The nation’s gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday, weaker than economists expected and a sign the Iran war is hurting growth. Economists polled by Reuters predicted GDP would rise at an annualized rate of 2.1% for April to June. GDP measures the…
The Federal Trade Commission sued Hims & Hers on Wednesday, alleging the telehealth platform shared customers’ health information with third-party platforms, including Meta and Snap, without their consent. The complaint, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California, alleged that Hims & Hers shared the data despite promising to protect consumers’ privacy. “Hims…
More airlines are banning humanoid and pet-like robots from boarding flights or traveling in passengers’ checked luggage, citing potential safety concerns. Although humanoid robots remain rare outside the laboratory and even the factory floor, numerous companies are developing the technology, with robot evangelists such as Elon Musk predicting that they will eventually become common. Earlier…
The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that it is leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged, a sign policymakers expect inflation to ebb despite higher energy costs due to the war in Iran. This marks the fifth consecutive time the central bank has held rates steady this year. The last time Fed officials voted to change…
Several schools in three states will launch the new academic year with a new security measure: drones equipped with pepper spray, strobe lights and other features that their manufacturer says can be used against an active shooter within seconds. The schools, located in Colorado, Florida and Georgia, will be the first to add drones from…
President Trump gave his 2026 State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, during which he addressed, among other topics, the economy — an urgent topic of concern for millions of Americans who say they’re worried about everything from the price of food to spiraling health care costs. The president touted his work during his…
Tomatoes are the latest popular food to take a bite out of consumer wallets, joining items like coffee, bananas and beef. As of April, government data shows the fruit’s prices were up nearly 40% from a year ago, compared with 17% for food costs overall. Across the U.S., tomatoes cost an average of $2.69 a pound, a…
Millions of Canadians shunned traveling to the U.S. last year, choosing to take more trips within the country and overseas, Canadian government data shows. Visits by Canadians to the U.S. in 2025 fell roughly 25%, resulting in billions less in tourism spending, according to the report. Canadians spent $13.3 billion in the U.S. last year, down from…
As back-to-school season approaches, families will face higher prices for supplies and other costs for the upcoming academic year, a new analysis found. The cost of a typical basket of school items, including notebooks, lunch boxes and index cards, is up nearly 8% this year compared to 2025, according to research from The Century Foundation, a…
Tornadoes, hail and powerful winds linked to climate change now pose a bigger threat to homeowners than floods, hurricanes and other forms of extreme weather, according to new research. In 2025, insurance payouts from “severe convective storms” (SCS) surpassed those resulting from cyclones, making them the costliest insured natural disasters in the world, climate risk…
