[Post 1002] Iconic Singapore Movies That Captured & Shaped Our Culture | On the Red Dot | 1-Hour Special

Summary

The Singaporean identity is ever-evolving, reflecting a nation's quest for pride and purpose. Films serve as a lens for self-reflection, sharing stories that define who we are and the society we live in. 

12 Storeys explores loneliness, alienation, and societal pressures within an HDB block, while Mee Pok Man depicts a hawker's unfulfilled love, symbolising the struggles of those overlooked by progress. Money No Enough and I Not Stupid offer humorous yet poignant insights into societal issues, from financial struggles, societal expectations to the education system’s impact on students and families. Ilo Ilo captures the bond between a family and their domestic helper during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. A Yellow Bird delves into loss and tradition, while Sayang Disayang celebrates the connection between a caregiver and her elderly charge. 

These diverse films capture the essence of Singaporean life, providing a deeper understanding of who we are as a nation.

[Post 1002] How I'm Monetising My Backyard By Building A Granny Flat And Renting It Out | Money Mind | Rental

Summary

Can you make money out of your backyard, by constructing a granny flat? Sydney resident Charles Pillay goes through the sums.

[Post 1001] How Calm’s Founders Turned Rejection Into A $2 Billion Business

Summary

Michael Acton Smith and Alex Tew founded Calm, an app that offers mental health resources like guided meditations, sleep stories and mindful movement exercises. Today, the app has a valuation of $2 billion and has been downloaded 150 million times.

[Post 999] Nissan Is Fighting To Survive But Its Future Looks Grim

Summary

Nissan’s pending merger talks with its archrival Honda may give be its best shot at surviving. The third largest Japanese automaker by volume is struggling in multiple regions around the world, including the US and China. Cheaper, fresher alternatives are pushing it out of developing markets, while US dealerships day they are plagued with stale product and troubles around service and counterproductive sales incentives. Merging with Honda would create the third largest automaker in the world and give the combined company US market share comparable to Toyota and the Hyundai Motor Group.

[Post 998] Why Americans Can’t Find Starter Homes

Summary

Starter homes are typically modest in price and under 1,400 square feet. These units accounted for 40% of new residential construction in 1982, and just 9% in 2023. Economists say starter homes are disappearing as home builders contend with rising costs for land, labor and materials while navigating increasingly thick layers of regulation. As a result, many new homes are for high-end buyers in more remote locations. Meanwhile, the age of the first-time buyer rose to 38 from age 29 in 1981.

[Post 997] Can The U.S. Economy Survive A Mass Deportation?

Summary

According to the latest estimates, approximately 11.7 million undocumented immigrants currently reside in the United States, which amounts to roughly 3.5% of the total U.S. population. The United States has more international migrants than any other country in the world, surpassing the total of the next four countries combined. But in recent years, the United States has not deported more than half a million immigrants with a formal removal order in a single fiscal year. If President Trump follows through on his promise of deporting all undocumented immigrants over his four-year term, the country could see a deportation operation on an unprecedented scale. So how exactly will the mass deportation be carried out? And what impact will it have on the U.S. economy?

[Post 997] Wealth Advisor's 20-Year Plan To Give His Kids A Financial Headstart | Money Mind | Wealth Planning

Summary

Strategies to give your children a financial headstart in life. 

[Post 996] Shanghai's Shrinking Expat Population: What Might This Mean For China? | CNA Correspondent

Summary

Being the gateway of China, Shanghai suffered during the Covid lockdowns. But it also benefited when the country pushed to re-engage with the world. As China offers longer visa-free entries to more countries, Shanghai’s attractions are filled with foreign tourists again. But the tourist numbers only tell half the story. 

Since the draconian Covid lockdowns, Shanghai has been fully open for business for more than two years now. But the chunk of the expat community it lost has never really returned. Are Shanghai’s heydays on the international stage as a cosmopolitan global hub behind it?

[Post 995] Are Phone (And Laptop) Repair Shops Spying On You? | Talking Point | 1-Hour Special

Summary

Passwords, bank account numbers, IDs – our personal devices hold so much of our important data. That means we are placing our entire lives in the hands of strangers when we send these devices in for repair, especially if we have not had time to back up and erase them. 

