consumers
New York (AFP) - M&M's and Snickers maker Mars said Wednesday that it would acquire snack food business Kellanova, marking a multibillion dollar agreement set to result in a new industry giant. The all-cash transaction would value Kellanova -- which is behind snacks such as Pringles and Pop-Tarts -- at $35.9 billion, including debt. "In welcoming Kellanova's portfolio of growing global brands, we have a substantial opportunity for Mars to further develop a sustainable snacking business that is fit for the future," said Mars chief executive Poul Weihrauch in a statement. The announcement comes ...
AFP
Allentown (United States) (AFP) - The giant steelworks that greets visitors to Allentown, Pennsylvania once symbolized the city's success as an industrial hub. Today, its middle-class residents struggle to overcome the long-term impacts of post-pandemic inflation. Purchasing power is one of the main themes of the US presidential election, and a thorn in the side of Democrats -- especially in this Rust Belt battleground state, which could be one of a handful to decide who wins the White House in November. "Inflation has come down tremendously," said Bill Leiner, a 70-year-old nurse and voluntee...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - Retail sales in the United States slipped less than analysts anticipated in June on a weaker performance in the auto and gas segments, government data showed Tuesday. The slower consumption growth adds to recent data showing that the world's biggest economy is cooling gradually, although there is still some way to go. A downward trend is likely to raise the central bank's confidence that it can soon begin cutting interest rates. To ease demand and bring inflation back down sustainably, the Federal Reserve has rapidly lifted the benchmark lending rate and in recent months, h...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - US retail sales came in below expectations for a second straight month in May as gas station revenues fell sharply, the government said Tuesday, while the data for April was revised lower. The report suggests consumers are spending less than expected, a good sign for the Federal Reserve as it continues its fight to bring elevated inflation down to its long-term target of two percent by keeping interest rates higher. Higher rates raise the cost of borrowing for businesses and consumers, which in turn acts to lower demand and slow the rate at which prices increase. Overall ...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - The US Federal Reserve's favored measure of inflation remained unchanged in April, according to government data published Friday, as services prices remained elevated. The news will likely lead the US central bank to keep interest rates elevated throughout the summer, as it balances a desire to start easing monetary policy with the need to keep inflation falling towards its long-term two percent target. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose at an annual rate of 2.7 percent in April, the Commerce Department said in a statement, while monthly inflation...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - Retail sales in the United States grew more than anticipated last month, government data showed on Monday, defying predictions of weaker consumer demand. US retail sales picked up by 0.7 percent in March to $709.6 billion, after February's increase was revised to 0.9 percent, said the Commerce Department. From a year ago, the March figure was 4.0 percent higher. Boosting the headline figure was a 2.1 percent rise in gas station sales from February to March, said the latest report. Excluding gas stations, overall sales were up by a slightly lower 0.6 percent. But motor vehic...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - US consumer spending warmed slightly in February, according to government data released Thursday, with retail sales regaining ground after an earlier hit from cold weather. Retail sales bounced 0.6 percent last month to $700.7 billion, after January's decline was revised to a wider 1.1 percent, said the Commerce Department. The January drop was the biggest in almost a year, causing some concern. A significant spending slowdown could pour cold water on hopes that consumption continues being a key economic driver. From a year ago, retail sales were up 1.5 percent, said the Com...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - Three Federal Reserve officials called for patience on interest rate cuts Thursday, with one of them suggesting they wanted to see "at least another couple more months of inflation data" before deciding when to start lowering rates. "I still expect it will be appropriate sometime this year to begin easing monetary policy, but the start of policy easing and number of rate cuts will depend on the incoming data," Fed Governor Christopher Waller told a conference in Minneapolis on Thursday in prepared remarks. After lifting interest rates to a 23-year high to tackle runaway infl...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - Retail sales in the United States slipped more than anticipated last month, retreating after the holiday season and bogged down by auto sales and gas prices, government data showed Thursday. The 0.8 percent seasonally adjusted decline went beyond analyst expectations of a 0.2 percent drop, bringing total sales down to $700.3 billion, the Commerce Department said. The slide was the biggest in nearly a year and comes after a strong showing in general for the consumer sector in 2023, which -- helped by labor market resilience -- supported economic growth. A larger than expected...
AFP
Washington (AFP) - The US has seen GDP growth blow past predictions, hiring numbers surge unexpectedly and consumers still spending even as interest rates climbed -- deftly averting a dreaded recession in 2023. While interest rates have hit the highest level in more than two decades, a situation ordinarily accompanied by higher unemployment and a consumption pullback, it has not been the case this time. What accounts for the surprise? 'Value of talent'Low unemployment, wage growth and hiring have underpinned consumers' willingness to spend. The situation stems from turmoil businesses experienc...
AFP
閲覧を続けるには、ノアドット株式会社が「プライバシーポリシー」に定める「アクセスデータ」を取得することを含む「nor.利用規約」に同意する必要があります。
「これは何?」という方はこちら