Colleges inflated tuition costs for students of divorced parents

Colleges inflated tuition costs for students of divorced parents

Dozens of elite universities — including Harvard, Columbia and New York University — allegedly colluded in a price-fixing scheme that has increased the cost of tuition for students with divorced or separated parents, according to a federal lawsuit. The proposed class-action lawsuit – filed by a Boston University student and Cornell University alum – targets … Read more

IKEA annual sales slump 5% on weak housing market

IKEA annual sales slump 5% on weak housing market

IKEA annual sales slumped 5% as consumers pull back on furniture purchases amid a weak housing market, according to an earnings report released Thursday. The Swedish home decor retailer has slashed prices and committed itself to making more price cuts in the future in an effort to win back cash-strapped customers. Ingka Group, which owns … Read more

World Trade Organization slightly raises 2024 goods trade forecast but wary of potential setbacks

World Trade Organization slightly raises 2024 goods trade forecast but wary of potential setbacks

The World Trade Organization has raised its outlook for global goods trade this year slightly, but cautions that increasing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over economic policy pose “substantial” risks to its forecast GENEVA — The World Trade Organization raised its outlook for global goods trade this year slightly, but cautioned Thursday that increasing geopolitical tensions … Read more

More than 100 members of Congress call for US to ‘suspend’ controversial health study on alcohol

More than 100 members of Congress call for US to ‘suspend’ controversial health study on alcohol

More than 100 members of Congress have called for the US government to “suspend” an influential study about the health risks of alcohol – as beer, wine and liquor makers raised concerns that a panel doing the research is staffed by anti-alcohol activists. In a letter this week, US lawmakers including New York Reps. Nicole Malliotakis and … Read more

Bacon hogs the spotlight in election debates, but reasons for its sizzling inflation are complex

Bacon hogs the spotlight in election debates, but reasons for its sizzling inflation are complex

She blames greedy companies for price-gouging. He blames the Biden administration’s economic policies. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump agree on one thing: Tapping into sour consumer sentiment about high grocery prices is one way to court voters. Bacon prices have been a particular focus for Trump. He mentioned them in his Sept. 10 debate with … Read more

Hurricane Milton spawns destructive, deadly tornadoes before making landfall

Hurricane Milton spawns destructive, deadly tornadoes before making landfall

Dozens of tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton caught many Floridians by surprise as they braced for heavy rain, strong winds and especially storm surges. Violent twisters were seen crossing highways, ripping off roofs and downing trees and power lines. There have been 38 preliminary eyewitness reports of tornadoes since Wednesday night, according to the National … Read more

North Carolina maker of high-purity quartz back operating post-Helene

North Carolina maker of high-purity quartz back operating post-Helene

SPRUCE PINE, N.C. — One of the two companies that manufacture high-purity quartz used for making semiconductors and other high-tech products from mines in a western North Carolina community severely damaged by Hurricane Helene is operating again. Sibelco announced on Thursday that production has restarted at its mining and processing operations in Spruce Pine, located … Read more