Talking Point sends out laptops and phones to 40 repair shops around the island, and uncovers shocking results about the activities of repair technicians on these devices - and Steven personally confronts the owners and technicians at these shops.

[Post 994] Make Your Own Bak Kwa For 70% Savings This Chinese New Year: How Does It Taste? | Money Mind | Food

Summary

Bak kwa or pork jerky is a traditional treat during the Chinese New Year. But with each shop-bought slice costing around 6 Singapore dollars, it also takes a hefty bite out of the budget. So will a homemade version pass the taste test? Cheryl Goh finds out. 

[Post 993] 4 Signs It Is Time To Sell A Stock | Money Mind | Stock Market

Summary

When to sell a stock: the top exit signs to watch out for. 

[Post 992] Red Lobster CEO's Plan to Save the Restaurant From Bankruptcy | WSJ

Summary

Red Lobster exited bankruptcy in September after decades of declining sales and a disastrous all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion. Now, they’ve hired 35-year-old Damola Adamolekun as its new CEO to see the brand through bankruptcy and out the other side. Adamolekun revitalized P.F. Chang’s during Covid and hopes to do the same for America’s oldest seafood chain.

WSJ’s Heather Haddon spoke to the new, millennial CEO in Orlando to learn his plans to bring the casual dining restaurant back to its former glory.

[Post 991] Why Airlines Can’t Survive Without Loyalty Programs | WSJ Case Study

Summary

American Airlines created the first major airline loyalty program in 1981 as a way to compete for customers post-deregulation. But today these programs are the industry norm, having transformed into billions of dollar businesses with legs outside the aviation industry. The AAdvantage loyalty program has even become a business in its own right with airlines selling miles to banks, and was followed by similar programs with United, Delta, Southwest and more. 

WSJ breaks down how American Airlines created the program that changed the way the world flies.

[Post 990] Why Nonalcoholic Beer Is So Popular Now | WSJ The Economics Of

Summary

Nonalcoholic beer is one of the fastest growing segments of the beer industry, and Athletic Brewing is on top. So far in 2024, Athletic has outsold its nonalcoholic beer competitors including Heineken, Budweiser, Guinness and Corona in the U.S. Since its founding, Athletic has invested over $100 million into manufacturing and developing its own process of production. 

WSJ explains how its unique processes of production and methods of distribution have helped reinvent nonalcoholic beer. 

[Post 989] How Talking Toes chief rakes in six-figure revenues from socks with cute puns, positive messages

Summary

Home-grown socks brand Talking Toes was once dead in the water. Its director Lucas Saw tells CNA TODAY how he revived the business by seeking to warm not just people's' feet, but their hearts as well.

[Post 988] How Japanese Migrants Are Building New Lives In Bangkok | The New Locals - Part 8/8

Summary

Thailand offers Japanese migrants warmer weather, a favourable economy and room for them to be themselves. Take Makoto, who grew up in Thailand and the US, but feels most at home in Bangkok. She pursues her career in the media industry and also has a TikTok persona, Ani Obasan.

Contrary to popular belief, the Japanese in Bangkok do not live in their own silo. Nakamoto has lived in Thailand for over 19 years. He is married and lives with his Thai wife and children. He is a serial entrepreneur who picked Thai in just one and half years. The number of Japanese in Bangkok continues to grow, as does the strength of their love affair.

[Post 987] Why Chrysler Has Nearly Disappeared

Summary

The Chrysler name was once one of the most recognizable in the American automotive industry. A bankruptcy and two mergers later, it is just a tiny brand some fear will face extinction. Its lineup has been whittled down to two models of one vehicle – a minivan. But its brand CEO, Christine Feuell, says Chrysler is here to stay and more vehicles are coming soon.

[Post 986] What Went Wrong With Spirit Airlines?

Summary

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2024, the first major U.S. airline to do so since 2011. The iconic budget airline hasn’t had a profitable year since 2019 and it’s lost more than $2 billion since 2020. Faced with mounting losses and looming debt payments, Spirit has furloughed hundreds of pilots and offered salaried workers buyouts. It sold some of its Airbus fleet and cut routes. The airline has struggled with shifting demand, a spike in costs, and a Pratt and Whitney engine recall grounding dozens of its jets, weaker-than-expected sales and a failed acquisition with JetBlue Airways. How did the icon of U.S. budget air travel get here and what’s next for the low cost carrier?

