Some companies offer a “golden handshake” when they retrench their workers. Financial advisory manager Lily Fung, who got a high six-figure sum, shares with Tiffany Ang and Gerald Tan what she did with the money after she was laid off from her company of 20 years.
CNBC Marathon explores how different restaurant chains like Chili's, Wingstop, and McDonald's are attracting customers back into their stores.
Chili’s Grill and Bar is a casual dining chain that took America by storm in the early 2000s. From 2000-2008, its U.S. store count nearly doubled. But in the decade following the Great Recession, the nostalgic brand fell out of favor as sales grew stagnant and its store count declined. With the help of recent CEO, Kevin Hochman, parent company, Brinker International, has generated a record high $4.4 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2024. Watch the video to find out how the company has staged a comeback.
Wingstop is capitalizing on the American appetite for chicken and providing investors with strong, consistent growth. In the past five years, the company’s share price is up over 250%, and it has grown its store footprint to 2,352 restaurants worldwide. The chicken-wing chain has expanded its offerings and continued to grow brand awareness. Watch the video to find out how Wingstop became one of the hottest restaurant stocks of the year.
Fast food has become a luxury for many consumers who are constantly looking for deals and cheap meals. Many popular chains have noticed the pullback and have rolled out the return of value meals. These nostalgic menus offer select items for a cheap price and food chains hope it's a way to bring customers back and to spend on more items outside of the discounted food items.
Amazon sellers are reeling amid Trump's 125% tariffs on Chinese goods, telling CNBC they will need to raise prices and could go out of business. Up to 70% of goods on Amazon are imported from China. Seven of the eight U.S.-based Amazon sellers CNBC talked to said that manufacturing in the U.S. isn't financially possible, despite tariffs. One positive: Trump did close a loophole that was helping direct-from-China sellers on Temu and Shein undercut U.S. seller prices. The "de minimis" exemption that allowed goods under $800 to avoid all taxes and duties will end on May 2.
Update: On April 10, 2025, the White House clarified to CNBC that tariffs on imports from China now effectively total 145%.
President Trump's sweeping new tariffs sparked a $6 trillion market selloff and reignited debate about trade policy. Economists say they're watching for signs the tariffs might break the current economic expansion or worsen inflation. While some suggest the president could walk back parts of the policy to score negotiation wins, others warn that the economic damage is already spreading and recession risks are mounting.
The U.S. government is poised to shake up global trade in April 2025. Tariff rate increases are scheduled to go into effect on imported goods from Canada, Mexico and China. In the early months of his 2nd term, President Trump has proposed several other tariff rate increases targeting specific industries like automakers and pharmaceutical companies. Some economists argue these new trade policies will be inflationary. Others say foreign countries will pay for them. Research from the Federal Reserve, shows that consumer prices may rise if businesses pass the increasing tax burden onto their consumers. But the central bank’s leaders are considering the full effects of the administration’s trade, immigration, regulatory and fiscal policies before adjusting monetary policy. Watch the video to find out if the new tariffs will be inflationary and what, if anything, the Federal Reserve will do about it.
Capitalizing on the success of its video sharing platform, TikTok Shop is quickly taking up market share in the social shopping arena. In just one year the app surpassed Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest in adding new buyers to the platform. TikTok also hosts 7 million U.S. businesses, who use the app as both a marketing tool and place to sell product. Now, another impending deadline to sell in the U.S. could upend the lives of businesses and creators who have come to depend on the app.
Retail sales are holding up, but consumer confidence is slipping. A rising share of Americans are making purchases not out of want, but out of worry. This trend, called "doom spending," is driven by fears of higher prices and supply disruptions. While it may offer a short-term sense of control, it's happening alongside rising debt and financial strain and could set the stage for a sharper slowdown ahead. Watch the video above to learn more about why Americans are spending more amid growing economic concerns.
