Tariffs raised costs for some of America’s biggest retailers over the past year. That put pressure on companies to raise prices, negotiate with suppliers, or, in some cases, absorb more of the expense themselves. Consumers ultimately felt at least part of that pressure. Federal Reserve researchers found that tariff-related price increases occurred gradually through 2025 […]

Starbucks has made it routine for people to pay more than $6 for a medium espresso-based drink. My daily go-to: a grande iced horchata shaken espresso costs $6.45. I actually live closer to a 7-Eleven where coffee drinks cost roughly half as much. A large (30-ounce) flavored latte from the convenience store chain costs $2.29. […]

When you operate a business, it costs you money to not be open. You still pay rent and utilities even when you’re closed. Because of that, back in my toy store general manager days, I tried very hard to keep the store open profitably as much as possible. That didn’t just mean opening the doors […]