[Post 985] Why Food Prices Are Still So High In The U.S.

Summary

As inflation cools considerably, prices for items like gasoline, used cars and energy have all declined accordingly. But food prices continue to outpace inflation, increasing by 28% since 2019. 86% of consumers reported feeling frustrated with rising grocery prices, and over a third said they have resorted to buying fewer items to save money. Despite campaigning on grocery prices, President-elect Trump also acknowledged it might be ‘hard’ to bring down grocery prices. So why are food prices still so high? And can anything be done to bring the cost down?

[Post 984] How Vuori Is Taking On Lululemon And Alo Yoga

Summary

Southern California-based athleisure brand Vuori has quickly made a name for itself in a saturated industry largely dominated by Lululemon and private Alo Yoga. In 2021, the company raised $400 million from Japanese SoftBank, the largest investment round by any private apparel brand at the time. In November 2024, it landed another investment round for $825 million bringing its valuation to $5.5 billion. The company will likely complete an IPO in the near future. The question is, can it keep the momentum and eventually take over giants like Lululemon?

[Post 983] I Started A Business With $400 — Now It Brings In $180K/Year

Summary

Sarah Cloes, 27, lives in San Marcos, California with her husband, Bret. In 2021 she founded Flora Flora Co., a brand that specializes in selling sustainably packaged shampoo and conditioner bars. In 2024, the business brought in about $180,000.

This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

[Post 982] My NYC Business Brings In $800K/Month

Summary

Coss Marte, 39, is the founder and CEO of Conbud, a legal cannabis dispensary in NYC's Lower East Side, where he once sold cannabis illegally. After serving prison time, Coss embraced his entrepreneurial spirit, leading to the creation of Conbud. In September 2024, the business generated over $800k in sales and is projected to hit $12 million in 2025.

[Post 981] I Turned A Ceramics Side Hustle Into $6.6 Million A Year Business

Summary

During a typical day at Jono Pandolfi's New Jersey pottery studio, he and his 30-person team will unload over a thousand pieces out of its 13 kilns, and ship the plates, bowls and mugs to restaurants and home chefs across the country and beyond. Jono Pandolfi Designs began in 2004 as a side hustle, and 20 years later the company is projected to bring in over $6.6 million in 2024.

[Post 980] Singapore equities market: Review group studying how to tap seed money, get growth firms to list

Summary

Singapore is looking at how to strengthen its equities market by attracting more private investment and getting companies with high potential to grow fast, like those in fintech and sustainability, to list on the bourse. Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong said this at the SGX Group's 25th anniversary event, which also marks the first trading day of the year. James Cheo, Chief Investment Officer, Southeast Asia and India, HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth, analyses the plans that are being considered to boost SGX. He discusses some of the fundamental issues that need to be addressed first and how the measures will address these problems.

[Post 979] How Shein And Temu Keep Prices Shockingly Low: Chinese Fast Fashion

Summary

Super affordable products have enabled the Chinese online shopping apps to dominate the US market - Shein, for example, surpassed Amazon in downloads to become the top shopping app in 2021. But just how do Shein and Temu keep their price tags so competitive? And do their low prices come at a cost? 

[Post 978] How South Korean Immigrants Are Bringing Kimchi And K-Pop To Malaysia | The New Locals - Part 6/8

Summary

The history of South Koreans migrating into Malaysia dates back to the 1960s. The trend continued as the two countries maintained good diplomatic relationships over the years. Koreans, like Park, sold all his assets and moved to Kuala Lumpur to start a restaurant as a retirement job. And there’s Mo, who married a Malaysian, and together they impart a holistic education to their children.

[Post 977] What To Highlight If You Want Recruiters To Read Your Resume + Design Flaws To Avoid | Money Mind

Summary

What does it take to get your resume noticed by recruiters? Cheryl Goh gets a resume makeover from a career coach. 

[Post 976] Top Investment Tips & Risks To Watch In 2025 | Money Mind

Summary

2 key risks to watch and the best strategies for your money in 2025. 

