The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index climbed to 91.2 in June, a modest 0.6-point increase from May. While lower fuel prices provided a buffer against inflation concerns, the data reveals a deepening divide between current economic reality and future expectations, particularly regarding the cooling domestic labor market.
Two giants of American standardized testing are merging, as Princeton-based ETS announced its acquisition of ACT today. The move aims to integrate their respective assessment portfolios to address shifting educational demands and workforce requirements, positioning the combined entity to support millions of learners as AI transforms the national job market.
For the eleventh consecutive year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Ardagh Glass Packaging its ENERGY STAR plant certification in Madera, California. The facility, which produces roughly one million wine bottles daily, now ranks within the top 25 percent of domestic glass manufacturers for energy efficiency.
Retail media does not need another conference; it needs a space to cultivate talent and stabilize a sector undergoing rapid transformation. RETHINK Retail has officially launched Media in Retail (MiR), a professional network designed to connect the architects of the modern commerce media landscape and elevate the craft.
The era of fast-casual dominance is fading, according to the 2026 US Restaurants & Chains AI Visibility Index by 5WPR. By analyzing how major AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews cite industry leaders, the report reveals that traditional giants and specialized concepts are now outpacing the once-thriving fast-casual sector.
Moving beyond the static documentation of the Rev5 era, Tel Aviv-based Anecdotes has secured FedRAMP 20x Moderate (Class C) certification. As an early participant in the pilot program, the GRC platform provider now offers a blueprint for federal contractors struggling to transition from manual audits to machine-readable data validation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has awarded Breakthrough Therapy designation to K-808, a selective PPARα modulator developed by Japan-based Kowa Company. The regulatory move aims to accelerate the review of this experimental drug, which targets primary biliary cholangitis, a chronic and potentially life-threatening autoimmune liver disease.
Investors can now access overcollateralized prime brokerage lending through the new FALX Structured Credit Facility, a collaborative effort between Plume and FalconX. By utilizing a specialized SPV managed by FalconX and curated by M11 Credit, the platform offers a predictable, yield-generating RWA strategy available across Ethereum, Solana, and Plume.
The F119 engine, the propulsion system powering the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, has officially surpassed one million flight hours. This achievement marks a significant performance record for the world’s first fifth-generation fighter engine, which remains the backbone of the U.S. Air Force’s air superiority capabilities after two decades of service.
A Chicago-based Amazon third-party merchant has secured a $2 million asset-based lending facility from Republic Business Credit. The deal, which includes an accordion feature allowing for expansion up to $5 million, provides the retailer with non-dilutive capital to manage inventory growth without sacrificing equity ownership.
Miami-based independent marketing organization Dependable Life Solutions has joined the Integrity distribution network, aiming to accelerate agent growth through AI-driven technology. While financial terms remain undisclosed, the partnership grants the Florida agency access to proprietary platforms designed to streamline insurance sales and client management for a national customer base.
Spencer Baird, the chief executive of Inmar Intelligence, has been named an EY US Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 for the Southeast region. The honor recognizes his role in the company's recent structural transformation and the accelerated innovation that has defined the Winston-Salem firm's performance over the past twelve months.
Nearly one in four U.S. workers is currently employed in a position that requires no formal educational credential, according to an analysis of recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data by OysterLink. These 37.4 million roles now outpace the combined employment share of master’s, doctoral, and associate degree-based positions.
Philadelphia-based recordkeeper PCS Retirement has tapped industry veteran Janis Benson to lead its legal division. Benson, who brings over 25 years of experience in financial services and fiduciary oversight, joins the firm to bolster governance and risk management as the company scales its national retirement plan operations.
The global data center battery market is set to more than double in value over the next six years, climbing from $4.82 billion in 2026 to $10.23 billion by 2032. This expansion, driven by a compound annual growth rate of 13.4%, reflects a massive shift toward hardening digital infrastructure against power instability.
