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Business news written here, in plain English, for people who run something. Every story is ours.
Monday, October 19
FDA recalls over 100,000 bottles of acetaminophen sold on Amazon nationwide
Check your medicine cabinet for recalled acetaminophen bottles today. Over 100,000 bottles sold on Amazon face a nationwide recall. Customers reported finding discolored tablets inside their medicine bottles. Review your orders to see if you have the affected batches.
Tax Foundation releases the International Tax Competitiveness Index 2026 ranking OECD tax codes
Tax Foundation published the 2026 International Tax Competitiveness Index. The report reviews global tax systems across member nations. Austria reduced corporate tax rates by several percentage points. France, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia increased their rates.
Apple expects to sell 6 million foldable iPhone Duo units this year
Apple priced its first foldable phone at $1,999. That sits just under the key $2,000 psychological mark. Demand is expected to be strong among existing iPhone Pro users. The new device launches as the wider smartphone market faces a contraction.
40 state attorneys general demand child data protections in Character.AI bankruptcy
Character.AI just filed for bankruptcy in Delaware court. Forty state attorneys general are demanding strict child data protections. New York Attorney General Letitia James warned about private teen conversations being sold off. Disney agreed to pay $20 million to license the chatbot technology.
Albertsons hires former Walmart executive Steve Shee to cut $1.5 billion in costs
Steve Shee just left Walmart to run operations at Albertsons. He takes over a massive three-year plan to save cash. The retail giant wants to cut $1.5 billion in expenses. He steps in as the previous media head walks out the door.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the upcoming Roadster will perform stunts autonomously
Elon Musk promised the Tesla Roadster will perform stunts autonomously. The car used 10 nozzles and ultra high pressure air tanks. Production is targeted for the late 2020s around 2028. Tesla plans a looping test track at its Texas headquarters.
Construction material prices jump 11.2% in 12 months according to Associated Builders and Contractors
Construction input prices jumped 2.2% in September. Prices are up 11.2% over twelve months. Crude petroleum prices increased 28.3% for the month. Over one in four contractors expect lower profit margins.
Google Pixel 11 Pro introduces 120x zoom and instant night sight
Google unveils the new Pixel 11 Pro smartphone. It features a massive 120x zoom capability. A new Tensor G6 chip powers the upgraded camera. Instant Night Sight works up to 4.5 times faster.
Chase updates Sapphire Reserve card with a $15 monthly DoorDash credit
Chase increased the monthly DoorDash credit on Sapphire Reserve cards to $15. Cardholders can now select which specific discount to apply directly at checkout. The change brings total annual DoorDash value to $540. Business card holders keep the $5 monthly restaurant credit.
Sunday, October 18
Anthropic commits 5% of its shares to public benefit fund
Artificial intelligence giant Anthropic is setting aside five percent of its shares. The fund will donate money to nonprofits and help workers affected by artificial intelligence. The move comes as the company prepares for a massive stock market listing.
Apple reveals iPhone Duo has a 4883mAh battery capacity in new EU document
Apple finally revealed the battery size after pre-orders opened. The new phone packs a 4883mAh battery. It sits right between the Pro and Pro Max models. Watch out if you use the large inside screen often.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce updates weekly list of federal grants and funding programs
Finding money for your growing business can be a daily challenge. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce updates its weekly list of active grants. Thousands of federal opportunities are waiting for qualified companies to apply. Check the database to see what funding matches your specific industry today.
Microsoft pulls out of £2bn AI data centre project in Loughton
Microsoft just pulled out of a massive £2bn AI data centre project in Loughton. Nscale planned to open the huge facility by the end of this year. Power delays pushed the electricity supply back to the 2030s. The tech giant dropped its funding for the site supercomputer.
Truist sells $7.7B in LightStream loans and replaces consumer banking chief
Truist is selling $7.7 billion in personal loans to Carlyle. Dontá Wilson is leaving his post as consumer banking head. Shimna Sameer and Jeff Warner will step into new leadership roles. The bank wants to focus on core deposits and boost profits. This turnaround is led by CEO Mike Lyons.
Nike builds a new global campus in Bengaluru, India, targeting $332.94 billion market
Nike reported its fiscal first-quarter earnings on Oct. 1 with a major international expansion plan. The sneaker giant will create a new global campus in Bengaluru, India, for corporate and brand roles. CEO Elliott Hill calls the facility a long-term investment to revive lagging sales.