[Post 975] How To Make And Keep Money Goals In 2025 | Money Mind | Money Goals

Summary

How to make and keep money goals in 2025.

 

[Post 974] Sri Lankan Tamils In Paris: Little Jaffna In The Heart Of France | The New Locals - Part 2/8

Summary

Sri Lankans Tamils began to arrive in France in the 1980s when the civil war took more casualties. Asylum-seekers found refuge in France which had friendly immigration policies. Today, France is home to 100,000 Sri Lankan Tamils with half of them based in Paris. Initially dispersed throughout the city, they begin to form networks centred in La Chappelle and within a decade the area became known as Little Jaffna, a vibrant, flourishing Parisian quarter that is now undeniably Tamil. 

Now, the second generation of Sri Lankan Tamils are finding a firmer footing in their adopted country. Speaking fluent French and growing up in Paris, couples like Islaine and Ragis specialise in distinctive Tamil folk dance and more recent immigrants like Sugeetharan could be mistaken for French when he is winning national competitions in traditional baking.

[Post 973] Thriving Chinese Community In The Heart Of Kolkata | The New Locals - Part 1/8

Summary

In the early 20th century, Kolkata was home to 20,000 Chinese. It was India’s first Chinese community, made up of labourers who had migrated mainly from the Guangdong province. While the early Chinese migrants in Kolkata had to find work in the city's famed tanning and leather industries, newer generations are broadening their horizons. 

Ethnic Chinese like Dominic Lee are continuing their family’s legacy with Pou Chong - an iconic company that introduced Chinese sauces to Kolkata. On the other hand, there are entrepreneurs like Monica Liu who is building an F&B empire with her chain of Chinese restaurants.

[Post 972] Why Getting A ‘Good’ Job Feels So Difficult | CNBC Marathon

Summary

A cooling labor market brings about many challenges for the working class, including barriers to entry-level jobs and layoffs. Additionally, lifestyle inflation and rising levels of debt have made it more difficult to achieve the American dream, once deemed attainable with a six-figure salary. In this video, CNBC Marathon explores the challenges of today’s job market.

More than half (52%) of Americans say they would need at least $100,000 a year to be financially comfortable, according to the August 2023 CNBC Your Money Survey. It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to achieve the American Dream, especially as younger generations are beginning their adulthood with thousands of dollars in student loans. So how much does it actually cost to achieve the American Dream?

45% of American workers say they need a higher income. Data from the Federal Reserve shows that job switchers increase their salary more quickly on average than those who stay put, but hiring professionals say it’s still important for candidates to be strategic when making career moves. It’s important for professionals to consider when to change jobs and how to approach their job search strategically.

Why have job requirements become so demanding and what does that mean for entry-level workers? Lack of credentials ranked second among the biggest barriers for jobseekers in 2022, according to McKinsey & Co. Some workplace experts blame inflated job requirements and layoffs of recruiters, while others point to a skills miss-match between available jobs and recent graduate degrees

[Post 971] Package deal: A day in the life of a delivery driver

Summary

It is the season for gifts, parcels and deliveries. But to get the packages to you requires a job with long hours and a lot of heavy lifting. The Straits Times follows deliveryman Don Ng to learn the ins and outs of the job. 

[Post 970]Asia's Jobless Youth: How India, China & Indonesia Are Tackling Unemployment | Shifting Horizons

Summary

With nearly 700 million youth facing unprecedented levels of unemployment, the youth unemployment crisis in India, China, and Indonesia threatens not only individual futures, but the region’s economic growth. 

Seasoned journalist Sruthi Gottipati travels across these three countries to understand the scale of this crisis and find out what’s being done to resolve the problems.  From India’s youth entrepreneurship programme to China's rural revitalisation projects and Indonesia's informal labour force, Sruthi uncovers how systemic challenges, education mismatches, and economic stagnation are colliding with the ambitions of Asia’s youth.

But as Asia’s three most populous nations grapple with this generational challenge, bold reforms and grassroots initiatives are emerging to bridge the gap amid rising inequality and shifting regional dynamics. Will the next generation be able to fulfil their potential and realize the Asian century?

