In This Story
Good morning, Quartz readers!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Inflation accelerated a little bit in November. The Consumer Price Index rose 2.7% year-over-year after rising 2.6% in October.
Apple (AAPL+1.95%) users can now access ChatGPT through Siri. The iPhone maker said the ability is among its latest Apple Intelligence features.
Investors should diversify their stock holdings beyond the “Magnificent Seven.” One strategist says top-heavy market growth will soon begin to broaden.
JetBlue (JBLU+0.33%) will try classing things up after a Spirit Airlines merger collapsed. The carrier is investing in premium experiences to better compete with larger competitors.
Eli Lilly (LLY+0.06%) is going to test Zepbound as a treatment for addiction. CEO David Ricks said the company will start large studies “in alcohol abuse and nicotine use, even in drug abuse.”
Trump isn’t changing his mind on trade
Donald Trump is not backing down from his threat to raise the cost of imports. He remains firm in insisting that goods from China, Canada, and Mexico carry higher tariffs.
Many businesses thought that Trump would moderate his stance as time passed after his election, but that’s not happening. Now they’re worried that their costs will rise and their margins will get squeezed.
What are the assumed impacts of Trump’s expected trade policy? Quartz’s William Gavin explains what economic observers think will happen.
Albertsons is mad at Kroger
The Albertsons (ACI-1.37%) and Kroger (KR-1.63%) grocery store chains were supposed to merge, but that effort was blocked by a federal judge. Now Albertsons is suing Kroger for not trying hard enough to help the deal succeed.
According to the lawsuit, Kroger should have done more to convince the Federal Trade Commission that a merger with Albertsons was a good idea. Kroger doesn’t see it that way and thinks the whole thing is sour grapes.
Why is Albertsons blaming Kroger for the failure of their merger. Quartz’s Francisco Velasquez explains what the two companies are saying about each other.
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☀️ The European Space Agency launched satellites that can create “solar eclipses on demand”
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SURPRISING DISCOVERIES
Merriam-Webster’s word of the year might be divisive. The dictionary gave the highlight to “polarization.”
Vans (VFC+0.53%) hopes that it can be cool again. The brand hasn’t had positive annual revenue growth for 11 quarters in a row. (paywall)
Sometimes people can only communicate in an emergency using WhatsApp (META+4.31%). UNRWA almost exclusively uses the app to stay in touch with its staff in Gaza.
The world’s best Spanish Scrabble player doesn’t speak Spanish. Nigel Richards won the Spanish World Scrabble Championships despite not knowing the language.
Dessert lovers really like Talenti gelato. Unilever (UL-0.06%) says sales of the fancy frozen treat are double their size a decade ago.
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