Why it matters: This year, the shopping holiday is less about "online-only deals" and more about AI-assisted gift-hunting — a shift experts say is transforming how shoppers discover products.
The U.S. may "almost completely" eliminate income tax in the next couple of years due to tariff revenue, President Trump said late Thursday.
Why it matters: Offsetting the revenue from individual income taxes would require over $2.5 trillion a year in tariff collections, more than 10 times what the government actually took in during the last fiscal year.
Celebrity Xcel is Royal Caribbean Group's latest bid to reinvent cruising as an experience — one that blurs the line between ship and shore.
Why it matters: Major cruise brands are in an arms race of new ships and destination experiences, pushing past traditional itineraries toward curated, immersive travel.
Black Friday kicks off this morning, and retailers are banking that millions will still show up in person — even as AI-powered tools fuel a surge in online shopping.
Why it matters: Big chains are leaning hard on early-bird doorbusters, limited-edition merch and giveaways to pull shoppers back into stores after weeks of online deals.
As rising prices and the lingering fallout from the nation's longest-ever government shutdown squeeze Americans' budgets, many are unable to give back this holiday season — and charities are feeling the strain.
Why it matters: Some of the largest charitable organizations in the U.S. are trying to stay hopeful despite rising demand and declining generosity.
The holiday shopping wars have sparked an AI arms race — the retail industry's biggest technology experiment since the dawn of e-commerce.
Why it matters: Retailers and tech giants — from Target and Walmart to Amazon, Google and Meta — are rushing to deploy smart shopping assistants that promise to help consumers find gifts faster, spend smarter and even complete purchases.
Thanksgiving Day shopping and dining options will be limited again this year — whether you're hunting for groceries, last-minute essentials or a place to grab a meal.
Here are the titles headlining Netflix, Peacock, Disney+ and HBO Max for Thanksgiving week.
What we're watching: The final seasons of "Stranger Things" and "Bel-Air," a remastered docuseries about The Beatles, and a short film about "The Super Bowl Shuffle."