[Post 969] Where K-pop idols learn to dance: Inside 1Million, South Korea’s biggest dance studio

Summary

1Million is South Korea’s biggest dance studio and its choreographers have worked with acts such as Twice, Mamamoo and Itzy. Even cooler – anyone can attend one of their in-demand classes. CNA Lifestyle finds out more. (Video: Joyee Koo, Hazeeq Sukri)

[Post 968] Self-taught teen barber becomes viral sensation on TikTok

Summary

A horrible haircut at a neighbourhood barber in 2023 left Sujaish Kumar thinking he could do it better. 

“I told myself that six months from now I’ll be able to give my friends very good haircuts,” said the 17-year-old.

He now has clients paying for his barbering services in his living room and  takes 25 to 35 bookings a week on average. 

[Post 967] Why Amazon, Microsoft, Google And Meta Are Investing In Nuclear Power

Summary

Tech leaders are exploring nuclear power as a solution to the massive energy needs of their data centers, sustainability challenges, and the growing demands of their AI initiatives. SMRs, a new type

of nuclear reactor, are gaining attention for their ability to provide round-the-clock power with minimal emissions. As some of the largest energy users, major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta are investing in these reactors, which could play a key role in global energy transformation.

[Post 966] How Dungeons & Dragons Helped Bring In Over $1 Billion

Summary

Dungeons & Dragons, which turned 50 in 2024, has exploded in popularity over the last decade. In 2014, an edition of the game helped simplify it for new players. But also important was the rise of D&D web series on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, which introduced it to a new, younger generation of players. The surge in D&D's popularity has helped its publisher, Wizards of the Coast, bring in over $1 billion in revenue year-over-year since 2021.

[Post 965] How Amazon Haul Is Taking On Temu With Cheap Goods From China

Summary

In November, Amazon quietly launched Haul, a mobile-only section of its shopping app for items under $20. They take at least a week to arrive because they're largely coming from China. Haul is Amazon's answer to the soaring success of ultra-cheap budget online shopping apps like Temu, Shein and TikTok Shop. The space also faces concerns over forced labor, waste, and an uncertain future for the import tax exemption that keeps prices low.

[Post 964] Why Nike Is Struggling

Summary

Nike is the world’s largest sportwear brand but the company is on a mission to regain its stride after a challenging year. A series of poor earnings reports over the past year eventually wiped out $28 billion from the company’s market cap and in June, the company experienced its worst trading day ever as a publicly traded company. Nike has blamed its performance on everything from macro challenges to remote employees, but analysts say it was part of a years-long series of strategic errors. During an effort to focus on direct-to-consumer sales through digital channels, analysts say the company has started to lack innovation and ceded market share to newer rivals like Hoka and On Running. Nike is now dealing with an excess of inventory from major sales slowdowns as consumers turn to newer styles from other brands. Now, all eyes are the company’s new CEO, 32-year Nike veteran Elliott Hill, to turn the sportswear giant around. Watch the video above to learn more.

[Post 963] Why Restaurants Have Become So Important To Shopping Malls

Summary

Foot traffic to suburban shopping malls has returned to pre-pandemic levels and high-end malls are thriving. Yelp found that 17 out of the top 25 brands driving consumers to malls are restaurants, and the dining options for visitors have moved well beyond the traditional food court that would include chains like McDonald's, Chipotle and Panda Express. CNBC visited the American Dream Mall in New Jersey to see how dining has evolved at the mall.

[Post 962] Why Fed Rate Cuts Aren’t Making Mortgages Cheaper

Summary

Federal Reserve interest rate decision can affect the cost of mortgages. But that link from the Fed to your monthly payment isn’t direct.  Fed decisions affect the investors demand for debt products like treasury bills and mortgage-backed securities. The shifting demand will, in turn, affect the rates Americans pay for new mortgages. Meanwhile, the Fed is reducing its holdings of debt, which it accrued during recent economic emergencies. That reduction in the Fed's assets, particularly mortgage-backed securities holdings, could keep upward pressure on mortgage rates. The upward pressure may keep rates elevated even as the Fed reduces the federal funds rate heading into 2025.

