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Proposed bitcoin-for-bitcoin acquisition of Moonshot and Never Say Die would triple the company’s holdings and expand institutional scale.

Led by Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, Strategy acquired 1,031 bitcoin, bringing holdings to 762,099 coins.

Millions of retirees entered 2026 expecting a raise. What they got was a bill.Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment came in at 2.8% this year, adding about $56 a month to the average benefit check. Part B premiums jumped $17.90 at the same time, rising from $185 to $202.90 a month. For most retirees, that premium comes straight out of their Social Security payment before it ever arrives.Nearly one-third of the average raise was already spoken for on day one. It marks the first time in the program’s history that standard Part B premiums have cleared $200 a month.The COLA that wasn’tSocial Security puts the average retirement benefit at $2,071 a month in 2026. The 2.8% COLA added roughly $56 to that figure. Medicare immediately claimed $202.90 of the total check, up from $185 the year before.More Personal Finance:Why selling a home to your child for a dollar can backfireElon Musk says ‘universal high income’ is comingFTC, 21 states sue Uber over ‘shady’ subscription billingThe net gain for the average retiree, after accounting for the premium increase, was closer to $38 a month. That is before groceries, prescriptions, or any other cost that also climbed this year.The annual Part B deductible rose too, from $257 to $283, meaning retirees absorb more out of pocket before Medicare covers anything. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced both increases in November 2025, citing projected price changes and higher utilization of medical services. The 9.7% premium spike was the largest Part B increase in four years.Higher earners face a steeper climbThe $202.90 standard premium applies only to those earning below $109,000 as a single filer, or $218,000 filing jointly, based on 2024 tax returns. Above those thresholds, the IRMAA surcharge kicks in. Premiums for affected beneficiaries range from $284.10 to $689.90 a month.About 8% of Medicare beneficiaries pay these surcharges. The structure is unforgiving: earning just one dollar over a threshold triggers the full surcharge for that bracket, potentially adding more than $1,000 a year.

Low-income seniors may qualify for Medicare Savings Programs.KLAMAR/Getty Images

There is another wrinkle. The surcharge is based on income from two years prior, so retirees who had a high-earning year in 2024 may face a larger premium bill this year even if their income has since fallen. Those who believe their 2024 filing no longer reflects their current situation can appeal using SSA Form SSA-44, which covers qualifying life changes including retirement, divorce, or the death of a spouse.What retirees can do nowThere are several moves worth considering. Low-income beneficiaries may qualify for Medicare Savings Programs, which can help cover Part B premiums, deductibles, and copays. Retirees on Medicare Advantage should also review their plan during open enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7, to see if switching could lower monthly costs.Steps worth taking before the end of 2026Appeal your IRMAA if your income has dropped. Use SSA Form SSA-44 to report qualifying life changes such as retirement or the death of a spouse.Check Medicare Savings Programs. Eligibility varies by state, but qualifying beneficiaries can get significant help with premiums and cost-sharing.Review your Medicare Advantage plan in October. Open enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Switching plans can meaningfully reduce annual costs.Look into Medigap coverage. Medicare Supplement plans cover the 20% coinsurance gap that traditional Medicare leaves open, limiting exposure to large out-of-pocket bills.Retirees watching income closely around IRMAA thresholds should also pay attention to Roth conversions, required minimum distributions, and part-time work. All of these can push income into a higher bracket. A financial advisor can help time those moves to avoid a costly premium jump two years down the line.The $200 milestone is historic. For most retirees, the more pressing reality is what happens next. Healthcare costs have consistently outpaced broader inflation. Until that changes, the gap between the raise and the bill is likely to keep widening.Related: Dave Ramsey sounds alarm on major Medicare problem