Porch Group acquires Allied Trust in $200 million deal
Porch Group just bought Allied Trust for $200 million. The big deal adds a major southern Insurance carrier. Louisiana alone accounts for half its 2025 premiums. The purchase aims to expand home Insurance operations.
SoftBank weighs $18 billion acquisition of security giant Allied Universal
SoftBank Group is weighing an $18 billion buyout of Allied Universal. The security giant guards major venues and data centers across the country. SoftBank wants to replace human guards with AI robots over time. Deliberations remain preliminary with no final decisions reached yet.
Tax Foundation reports 12 states and Washington D.C. levy estate taxes for 2026
Twelve states and Washington D.C. levy Estate taxes. Hawaii and Washington charge a top rate of 20 percent. Five states charge Inheritance Taxes for beneficiaries. Maryland collects both an Estate tax and an Inheritance tax. Check your local State rules before planning.
Amazon offers four months of Audible for 99 cents a month with credit
Amazon gives four months of Audible for 99 cents a month. Prime members also get a 20 dollar bonus credit to spend. The deal ends on October 19th before auto billing begins. Cancel before four months to avoid the regular 8 dollar and 99 cent monthly fee.
Chase offers 2.5x PointsBoost redemption on 11 select properties in Chase Travel
Chase Travel is offering a 2.5x Ultimate Rewards PointsBoost redemption. Eleven select properties now qualify for the higher 2.5 cents per point value. Chase also lowered most 2 cent-per-point hotels down to 1.65 cents. Much of the airline 2 cent redemption was removed at the same time.
Nordstrom Rack returns to downtown San Francisco with a new store near Union Square
Nordstrom Rack is coming back to downtown San Francisco. The new store opens in fall 2027 at 2 Stockton St. It follows the closure of two nearby locations in 2023. This brings 51,500 square feet of retail space back to the city.
IRS urged to crack down on ghost preparers in new GAO report
A new government report warns about ghost preparers hiding on tax returns. These rogue preparers do not sign returns and can steal refunds. The IRS lacks a clear strategy and measurable goals to stop them. Paid preparers handled over half of all tax returns last year.
ShopRite gives $15 shopping voucher when you buy $100 in One4All gift cards
ShopRite brings back the popular One4All gift card deal this week. Buy $100 in cards and get a $15 voucher for your next trip. The offer runs from October 18 through October 24. Use your free voucher the following week on groceries.
Ford and Google warn 1.7 million trade jobs need workers each year
America has about 1.7 million jobs to fill every single year through 2035. Ford, BlackRock, Google, and Carhartt are joining forces to say the country must skill up fast.
Amex delays Newark Centurion Lounge opening to 2027 while expanding network
The huge new Newark lounge is pushed back to 2027. It will now span 30,000 square feet across two floors. Philadelphia and Houston lounges are also getting major expansions. Platinum cardholders can still access them free when traveling.
Lego uses e-methanol to make over 90 products and cut fossil fuels
Lego started using e-methanol to make over 90 products. The low-carbon fuel uses renewable energy and recycled carbon dioxide. The toymaker spent five years testing the new material. Now steering wheels and Minifigure hands are made with it.
Apple launches HomeView smart display starting at $299 with preorders underway
Apple just unveiled the long-awaited HomeView smart display for your house. The new device combines a 7-inch touchscreen with conversational Siri AI. Preorders are open now with general availability beginning on November 13, 2026. Both models start at $299 in the United States and several markets.
Rakuten offers $100 for Chase Ink Cash and Unlimited cards
Rakuten brings back the $100 bonus for Chase Ink cards. You can also get $25 for the Freedom Unlimited card. New and existing customers qualify depending on the specific card terms. Check your Rakuten account before applying for your next business card.
US Food and Drug Administration issues warning letters to drug manufacturers for manufacturing violations
The US Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to several drug makers. Inspectors found failures in maintaining sterile conditions and good laboratory practices. Jiangmen Shuizirun Sanitary Articles and Hanlim Pharm received citations for contamination risks.
Apple, Google, and Samsung set $1,299 starting prices for top flagships
Three top smartphone makers now cost $1,299 for their base models. A memory crisis is pushing component costs much higher this year. Apple, Google, and Samsung are betting on completely different features at that price. Check your upgrade plans before buying a new phone.
