Alphabet Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., the world’s biggest digital advertising platforms, once again raked in astonishing amounts of money in 2021. “So what else is new?” you’re probably wondering. Almost every year for the past decade, the companies also known as Google and Facebook set profit records. But this week marked a troubling difference. Facebook’s announcement that user numbers ...

  The Federal Reserve last month released a report about how the US might update its currency for an “age of digital transformation.” While the long overdue assessment doesn’t reach a conclusion on whether a new digital dollar would be a good idea, the way it breaks down the issues repeatedly confuses the interests of the financial sector with those ...

  As companies worldwide work to rebuild their stockpiles of goods, they are sending a message about inflation. The trouble is that message is far more worrisome than many people have concluded, and it poses a bigger-than-expected problem for policy makers and the markets. Consider last week’s release of US gross domestic product numbers for the fourth quarter. Those who ...

  Bloomberg Airbus SE dodged the threat of strikes in Germany, reaching a labor deal that will allow continued production of its best-selling A320 jetliner. The accord rules out compulsory job cuts at restructured parts plants until the end of 2030, according to the IG Metall union. Airbus agreed to invest in the sites until at least that date and ...

  Bloomberg Frontier Group Holdings Inc agreed to buy Spirit Airlines Inc. for $2.9 billion in cash and stock, uniting two ultra-low-cost carriers targeting the recovering US leisure-travel market. Spirit shares rose the most in 14 months. Spirit investors will receive 1.9126 Frontier shares and $2.13 in cash for each Spirit share, according to a statement Monday. The deal implies ...

  Bloomberg A Danish pension fund said it will exit its $3 million stake in Wizz Air Holdings Plc after talks failed to resolve concerns surrounding the discount carrier’s labor practices. AkademikerPension, which manages around $23 billion, said Monday that it will sell the stock after Wizz rebuffed a plea for it to recognize staff rights concerning freedom of association ...

  Bloomberg It’s an age-old question: “Business or pleasure?” For airline passengers these days, the answer increasingly is both. The growth in so-called “bleisure” trips blending personal getaways with remote work has helped fill seats on planes during the coronavirus pandemic and marks a shift in travel patterns for an industry used to clear divisions between briefcase-toting road warriors and ...

  Bloomberg US retailers are bracing for more returns than usual, adding stress to an industry already grappling with increasing labor costs and supply-chain issues. Shoppers are expected to return more than $761 billion in merchandise sold last year, representing about 16.6% of total US retail sales, according to a survey of retailers. That’s up from 10.6% during 2020. Fraudulent ...

  Bloomberg Boris Johnson promised his Conservative Party an overhaul of his top team as he strives to keep his job after a series of gaffes and scandals. Two rapid appointments over the weekend may already be too late. Reeling from the resignation of five aides in 24 hours last week, the UK prime minister moved quickly to fill key ...

  Bloomberg The US and its allies need to push back harder against China after they “acquiesced and allowed” Beijing to expand its footprint in the South China Sea over the past decade, Australia’s Defense Minister Peter Dutton said. “If we continue on that trajectory, then I think we’ll lose the next decade,” Dutton said in an interview with the ...