Meatpackers ignored COVID-19 spread to keep operating, House report says
The nation’s biggest meatpackers ignored warnings that COVID-19 was spreading through their plants, hyped claims of impending shortages and helped draft a Trump administration order to keep the facilities running during the early days of the pandemic, a congressional investigation found.
US growth forecasts for 2022 and ‘23 cut
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists cut their forecasts for US growth for this year and next to reflect the shake-out in financial markets amid the Federal Reserve’s tightening of monetary policy.
Americans bet $125B on sports in 4 years since legalization
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Americans have bet more than $125 billion on sports with legal gambling outlets in the four years since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for all 50 states to offer it.
Jack’s Diving Locker celebrates 40 years in business
Jack’s Diving Locker — the Kona-based dive shop renowned worldwide for its mission of sharing Hawaii’s underwater world with a focus on friendship and a spirit of adventure — is proud to celebrate 40 years in business.
US posts robust job gains while wage growth shows moderation
U.S. employment continued to increase at a robust pace in April and wage growth moderated, though a surprise drop in the participation rate suggests the labor market will remain exceedingly tight.
Costly beer and cars? Consumers, and profits, fine with that
Consumers seem undaunted by higher prices of everything from luxury cars to beer, letting companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and BMW AG boost profits despite economic threats ranging from inflation to war to China’s Covid flare-up.
Business news at a glance
Amazon abruptly fires senior managers tied to unionized warehouse
‘Doing things right’: Gypsea Gelato named Hawaii County Small Business of the Year
Gypsea Gelato, a handmade gelato/sorbet shop that also serves up pastries in West Hawaii, was named the Small Business of the Year for Hawaii County during an awards ceremony Friday in Honolulu.
Less immigrant labor in US contributing to price hikes
Just 10 miles from the Rio Grande, Mike Helle’s farm is so short of immigrant workers that he’s replaced 450 acres of labor-intensive leafy greens with crops that can be harvested by machinery.
Business news at a glance
Extraordinary wealth created by the pandemic housing market
Apple warns of supply constraints, overshadowing record quarter
Apple Inc. warned that supply constraints would cost the company $4 billion to $8 billion in the current quarter, sending the shares down and casting a pall on record-setting results that the company just reported.
LAX sees 1 million monthly international travelers for first time since pandemic’s start
Los Angeles International Airport saw more than 1 million international passengers in March, the first time its monthly tally has hit that mark since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, airport officials said Thursday.
‘Bring the fierceness’: South Kona Buddhi offers unique form of yoga combining high-intensity strength and cardio exercise with dance
South Kona Buddhi owner Sara Conti has a message for the community: bring the fierceness.
Bird flu drives free-range hens indoors to protect poultry
DES MOINES, Iowa — Is it OK for free-range chickens to not range freely?
China promotes coal in setback for efforts to cut emissions
BEIJING — China is promoting coal-fired power as the ruling Communist Party tries to revive a sluggish economy, prompting warnings Beijing is setting back efforts to cut climate-changing carbon emissions from the biggest global source.
Pandemic economy: Americans richer, but wealth gap a roller coaster
Most Americans have gotten wealthier during the pandemic, despite a deadly disease that upended the economy.
US housing starts unexpectedly rise to fastest pace since 2006
New U.S. home construction rose unexpectedly in March to the highest level since 2006, boosted by multifamily projects as builders seek to replenish housing inventory.
Business news at a glance
Twitter’s board is said to seriously consider Elon Musk’s bid
Looking to deepen pain for Putin, West studying oil and gas
WASHINGTON — The United States unleashed some of its toughest actions against Russian President Vladimir Putin right after he rolled his troops into Ukraine. Polls in the U.S. find that people want Washington to do more. So what’s left, financially, diplomatically and militarily, to step up the pressure?
The end of pandemic flight bargains? Air travel costs surging with more to come
Patrick De Haan has a bird’s-eye view of skyrocketing prices around the country. He’s the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, a company that crowdsources gas price data. But more recently, he is feeling the pain of emptying his wallet for one of the latest trends of surging costs — air travel.