The assumption that acne is a temporary rite of passage reserved for adolescence is increasingly outdated. According to Dr. Lesley Loss of Dermatology Associates of Rochester, adult-onset breakouts are a growing reality, driven by a complex interplay of hormonal shifts, chronic stress, and modern lifestyle habits that require specialized dermatological intervention.
Caylent, an AI-focused AWS Premier Tier Services Partner, has achieved the AWS Amazon Connect Customer Services Competency. The designation highlights the firm's technical proficiency in migrating legacy contact center infrastructure to modern, AI-driven environments, a move that follows its strategic acquisition of the specialized consultancy Pronetx earlier this year.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the National League of Cities and America's Newspapers have launched a year-long initiative inviting citizens to digitally sign the Declaration of Independence. The campaign, which runs through July 4, 2027, aims to unify Americans around the founding principles of liberty and equality.
Persistent under-eye fatigue often defies traditional fixes, but new research led by Dr. Mitchel P. Goldman suggests a shift in strategy. By utilizing Sculptra to stimulate the skin’s own regenerative processes rather than relying solely on immediate volume replacement, clinicians are finding a way to address complex infraorbital hollowing.
Eighty percent of U.S. drilling and completion data now falls under the Enverus umbrella following the company’s acquisition of four major PDS Energy Information platforms. By absorbing these exchange networks, the Austin-based firm aims to link operational field events directly to the commercial workflows that account for them.
The global market for lithium-ion battery recycling is poised for explosive growth, climbing from an estimated $7.3 billion in 2026 to $31.8 billion by 2033. This 23.4% annual growth rate reflects the massive influx of spent electric vehicle batteries and tightening international mandates for material recovery.
The Trustworthy Accountability Group has launched a strategic campaign to choke off advertising revenue for 1,376 websites illegally streaming 2026 FIFA World Cup content. This industry-led effort complements a recent U.S. Department of Justice crackdown, aiming to starve digital piracy operations of the capital required to sustain their infrastructure.
Addiction treatment provider Recovery Centers of America is shedding its physical constraints, launching a virtual-only intensive outpatient program in states where the organization maintains no brick-and-mortar facilities. Idaho marks the first phase of this geographic expansion, with Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming slated to follow in the coming months.
Residents can now store vehicle titles, insurance records, and registration documents directly on their smartphones through the updated AX Wallet. Developed by AstreaX, a Michael Baker International company, the platform now allows users to receive proactive expiration alerts and complete registration renewals without visiting a government office.
Salt Lake City-based Teem is embedding artificial intelligence directly into its remote workforce operations, marking a shift toward blending human-led administrative support with machine-learning tools. The company aims to solve the industry-wide struggle of balancing lean operational costs with the complex, empathy-driven demands of patient care.
Durham-based Higharc has raised $95 million in a Series C funding round led by Insight Partners, pushing its total capital to over $170 million. The company plans to leverage the new investment to extend its generative AI platform beyond home design and into the materials distribution market via US LBM.
With nearly a third of Pennsylvania currently facing abnormally dry conditions, local utility officials are urging residents to curb water consumption. The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that 15 counties are under drought watch and four under warning, as residents prepare for a summer marked by record-breaking heat and limited rainfall.
For the second consecutive year, Seffner-based furniture giant Rooms To Go has secured five-star ratings on USA Today’s 2026 lists for America’s Best Stores and Most Trusted Brands. The accolades underscore the retailer's sustained influence across the Southeast and Texas, where it operates more than 200 showrooms.
After three decades of independent growth, Union, New Jersey–based specialty ingredient provider Kalustyan has secured a strategic partnership with private equity firm Awani Capital Management. The deal aims to scale the supplier’s operations while maintaining its long-standing niche in the spice, flavor, and fragrance manufacturing sectors.
To mark six decades since the Charger’s 1966 debut, Dodge is expanding its palette with Purple Haze, a limited-run exterior finish available exclusively for the 2027 model year. The high-gloss paint, priced at $795, aims to tap into the brand’s history of high-impact colors while appealing to muscle car enthusiasts.