[Post 961] How Employees Are Coffee Badging To Avoid Full Days At The Office

Summary

Experts indicate that workplace trends often reflect the current job market. During the pandemic, when there was high demand for workers, the concept of 'quiet quitting' became a dominant theme. However, as the job market tightens, especially for white-collar positions, 'coffee badging' is trending. Watch the video above to learn more.

[Post 960] Why Fast-Food Companies Are Going All In On Chicken Tenders

Summary

To counter slumping sales, fast-food companies are either bringing chicken tenders back to their menus or experimenting with how they're normally eaten, like putting them in a salad or in a wrap. Nearly 50% of fast-food operators carry chicken tenders, up 5.7% since 2019. In October, struggling chicken chain and Yum Brands subsidiary KFC launched its new Original Recipes Tenders by calling for a chicken tenders war against rivals like Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. Even McDonald's is jumping on the chicken tenders bandwagon.

[Post 959] TSMC’s New Arizona Fab! Apple Will Finally Make Advanced Chips In The U.S.

Summary

On 1,100 acres in the Arizona desert north of Phoenix, a newly completed 3.5-million-square foot building is making history as the most advanced chip fabrication plant on U.S. soil. It’s Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s first of three Arizona fabs, which will total a $65 billion investment when they’re complete at the end of the decade. Apple has committed to being the site’s largest customer. Full production has been delayed until 2025, but pilot production has begun. CNBC got an exclusive first look at the fab, where TSMC chairman Rick Cassidy says the project is “dang near back on the original schedule.”

[Post 958] Why Facebook-Parent Meta Is Willing To Lose Billions On The Metaverse

Summary

Facebook changed its name to Meta in October 2021 and CEO Mark Zuckerberg used the occasion to show the world his vision of a digital future of work and play accessible through a VR headset. Two months later the company launched its virtual universe, Horizon Worlds. Propelling the metaverse hype to an all-time high. But, as the rebranding to Meta hits its third anniversary, the metaverse seems to be stalled out. So what happened to the metaverse?

[Post 957] How Shopping Malls Are Being Transformed Into Apartments In The U.S.

Summary

While many U.S. malls face anchor store closures and empty parking lots, some are finding new life by becoming housing. Real estate developers are building housing inside of or next to shopping malls as department stores like Macy’s, JCPenney and Sears shrink or cease to exist. At least 192 U.S. malls planned to add housing to their footprint as of January 2022. Dozens of apartment projects at malls are underway in California, Colorado, Florida, Arizona and Texas. The trend not only helps to chip away the housing shortage in the U.S., but also brings people closer to the remaining retail and restaurant spaces in shopping centers. CNBC visited a Macerich housing project at Flatiron Crossing Mall in Broomfield, Colorado as well as the Arcade Mall in Providence, Rhode Island to find out what it is like to live inside a mall.

[Post 956] China’s Auto Takeover: BYD Vs. Tesla And The Battle For EV Supremacy | CNBC Marathon

Summary

CNBC examines China’s rapidly growing automotive industry, focusing on its technological advancements, increasing exports, and a lack of interest in American car brands.

BYD, backed by Warren Buffett and recognized as China’s leading car brand, overtook Tesla in Q4 2023 as the world’s top electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, selling more battery-powered vehicles than its U.S. rival. The company is aggressively expanding globally, exporting over 240,000 cars to 70 countries last year. During Tesla's Q4 earnings call, Elon Musk warned that Chinese automakers could "demolish most other car companies in the world" unless regulators intervene.

Detroit automakers like General Motors reaped huge profits selling cars to Chinese consumers after China opened its auto market to foreign firms in the 1980s. However, those lucrative days appear to be over. Chinese firms have caught up with, and in some cases surpassed, the foreign companies that once taught them the automotive trade. Jeep’s joint venture has already gone bankrupt, and one industry analyst predicts that Ford, GM, and others—such as Hyundai, Kia, and Nissan—could withdraw from the Chinese market within the next five years.

Today, China has the manufacturing capacity to supply half the world’s cars and is setting its sights on the U.S. market. While Chinese-owned brands like Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus are already present in the U.S., no purely Chinese brands have entered the market yet. In May 2024, President Biden imposed steep tariffs on Chinese automakers, doubling the price of imported EVs. However, some insiders believe tariffs might be ineffective in the long term and could cause more harm than good.

