President Trump has warned he would stop the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Ontario from opening unless Canada meets a list of U.S. demands unrelated to the bipartisan infrastructure project.
Why it matters: The threat could further inflame tensions with America's northern neighbors amid an ongoing trade war, sanctions and talk of making Canada the 51st state.
The good news is AI is actually making workers more productive, rather than obsolete. The bad news? Employers might expect that productivity regularly, leading to pressure and burnout.
The big picture: Companies may need AI guardrails to avoid overwork while protecting increased productivity,researchers wrote in Harvard Business Review.
Harley-Davidson's retail motorcycle sales plunged for the fourth straight year in 2025, as the company struggles to pull in younger riders and grapples with the punishing effects of President Trump's trade war.
Why it matters: The motorcycle maker's prolonged sales slide shows how even iconic American brands can struggle to adapt as younger consumers, higher costs and trade tensions reshape demand.
Mortgage delinquencies remain low overall, but they're climbing fastest in poorer neighborhoods where local economies are starting to crack, the New York Fed finds.
Why it matters: Consumers in low-income neighborhoods are falling behind on mortgage payments, underscoring an economy-wide trend where richer households remain resilient while poorer households feel the pain.
Valentine's Day might be a national holiday, but America's taste in romantic movies differs across the country.
Between the lines: Roku search data exclusively shared with Axios reveals the romance title each state is unusually into, and the results range from "Wedding Crashers" to "When Harry Met Sally."
President Trump's sudden threat on Monday to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening early this year could have dire consequences for Michigan's economy, critics say.
Why it matters: For years, Michigan and Detroit have been counting on the bridge's opening to usher in a new era of international commerce, border security and tourism.
Several states are rolling out new incentives to lure Canadians back to the U.S. after visits from America's northern neighbor fell by roughly 20% between January and October 2025.
The big picture: Canada leads all international visitors to the U.S. Those 20.4 million visits in 2024 generated about $20.5 billion in spending and supported 140,000 American jobs, according to U.S. Travel Association data.
It hasn't attracted many headlines and isn't the fodder of cable news debates, but Congress is actually making progress on bipartisan legislation to address the housing affordability crisis.
Why it matters: Persistent underbuilding of housing is a major cause of soaring housing costs. Now, lawmakers of all ideological stripes are displaying rare unity in their support for federal action to boost the supply of homes.
Another day, another sign that foreign investors may be tiptoeing away from the U.S.: This time, it's a report that China is telling its banks to cut back on buying U.S. Treasury securities.
Why it matters: Such a retreat would rhyme with a growing concern that the dollar — and America — is losing its status as the safest place in the world to park your money.
Hims & Hers shares plunged Monday after Novo Nordisk filed a lawsuit and federal regulators called for an investigation into Hims' compounding strategy for GLP-1 drugs.
Why it matters: Novo's legal offensive escalates an ongoing feud as it moves to defend its crown-jewel drug franchise amid price pressure and rising U.S. competition — and puts at risk a Hims business line that's been central to the telehealth company's growth.
Tax refund season is expected to look K-shaped this year, with larger refunds flowing to higher-income filers while many lower earners see a smaller boost.
Why it matters: The administration is betting that its tax policies, and the influx of cash from refunds, will help juice consumer spending and keep the economy humming.
But refunds tilted toward wealthier households could blunt that effect without improving poorer households' perception of the economy.
The so-called SaaS-pocalypse has come for all kinds of software companies, as AI upends the "software as a service " industry, or SaaS.
Why it matters: There are signs of rising financial stress for software makers, public and private, but as we head into the week, there are some reasons to believe a di-SaaS-ter could be averted.
Starbucks is rolling out what appears to be one of its most wide-ranging menu updates in years — including its biggest bakery refresh ever, a core coffee addition and permanent drink launches.
Why it matters: Monday's launch comes as the Seattle-based coffee giant pivots from simplification to growth nearly a year and a half into its turnaround plan under CEO Brian Niccol.
