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CNN Business/Consumer

The Frances Perkins Department of Labor building on August 4

The government is back open. Here’s what that means for economic data

By Alicia Wallace, CNN (CNN) — The US government has reopened following its longest-ever shutdown, setting the stage for the eventual release of the gold-standard federal data that is crucial in analyzing the health and trajectory of the nation’s economy. Data nerds (and government officials, and Federal Reserve policymakers, and business owners, and, well, everyone

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Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon is leaving his position early next year.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon is stepping down

CNN By Jordan Valinsky, CNN New York (CNN) — Doug McMillon, Walmart’s CEO for just over a decade, is retiring next year, the retailer announced Friday. McMillon will be succeeded by John Furner on February 1, 2026. Furner is currently the CEO and president of Walmart’s US operations, the company’s largest business unit. Both executives

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A row of single-family homes in Western New York. The Trump administration stepped up efforts to address housing affordability this past week.

The Trump administration is ‘actively evaluating’ portable mortgages. What you need to know

By Samantha Delouya, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration has another idea to make housing more affordable: Let homeowners take their mortgage rate with them when they move. On Wednesday, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte said the administration is “actively evaluating” so-called portable mortgages. The proposal aims to address the housing market’s lack

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Miami International Airport is one of the 40 airports where the Federal Aviation Administration is limiting flights due to air traffic controller shortages exacerbated by the federal government shutdown.

The FAA is limiting flights at big airports. But passengers at small airports will feel the most pain

By Chris Isidore, CNN (CNN) — The federal government is ordering flight cuts at 40 major airports because of the shutdown – but it’s flyers in places like Pensacola, Florida; Moline, Illinois; Waco, Texas; and Shreveport, Louisiana who will have it the hardest. That’s because small feeder flights are largely the ones getting canceled, not

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Americans overall are feeling gloomy about the economy.

Americans are feeling worse about the economy as government shutdown drags on

By Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN (CNN) — The record-breaking government shutdown has left Americans feeling worse about the economic outlook. That’s according to the latest University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey, which showed the index falling to 50.3 this month from 53.6 in October. It’s the lowest level since June 2022, which marked the lowest reading

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Outback Steakhouse closed 21 locations in October and just announced a turnaround plan.

Outback abruptly closed 21 restaurants

By Jordan Valinsky, CNN New York (CNN) — Outback Steakhouse abruptly closed 21 restaurants in October as it begins a “comprehensive turnaround strategy” to keep up with its trendier competitors. Bloomin’ Brands, Outback’s parent company, disclosed in its earnings report Thursday that in addition to those closures, an additional 22 locations will not have their

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