[Post 955] Why The U.S. Isn’t Growing Enough Food

Summary

The number of U.S. farms and what they grow for human consumption have been on a decline for decades. Instead, federal funding has been largely supporting farms growing commodities like soybeans and corn, mainly used to feed livestock, processed foods and biofuel production. U.S. imports of fresh fruit and vegetables continue to climb, making it increasingly hard for the few farms that do produce them domestically.

[Post 954] Why Dollar Stores Are Struggling

Summary

Dollar General and Dollar Tree, which also owns Family Dollar, brought in about $70 billion combined in sales in fiscal 2023. Both companies have historically been Wall Street darlings, outperforming the broader market for much of the past decade. But the past two years have played out differently as the dollar store industry is facing an economic environment that has disproportionately affected the dollar store’s core, low-income consumer. Watch the video to find out why dollar stores are struggling.

[Post 953] Why American Cars Are So Expensive

Summary

Cars once promised independence and transportation for all Americans. Now, they are a luxury product that cost about $50,000, nearly 30% higher than just a few years ago. Affordable vehicles, especially those below the price of $20,000, have nearly disappeared. And while Automakers pulled in record profits in 2023, slim margins combined with deep investments into EV batteries, software and other technology is making it hard to produce cars much cheaper. Chinese automakers can, but they're impeded by tariffs and rules. Insiders say that is just a bandage - automakers need to compete.

[Post 952] Why 27 U.S. States Are Going Broke

Summary

27 state governments lack the necessary cash on hand to pay their bills, according to researchers. The debts largely relate to the public pension system, which provides lifetime benefits to state and local government employees. $800b in federal aid during the pandemic obfuscated the long-term challenges of states. As that extra aid expires, even economically powerful states have to tighten their budgets. That could mean more tax hikes or cuts to public services like education and transportation.

[Post 951] Why Economists Hate Trump's Tariff Plan | WSJ

Summary

Tariffs are at the center of former President Donald Trump’s economic plan. He wants to put across-the-board 60% tariffs on everything from China and 10%-20% on everything else from the rest of the world. It’s an extreme trade policy that he wants to use to generate revenue to cut taxes. But how would they work? 

[Post 950] From the Poker Table to the Trading Floor: Inside the Mind of Wall Street Traders | WSJ

Summary

What does playing poker have in common with trading stocks? A lot, according to these top Wall Street traders. From patience and bet sizing to managing risk and reading other players, top firms like Susquehanna use poker to help train new traders. 

[Post 949] How Duolingo Turned a Free Language App Into a $7.7B Business | WSJ The Economics Of

Summary

Duolingo has been the top education app in Apple’s App Store for most of the past decade, making the company a revenue of around $500 million annually. But most people who use the language lesson app do not pay. So how does a free educational app manage to have a valuation of $7.7 billion?

WSJ explains how Duolingo is using AI-enhanced experiments to subsets of its user base, tailoring its offering to hook users like an addictive video game. 

[Post 948] Singapore's Year In Review 2024: New Prime Minister, Olympic Medal, High-Profile Court Cases

Summary

2024 represented a defining year for Singapore, marked by significant transformation across a range of areas. A new prime minister was sworn in, and Team Singapore waved the national flag high at the Olympics. There were also waves made to bolster the economy, safeguard public health and nurture students. On the other hand, there were also controversial moments: the conviction of a former minister, and one of the most impactful oil spills in the country's history. CNA's reporters take you through these historic moments and explore what's at stake in Singapore's new chapter. 

[Post 947] A “Megaquake” Is Coming. How Indonesia And Japan Are Getting Ready. | Insight | Full Episode

Summary

In August 2024, both Indonesia and Japan issued warnings of a potential megathrust earthquake. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned that it is "just a matter of time" before the next big one hits.

Now, on the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami, Insight asks, where and when will the next major quake occur? 

Has the experience two decades ago helped to prepare for an impending disaster? Indonesia has stepped up its seismic monitoring capabilities and improved its disaster management capabilities. Indonesia and Japan have also shared learnings on Early Warning Systems and quake-resistant buildings. Will such exchanges help in the next seismic event?

With scientists saying that a megathrust quake is due in Indonesia and Japan, will we be ready for the next big quake?