PepsiCo and Taco Bell have renewed their long-running partnership through 2036, ensuring that the fast-food chain will continue serving Pepsi beverages and exclusive items like Mountain Dew Baja Blast at international locations. The agreement was reported on Thursday, coming just one week after sister chain KFC announced a transition to Coca-Cola for its U.S. beverage … Read more
Rising leisure costs known as funflation are reshaping how Americans spend money, pushing consumers toward home-based hobbies and video games as travel expenses soar. Bank of America card data from August 2026 shows hobby spending jumped 7.9% year-on-year, outpacing transaction growth and reflecting a broader shift in consumer behavior driven by higher fuel and airfare … Read more
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the Muse Charm pendant and outlined plans for over 100 styles of AI glasses by the end of 2026 at the annual Meta Connect conference, racing to establish hardware dominance before OpenAI’s developer event. The hardware push anchors Meta’s Muse AI agent as the central consumer interface, helping lift the … Read more
Meritage Hospitality Group, one of the largest Wendy’s franchisees in the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, according to court documents and company announcements reported by CNBC and Capital Digest. The filing follows consecutive quarters of slumping sales at the burger chain … Read more
Toyota Motor dealers face tight inventory for the RAV4 crossover utility vehicle, leaving lots across the United States with only a few days’ supply, according to Jessica Caldwell, head of product insight at Edmunds. Strong consumer demand paired with deliberate production limits on the vehicle’s new all-hybrid lineup has created conditions for the suburban segment. … Read more
Wella Company, the hair and nail care firm backed by global investment firm KKR, filed for a U.S. initial public offering on Monday, according to Reuters. The move adds to a growing list of consumer companies looking to tap investor interest in public markets, setting the stage for a major listing on the New York … Read more
Best Buy reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street expectations, posting adjusted earnings of $1.47 per share on $9.78 billion in revenue, according to LSEG analyst surveys. The consumer electronics retailer cited strong computing sales, a $34 million tariff refund benefit, and improved customer demand as key drivers behind the performance, prompting incoming CEO … Read more
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported second-quarter earnings that missed Wall Street expectations and lowered its financial outlook for the year, driven by a challenging athletic footwear and apparel marketplace, according to financial disclosures released on August 25, 2026. The retailer posted adjusted earnings per share of $3.53 on revenue of $5.59 billion, falling short of analyst … Read more
Livestreamed shopping startup Whatnot closed its latest round of funding at a $20 billion valuation, according to a company release issued on Friday, nearly doubling its valuation from less than a year ago. The $545 million Series G round was led by Iconiq, Lightspeed, and Avra. Valuation Growth and Funding History Whatnot’s rapid financial ascent … Read more
According to CNBC, Procter & Gamble reported mixed quarterly results on Wednesday, missing Wall Street’s revenue expectations as consumer demand weakened across multiple product divisions. Shares of the consumer goods giant fell more than 3% in premarket trading following the report, which highlighted persistent value-consciousness among shoppers. P&G Fiscal Fourth-Quarter Results vs. Wall Street Expectations … Read more