Week of December 23rd, 2019

Plus: Tesla is set to deliver its first cars built in China, a sleeping pill-induced money horror story and how swimsuit fabric drummed up controversy at the Olympics.

The forthcoming NBCUniversal service, Peacock, could be free and ad-supported … like old-fashioned TV.

The electric vehicle company is avoiding steep import tariffs by building cars in Shanghai.

Sportswear companies risk upsetting fans if their innovations help athletes break records, said author Kassia St. Clair.

A new Netflix series goes behind the scenes with comedian Kevin Hart, one of several celebrities in the crosshairs of “cancel culture” in 2019.

The NASDAQ hits an all-time high. Netflix delves into “cancel culture.” Waiting on infrastructure relief in the Midwest.

A lot of repair and recovery work hasn’t even started yet.

Farm prices are likely to stay low in 2020. How low interest rates negatively affect older people more. Astronomers are concerned about their work as more satellites litter the night sky.

The “Phase 1” trade deal may not make much of an impact on crop prices.

Astronomers are warning that more communications satellites will hinder their work. The co-founder of wearable meditation device Muse explains why consumers are demanding more mental health products. We visit a U.K. soap factory that only hires the disabled.

Money has been flowing in Silicon Valley for years. Do a few botched IPOs signal rougher times ahead?

Of the 47 states, cities and counties raising minimum wages, about half are doing so automatically based on the consumer price index.

By how much shipping costs and the price of diesel will increase is up for debate.

Plus: a look at the state of automatic inflation adjustments in minimum wage, how Saudi Arabia is pushing entrepreneurship, and Pantone’s 2020 color of the year.

Pantone has given its color of the year, “Classic Blue,” its own soundtrack, tea and gin cocktail.

And why a thank you goes a long way.

Fiona Houston co-founded Mara Seaweed five years ago. The company is expanding, but tariffs and geopolitics have been concerning.

In his new book, A.K. Sandoval-Strausz argues that Latino Immigrants played a major role in urban revitalization.

When is comes to holiday buying, what a difference a year makes. Retailers are counting on post-Christmas sales. How a group of enthusiasts is helping preserve Montreal’s neon past.

Reema tries to settle a debt she’s been avoiding. And what happens when one person in a relationship has way more money?

It’s a rescue and restoration mission.

Christmas retail sales get an online bump. One-day free shipping makes a dent in Amazon’s profits. How thanking people for their charitable giving can prompt further donations.

How scandal-hit businesses can bounce back. Somalia and neighboring Ethiopia face food insecurity due to an almost biblical swarm of locusts. On the 15th anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami that devastated parts of South Asia, we find out how a fisherman’s family is faring.

Some retailers look to post-Christmas shopping to revive their fortunes

It costs Amazon more to deliver the average package than you spend on the item itself.

The CEO of Alphabet’s X says no problem in the world is “burning as bright” as the climate crisis.

Spoiler alert: It features a clash between NASA and Playtex, the women’s underwear company.

The trade agreement has passed in the U.S. House, and now moves to the Senate.

Salaried management workers who earn less than $35,568/year will be entitled to overtime pay starting Jan. 1, 2020.

Plus: A look back at the last decade in trade and the last year in China. 

China started 2009 weathering the global financial crisis and ends the decade battling slower economic growth and a trade war with the U.S.

Will Pepsi Cafe join the pantheon of fad soda flavors that are here and quickly gone?

A look at how Fed signaling is expected to affect the markets in the new year. Why managers at Amazon are concerned about the company’s shipping practices. Plus, Toys R Us’s new owners have opened two small brick-and-mortar stores with a focus on online shopping.

A survey found 88% of professionals expect bonuses this year, but not necessarily fairness. Why not everyone can miss work when they’re sick. Plus, a look at the business of the British Christmas staple, the Brussel sprout.

A new survey of professional workers shows mixed feelings over the end-of-year payouts.

In a new survey 90% of professionals said they do it.

Brussels sprouts are big business at Christmas in the UK. We find out how much people spend, and why the tradition has such staying power. Plus, we hear from one company tackling food waste, especially during the holiday season. 

The retailer hopes to gain a competitive edge by offering a unique customer experience in smaller stores.

Being in control of your personal information means you choose to sell it to the company of your choice.

Roasted, sautéed, or boiled, Brussels sprouts are big business at Christmas in the UK. The sprout industry is a nearly $1 billion industry in Britain, and customers tend to pay as much as 30% more this time of year as people rush to stock up. This year, though, Brussels sprout lovers have forked over even […]

It’s the latest trend in marketing, even though it has nothing to do with products.

2019 started out on a down note, with 30-year mortgage rates having spiked just below 5%.

Plus: a climate-conscious Christmas, a look back at the year in retail and one state’s efforts to curb traffic congestion. 

Instant deliveries and ride-sharing.services have increased demand for limited real estate.

What Child is this? It was very un-Disney to leave the wee green one off store shelves this holiday season. Strategists explain why.

And how technology has changed consumer behavior.

Why the SEC is pulling over BMW, a look at the to-do list for Boeing’s new CEO and a look back on the year in international trade. 

A look back on the markets a year ago today, and how neighbors can save the holiday season.

“The bank had shut us down and we didn’t know how we were going to go forward.”

A new survey suggest that 12% of shoppers still buying presents in December are only expecting to finish on Christmas Eve. But does leaving things to the last minute actually save you money?

The return on investment in companies led by all white men is just lower.

It depends! The Christmas tree a potent symbol not just for the season but for the sustainability of many things we buy.

We revisit one of our favorite interviews this year, plus Molly sets her crystal ball toward 2020. Happy holidays!

Some events and businesses are trying to move away from typical portrayals of Santa.

Plus: a chat with the LA mayor, a breakdown of what being a “most-favored-nation” means, and why there’s an overload of packages being delivered to the office.

The company Fashion Nova is facing criticism for its work with factories with poor labor conditions.

It’s thanks to something known as “most-favored-nation” status under international trade agreements.

How is the nation’s second-largest city thinking about its two biggest problems?

As a paralegal, Kelsey Berteaux uses language cautiously. Her out-of-office emails are no exception.

Some employers have banned personal packages.

David Calhoun takes over as CEO. But what next for Boeing?

Americans are more likely to tip people they interact with face-to-face than those that work more behind the scenes.

Oxford Economics says San Francisco will see the fastest economic growth over the next two years among U.S. cities, thanks to its strength in the tech sector.

“It wasn’t a lot,” said Roslyn Imrie, “But it gave me a lot of hope.”

Dennis Muilenburg’s departure comes in the wake of two deadly crashes of its signature 737 MAX planes that claimed 346 lives.

The CEO of Boeing is out. China says it’s cutting tariffs on over 800 categories of imports. Those tiny bottles of shampoo you steal from hotels might soon be a thing of the past. Tesco denies allegations of forced prison labor.

Growth in some of the U.S.’s biggest cities is predicted to slow in 2020. Congress attempts to do something about those annoying robocalls. What a difference $100 can make.

It’s part of a bid for improved sustainability.

China lowers tariffs on more than 850 products to boost trade and domestic spending. Pork producers face huge demand as African swine fever spreads through Asia and causes a shortage. A French factory is testing out a machine that could reduce packaging waste.

A Texas attorney is taking on Facebook’s Section 230 immunity shield, and so far she’s still advancing in the courts.