Beanie Babies are not a good investment strategy, but be bullish on Build-a-Bear @jackiepeiser.bsky.social

Low-income Americans slash spending, a worrying sign for the economy
 Spending is softening in a “fragmented way,” analysts warn, and even wealthy Americans are scaling back. @jackiepeiser.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Jeff Bezos announced that the Washington Post opinion page will no longer publish viewpoints opposing personal liberties and free markets. In light of this news, I want to emphasize that there is a strong firewall between opinion and news at our publication.

Read (with this free link) about what America's smaller owners are now facing, from @jackiepeiser.bsky.social and @aarongregg23.bsky.social. | U.S.-China trade war hits small and midsize businesses especially hard wapo.st/42WTi5b

Did you use BNPL to holiday shop? I’m looking to chat with folks who leaned on services like Klarna and Affirm to buy gifts for others — or themselves. DM me.

Americans rush to buy cars and appliances before Trump’s new tariffs By Abha Bhattarai & @jackiepeiser.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

I'm looking to chat with folks making alternative holiday gift-buying plans because of the Amazon warehouse strikes that will impact deliveries in NYC, Chicago, SF or Atlanta. DM me if this is you!

Okay but hear me out: Toy cars are simply very fun!! @jackiepeiser.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Lots of FTC + retail news this week: The FTC sued Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the largest alcohol distributor in the U.S. over its pricing and sales strategies. In doing so regulators resurrected a law that hasn't been tapped in more than two decades that bans unjustified price discrimination.

While I await the next version of my story on the Kroger-Albertsons merger to publish, I'll point out the impact of this ruling: For one, a source just texted me saying it's a "blowout win for the FTC." While the judge's ruling is temporary, experts say it will effectively kill the deal.

BREAKING: Federal judges awards the FTC a preliminary injunction to block the Kroger-Alberstons merger. Story coming.

Shoppers spent a record $41.1 billion online over the five-day sales event from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. But it was higher earners who drove sales. My latest:

Great story from @jeffstein.bsky.social @jacobbogage.bsky.social & Lisa Rein. This graf is particularly enlightening: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

In new WSJ oped, Musk & Ramaswamy say they believe SCOTUS could open the door to unilateral spending cuts, without Congress, based on what they say is the unconstitutionality of the 1974 budget law Could be an absolutely massive fight Confirms our reporting: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Speaker Johnson said the House will restrict use of Capitol bathrooms by transgender people. The rule change comes about two weeks after Democrat Sarah McBride of Delaware became the first openly transgender individual elected to Congress. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Feels only right that my first post is about the Big Boys of Retail™: Target & Walmart. They had vastly different Q3 earnings results & varying outlooks for the rest of the year. Both offer insights into the holiday shopping season. Here's the details on WMT: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

I made a starter pack of @washingtonpost.com journalists on this app to make it easier for you to read / curse at us all go.bsky.app/D7WHbei