Americans will be splashing around this summer in the backyard pools they’ve already got, but not splashing out as much on new ones. Swimming pool installations were part of the home improvement frenzy that swept the country during the pandemic as Americans were stuck at home. But recent signs show demand is slowing as households with spending money shift it ...
This is part of NBC News’ Checkbook Chronicles, a series of profiles highlighting the financial realities of everyday Americans. Stefanie Longenecker would love to take advantage of rising wages, a strong job market and the master’s degree she’s still paying off. But she has been sidelined from the workforce by a child care system that has grown inaccessible for many ...
This is part of NBC News’ Checkbook Chronicles, a series of profiles highlighting the financial realities of everyday Americans. Becky Melvin can usually be found on her phone — but not for the reasons many other Americans are. Melvin, 61, of the Jacksonville, Florida, area, was laid off from a nearly six-figure public relations job in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2019. Since ...
The economy added 206,000 jobs last month, according to fresh government data, but unemployment inched above 4% for the first time in over two years. The June jobs report, released Friday morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed somewhat hotter hiring than the 200,000 nonfarm job gains economists had expected. That marked a slowdown since May, whose level was ...
Target will soon stop accepting personal checks as a form of payment at checkout. In a statement to NBC News, the retail giant said it was committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience — but that due to ‘extremely low volumes,’ it would no longer take personal checks starting July 15. It said it has taken several measures to ...
Record summer air travel demand isn’t translating to record U.S. airline profits. Carriers will have to answer for that disconnect when they report quarterly results this month. Some airlines have forecast record demand, and in some cases, revenue. On Sunday, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 3 million people, a one-day record. But higher labor and other costs have eaten into airlines’ ...
After years of investing in self-checkout machines, some major retailers are starting to reverse course. Dollar General said it has eliminated self-checkout options at about 12,000 locations, a majority of its stores, after it began the process in the first quarter this year. Five Below is working to remove self-checkout entirely in some of its “highest-risk” locations. Target also announced ...
Bob’s Stores, a longtime Northeast clothing store chain, announced this week that it is shutting down after it failed to secure financing amid a bankruptcy filing. Through July 14, all remaining Bob’s locations will offer liquidation-level discounts on the stores’ trademark work wear, footwear, team wear and everyday family-oriented clothing. Selected store fixtures, furniture and equipment will also be available ...
Travelers heading out for the July 4 holiday can expect plenty of company this year. Nearly 71 million people will be on the move over July Fourth week, according to AAA — a record that exceeds even pre-pandemic totals. “With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” ...
Searching for ways to lower labor costs, restaurants are hoping that artificial intelligence can take down drive-thru orders — but it will likely be years before the technology becomes widely available. This year, 16% of restaurant operators plan to invest in artificial intelligence, including voice recognition, according to a survey from the National Restaurant Association. Most of the big spending comes ...