the trade war? India safeguards against Amazon taking advantage of the emerging market. California is helping immigrant businesses thrive.

The National Parks are losing out on some $2.5 million for Trump’s big parade. U.S. farmers don’t see the benefits of the “new NAFTA.” “Stranger Things” stays on brand.

A worsening spat between the U.K. and China could threaten economic ties after Brexit. Nigeria signs up to world’s biggest trade bloc. As Amazon turns 25, a look at its growing influence in India.

While Oculus remains a major VR player, it hasn’t brought huge profits.

Plus: how a lack of affordable housing is driving up the cost of renting and why Ed Sheeran’s latest tour could be the highest-grossing concert series of all time.

But when a studio gives away a plot point in a trailer, it’s not an accident.

More than Taylor Swift. More than Beyoncé. Sheeran’s winning formula comes down — in part — to volume.

Stock movements in after-hours markets get a lot of attention. But trading after markets close can be dangerous for small-time investors.

That means rents are rising, too.

Our new game, “Financial Faceoff” puts one couple’s financial life to the test. Plus, we’ll get an update from the couple in our first episode, Nika and Terence.

U.S. civil servants who collect and analyze statistics are effectively shielded from political pressure.

Prices climbed in the first half of 2019 as more consumers opted for more expensive trucks and SUVs. Overall sales fell.

Matthew Cappucci poured his “hopes and dreams” into one out-of-office response.

It just might be that the American grocery store is the new mall food court.

Bobby Kim, co-founder of The Hundreds, explains why his brand has persevered in the volatile business of fashion in his new book “This Is Not a T-Shirt.”

There could be big personnel changes at the U.S. and European central banks. How will the U.S.-China trade war affect your Fourth of July fireworks display? Decreased state school funding could be partly responsible for rising student debt.

Competition from more “exciting” condiments has spurred new takes on a classic.

A 25% tariff could make those Chinese fireworks a lot more expensive.

In some parts of the country, the issue is supply, while other states see new gas taxes.

In his 32-year career at Ford and then Chrysler, Iacocca helped launch some of Detroit’s best-selling and most significant vehicles, including the minivan, the Chrysler K-cars and the Ford Escort.

Trump floats two replacements for the current Fed chair. Gas ticks up about a nickel per gallon ahead of the holiday weekend. Are “fancier” spreads and sundry sauces ending ketchup’s condiment supremacy?

Is Christine Lagarde, nominated for the ECB’s top job, locked into implementing bond-buying and rate cuts communicated by Mario Draghi? India is dealing with and trying to leverage this year’s monsoon. What’s it like to do business in the politically divided Cyprus capital?

Physicists, engineers and satellites hovering over Earth help predict weather.

This week, we go beyond the headlines and political rhetoric to try and understand daily life in the world’s second-largest economy.

Plus, Christine Lagarde’s appointment as head of the European Central Bank and the local economics behind Nike’s flag shoe recall.

Sheet music submitted to the U.S. Copyright Office might matter more than what a song sounds like.

Two of the largest coal-producing mines in the United States were closed down without warning.

Government incentives and politics don’t always mix.

We might feature you on our brand-new podcast, “This Is Uncomfortable.”

Anheuser-Busch’s parent company goes for the biggest IPO of the year. Investors are looking forward to this week’s jobs numbers. What goes into legally advocating for detained migrants?

Some states and several cities and counties are raising their minimum wages this week

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is reviewing a 2009 rule that regulates how banks charge customers who overdraw their checking accounts.

New fiscal year, new minimum wage. The federal consumer watchdog takes a fresh look a bank overdraft fees. How did Huawei become such a huge player in the telecom world?

China vows again to open up its markets. AB InBev looks to eclipse tech darlings Uber and Lyft as world’s biggest 2019 listing. How the Women’s World Cup has transformed the sport.

The tech giant sells three times more phones than Apple in China. It has developed into a smartphone superpower in the last five years.

Alexa-enabled tech could start telling Amazon all kinds of things … maybe even your mood.

New niche brands from Korean beauty to vegan organic lines are growing faster than mainstays like CoverGirl.

Al Kluis, managing director of Kluis Commodity Advisors, thinks traders won’t see the soybean market turn until there are real orders and action taken.

Plus: what you need to know about the trade truce with China and Taylor Swift’s fight over the rights to her music.

A new report says factory activity barely grew in June, fueling concern about the trade war’s impact on U.S. manufacturing.

Growth is slower this time, and the rich are accruing more of the gains.

Congress is debating multiple proposals that would protect patients from surprise medical bills. But the physician staffing industry is pushing back.

No more shenanigans with that pastel-colored currency.

Investors like this China-U.S. trade truce. California gun owners have been stocking up on ammo. Want to avoid paying luggage fees at the airport? Yeah, so do a lot of enterprising travelers.

People who want to buy bullets will have to pass a background check.

Consumers paid $1.3 billion to check bags in just the first three months of the year, but airfares are at an all-time low.

It’s a movie on a mission.

A new survey shows workers split on their preference for the trendy, but noisy design.

China-U.S. trade talks are back on after the G20, so where does that leave Huawei? Monopoly gets revamped, and that includes no fake cash and a robot banker.

From the BBC World Service… Swiss stocks are barred from trading on E.U. exchanges amid a stalemate in trade negotiations. OPEC eyes another round of production cuts. Plus, Nokia responds after an executive comments on Huawei security.

The law will be going after dishonest bots.