News

U.S. shoppers stepped up their spending just a bit in February after a sharp pullback the previous month, signaling that Americans are shopping more cautiously as concerns about the direction of the economy mount. Retail sales rose just 0.2% in February, a small rebound after a sharp drop of 1.2% in January, the Commerce Department said Monday. Sales rose at grocery stores, home and garden stores, and online retailers.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. retail sales rebounded marginally in February as consumers pulled back on discretionary spending, reinforcing the growing uncertainty over the economy against the backdrop of tariffs and mass firings of federal government workers. Nonetheless, the report from the Commerce Department on Monday suggested that the economy continued to grow in the first quarter, though at a moderate pace. It sketched a picture of a cautious consumer, with sales at restaurants and bars declining by the most in 13 months amid deteriorating sentiment.

Gaming company Inspired (NASDAQ:INSE) reported Q4 CY2024 results beating Wall Street’s revenue expectations, with sales up 2.2% year on year to $83 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.16 per share was 6.7% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

The Michael Saylor-led company now holds 499,226 BTC purchased for an average price of $66,360 per token.

The central bank issued two approvals Friday, allowing two Mississippi banks to merge in a $1.2 billion deal, and EverBank to acquire components of Sterling Bank for $261 million. Both deals are set to close April 1.

News of the day for March 17, 2025

President Donald Trump’s tariff policies are slowing economic growth in the United States and around the world while sending prices higher again, creating a toxic stew for the global economy that could grow even worse if tensions escalate, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said Monday.