Seemingly every day, one side issues a new threat against the other, so as it enters its fourth week, the Iran-U.S.-Israel war doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon.This week, U.S. President Donald Trump drew a line in the sand, warning Israel not to repeat its attacks on Iran’s natural gas infrastructure after it bombed one of Iran’s major gas fields. Iran responded by bombing Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, which processes about a fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas.Despite the president’s claim that he told Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, “I told him, ‘Don’t do that’, and he won’t do that,” the escalation represents a turning point in the war that could do major damage to the domestic economy.”The spike in oil and gas prices due to the conflict in the Middle East challenges our optimistic outlook for the U.S. economy, yet we see underlying resilience,” said Andrew Husby, senior economist at BNP Paribas, in a recent note reviewed by TheStreet.In recent years, the U.S. has become a net exporter of energy products, a fact that the firm says will help mitigate the direct negative impact of rising prices on economic growth. The U.S. economy is well-positioned to withstand oil shock, says BNP ParibasBrent crude oil hit an all-time high of $147 in 2008, rising from about $30 a barrel in 2003 to more than $100 by early 2008, reportedly spurred by increased demand from China, according to Trading Economics. But just as abruptly, Brent prices fell back down to earth, only breaking $100 per barrel again in 2022 during the Covid pandemic.Though analysts at BNP Paribas say a prolonged shock with a moderate price rise would “probably” prompt minor adjustments to its growth outlook, the firm is still bullish on the U.S. economy. “We see the US economy as well-positioned to absorb the shock, as it is now the world’s largest producer of crude and a net energy exporter. The sensitivity of the economy to changes in oil prices has fallen, while monetary and fiscal policies ex-tariffs appear stimulative,” Husby said.BNP has had an above-consensus view of the U.S. economy for some time, saying it takes a “glass-half-full” view of the job market and expects the unemployment rate to hold at current levels.For the firm to change its outlook, it says oil prices would have to rise well above $150 per barrel.

BNP Paribas sees signs of resilience in the U.S. economy.Photo by Olga Rolenko on Getty Images

Opening the Strait of Hormuz is the key to stabilizing oil pricesIran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil flows, is presenting a big problem for the world’s economy.Goldman Sachs estimates that oil supply could be low for longer if production potential is further damaged in the war, but OPEC countries could alleviate that by deploying spare capacity.”Oil prices will likely continue to trend higher while Hormuz flows remain very low,” Goldman Head of Oil Research Daan Struyven and his team said in a note reviewed by TheStreet. “[There may be] risks to long-term prices from the Iran war beyond uncertainty around the timing of Hormuz reopening, in light of recent strikes on energy infrastructure. Oil supply could be low for longer if production potential is damaged.”Related: Americans pay at the pump in fastest gas price increase in 20 yearsLooking back at history, the firm estimates that the five prior largest supply shocks in the past 50 years yielded an average production hit of 42% after four years, “often due to infrastructure damage and low investment.”Iran and the seven other Persian Gulf countries produced about 30% of global crude last year, according to Goldman and OPEC, which could deploy its spare capacity should prices really start to get out of control.”The Hormuz shock and lingering uncertainty may cause faster strategic stock building from 2027 because end-2026 reserves will likely be low and because countries may raise SPR targets,” Goldman says.Gas prices rise in the largest one-day increase since 2005Monday, March 2, was the last time crude prices traded rationally as the price of a gallon of petrol jumped 11 cents overnight, rising to $3.11 per gallon on average, per AAA.The next day, as it became clear that the Iran war wasn’t going to end as quickly as we had been led to believe, prices saw their largest one-day increase since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Related: Watch the road: these 5 states have the most irresponsible driversIranian oil is already heavily sanctioned by the U.S, and as of this year, China buys more than 80% of the estimated 1.9 million barrels of crude Iran ships out daily, Reuters reported.In addition to making the Strait of Hormuz impassable for the majority of cargo ships in the region, Iran has also targeted the oil infrastructure of the Gulf states that house U.S. military bases, where up to 40,000 troops are stationed in the region, according to NPR.Iran has sent drones and bombs to oil refineries in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.While no one knows how long the current conflict will last, Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Marquee, recently weighed in.“If the status quo is maintained, where the majority of volumes from the Strait of Hormuz remain unable to flow, then prices are very low compared to the impact that will have on supply, demand of the market,” Kavonic told CNBC.Every week this conflict continues, about 100 million barrels of crude won’t reach the market, he added. That type of change will inevitably lead to triple-digit prices.“The disruption creates a dual supply shock: Not only are current exports through the Strait halted, but OPEC+ additional volumes and ultimately most of OPEC’s spare capacity — typically a key lever for balancing the global oil market — are inaccessible while the waterway remains closed,” WoodMac analysts said in a recent note, according to Reuters.Related: Tesla LiDAR stance accelerates NHTSA investigation into FSD

The proposed tax would classify some crypto transactions as foreign exchange operations, subject to rates ranging to as high as 3.5%.

Well-respected economists Krugman and Brooks believe we are near to the peak in oil prices because demand destruction takes place if it goes much higher

A major player in the U.S. grocery supply chain is delivering difficult news to hundreds of workers as it restructures its logistics network.In a rapidly changing food retail landscape, consumers are also changing what and how they eat, placing greater emphasis on a healthier diet and a visible increase in the consumption of natural and organic foods.According to data from the Organic Trade Association (OTA), sales of organic food products reached $65.4 billion in 2024, up from $38.6 billion in 2012, marking the first increase since its 2020s peak.Fresh fruits and vegetables remain the top category of organically grown products, underscoring continued demand for healthier food options.United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), a 50-year-old company and a pioneer in the health food space, has played a key role in supplying this demand. The Rhode Island company is one of the largest grocery distributors in North America and supplies major retailers, including Whole Foods.But even as the organic food market grows, the company is now making major operational changes that will affect 443 workers.Grocery distributor UNFI plans layoffsUnited Natural Foods plans to lay off 443 workers as part of the closure of a distribution facility in Sturtevant, Wis., according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing.The job cuts will take place in phases beginning in late June 2026 and continuing through early August, with the layoffs being permanent.More Layoffs:Walgreens widens job cuts amid store closuresUPS clears major legal hurdle amid job cutsLuxury retail giant cuts more than 1,200 jobs after bankruptcy filingThe filing shows that the reductions will impact a wide range of logistics and warehouse positions, including drivers, supervisors, lift operators, and selectors. Some affected employees are represented by General Teamsters Local Union No 200.The layoffs are tied to a broader restructuring of UNFI’s supply chain network. The company plans to shut down the Wisconsin center and shift operations to a larger facility in Joliet, Illinois.UNFI is expanding its operations in Illinois and installing new automation technology to increase capacity and improve efficiency, Grocery Dive reported. 

UNFI’s stock is up 15% year to date.Shutterstock

UNFI rolls out AI-powered supply chainThe restructuring also comes as UNFI continues to modernize its supply chain and improve profitability.During its Q2 2026 earnings call, management said that the company is rolling out an AI-powered supply chain planning platform across its entire network as part of its next-generation logistics strategy.CEO Sandy Douglas pointed out that progress in implementation has helped the company “improve customer service, fill rates, and inventory management,” boosting the company’s free cash flow.The company reported mixed financial results earlier this month, reporting adjusted earnings per share of $0.62, a significant increase from last year’s $0.22.Net sales were around $8 billion in the quarter, down 2.6% year over year. But despite softer sales, the company’s profitability improved significantly. Adjusted EBITDA was up  23% to $179 million, driven by reduced debt and lower depreciation expense.Free cash flow was also up around 25% year over year at $243 million.Douglas noted that the execution of value-creation strategies has lifted profitability and free cash flow ahead of projections, and this will continue into the year.For United Natural Foods, the restructuring comes during a milestone year as the company celebrates 50 years in business and adapts to changing consumer demand and rising costs through AI optimization, network consolidation, and streamlining operations.Related: 96-year-old grocery chain acquires 18 stores from rival

Trump said that the two countries held “very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.”

The president also said he has ordered the Pentagon to postpone military strikes on Iran’s power plants for at least 5 days, extending a deadline he announced over the weekend.

“I’m angry, but also sad.”