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It has been no secret that U.S. demand for electric vehicles has taken a sharp downturn since the government allowed the $7,500 tax credit for new EVs and the $4,000 credit for used EVs to expire last September. U.S. EV market share fell to 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 8.7% a year prior and 10.5%, the all-time high hit during the third quarter, according to CarEdge.Globally, battery electric vehicles are more popular than ever, thanks to consumers in the European Union and China.But now, even China is starting to lag amid a downturn in its entire auto industry that is affecting more than just EVs. So the EU has had to pick up the slack, and despite being weighed down by the U.S. and China, global EV sales are rising, thanks to buyers across the pond.EU leads global EV sales higher as China, U.S. sputterEuropean Union car buyers are choosing electric vehicles by the millions, leading global demand for EVs to tick higher for the fourth consecutive month, despite headwinds from China and the U.S., which are two of the three biggest car markets in the world. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), which specializes in EV and battery supply chain research, 2 million electric vehicles were sold globally in June, bringing year-to-date EV sales to 9.6 million. EV sales increased by 7% year-over-year and by 11% month-over-month.”The global EV market’s regional divergence continued in June 2026. Europe remains the main engine of growth after another record month for EV sales, bringing year-to-date growth up to 27% compared to the same period in 2025,” said George Whitcombe, BMI senior EV analyst. According to Whitcombe, the growth is being helped by subsidies and elevated fuel prices, but the real secret ingredient is the increasing number of “small segment EVs” from European car makers. “With these small EVs strongly supported by legislation in the region, they are an area to watch in terms of supporting growth in the coming months and into next year,” Whitcombe said. Battery electric vehicle sales accounted for 42% of sales in China in May, about 8x higher than the U.S. market share, reported CleanTechnica. And while the Chinese government hasn’t fully abandoned its incentive program, it is offering fewer incentives.China’s EV market share was achieved in large part because gas-powered vehicles took such a large dip that month, with sales falling 39% year over year and hybrid electric vehicle sales falling 25% in the month, GlobalData shared.BEV sales rose 4% that month, but that has been an outlier month for China. So far this year, EV sales in 2026 are down 14% year-over-year in China, and were down 11% year-over-year in June, Electrek noted.That decline in China is helping spur the growth in Europe as Chinese automakers look to increase their exports into the market. Chinese OEMs exported a record almost 500,000 units in June, according to CnEVPost.Meanwhile, in North America, EV sales are down 20% year to date, ElectricCarsReport noted.”The North American EV market remains hampered by weaker legislative drivers and a lack of subsidy support in the U.S.,” Whitcombe said. “Overall, the global EV market continues to be defined by its mixed trajectory amid changing policy environments and China’s EV export push.”

Battery electric vehicle sales accounted for 42% of sales in China in May, about 8x U.S. market share.Tashdique Mehtaj Ahmed / Getty Images

EVs have extra costs ICE vehicles don’tIt’s not as if Americans are completely against electrified vehicles. When combined with plug-in hybrids, electrified vehicle sales represent 20% of the total market, according to Edmunds. While that pales in comparison to the 69% market share in the EU, one in five isn’t a bad ratio.But one of the biggest issues with EVs is that they get old fast. Much faster than gas-powered vehicles.The average 5-year depreciation cost across all vehicle types is around 46%, according to Recharged, but recent studies show EVs lose around 60% of their value over that time period. Purely gas vehicles typically lose between 40% and 50% in the first five years.However, the financial ramifications of that depreciation are somewhat offset by studies showing that EVs typically cost between 35% and 50% less in routine maintenance since there is no need for oil changes, exhaust repairs, or any of the multitude of other issues that come with internal combustion engines.EV owners typically spend only between $150 and $300 a year on basic service, compared to between $900 and $1,800 for gas-powered vehicles.One of the biggest causes of depreciation for EVs is rapid tech turnover. With all of the technology powering them, EVs become outdated faster.EVs are also 20% more expensive to repair after a collision than gas-powered vehicles.Related: China is about to repeat an EV move that blindsided U.S.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.A warm-weather must-haveWith a heat wave hitting the East Coast this week, we’re getting a taste of summer weather in the spring. That means many are breaking out the fans and cranking up the air conditioning in an attempt to keep cool. But those aren’t the only ways to beat the heat. Shark came out with an innovative personal fan that’s popping up all over the internet, and it looks like the hottest new accessory that can help keep you cool.The Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 Personal Fan is a $150 multifunctional device that not only keeps you cool, but does so in just the palm of your hand. It’s compact, lightweight, and efficient, making it ideal for taking on the go, whether you’re enjoying a run outside or traveling to a new (and warm) destination. Shoppers say it “cools you down in seconds.” Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 Personal Fan, $150 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at AmazonWhy do shoppers love it?Personal fans are a compact and efficient way to cool off in hot weather. Many options simply offer a nice breeze, but if you want an all-in-one cooling system, look no further than the Shark ChillPill. It’s essentially three devices in one, turning into a fan, a mister, or a cooling plate with the switch of an attachment. The fan has 10 speeds and can push air up to 25 feet per second, while the dry-touch evaporative mister offers constant or interval misting that cools you down without leaving you soaked. But one of the coolest (pun intended) features has to be the InstaChill Cooling Plate. Inspired by cryotherapy, the plate can lower skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit, giving you instant relief, like a portable ice pack.Its versatile design is also a game changer. It’s only 1.77 inches long by 3.31 inches wide by 4.41 inches high and weighs just 0.77 pounds, so it’s easy to hold, pack, or carry. Plus, it has a twistable design that props it up on a flat surface, whether it’s a tabletop or desk. You can also buy a separate clip to attach it to a bag strap or clothes, a clamp to attach it to a bike or a stroller, or a strap to wear it around your neck or as a crossbody for easy access. The cooling device is rechargeable and has a battery life of up to 11 hours on the lowest setting. On the highest setting, however, it only lasts for 1.5 hours. While not ideal, it uses a USB-C cable to recharge in 3.5 hours. When you’re on the go and need to power it back up, you can easily use a portable charger to keep the cooling power going. It comes with a charging cable, as well as the misting and cooling plate attachments, and three replacement wicks for the mister.Not only does it keep you cool, but it also looks incredible. It has a futuristic design, and it comes in a variety of playful colors, including Dragon Fruit, Carbon, Glacier, Haze, and Iced Latte.Related: Walmart is selling an $86 Vornado tower fan for $60 to beat the heatIs the Shark ChillPill worth it? Pros and consPros3-in-1 cooling system: Its high-tech cooling technology includes a 10-speed fan, InstaChill Cooling Plate, and a dry-touch evaporative mister that cools without drenching you with water.Compact size: Measuring 1.77 inches long by 3.31 inches wide by 4.41 inches high and weighing 0.77 pounds, it’s small, portable, and travel-friendly.Versatile design: The cooling device can be held by hand, twisted to sit as a desktop fan, clipped onto clothing, clamped onto a bike, or worn with a crossbody strap.ConsCost: At $150, it’s more expensive than other handheld fans. It’s a great investment for frequent use, but if you only plan on using it occasionally, you might be better off with a cheaper alternative.Noise level: Reviewers say the fan is loud at higher speeds.Extra attachments and accessories: To switch between the cooling features, you need to add the proper attachments, which are included. However, accessories like the clip and carrying strap have to be purchased separately. The mister also requires a wick. The device comes with three, but extras will need to be repurchased in the future.Even though it’s expensive, the Shark ChillPill can certainly come in handy, especially if you enjoy spending time outdoors. For travelers, the ChillPill is easy to pack and small enough to carry without being inconvenient. Whether you’re traveling to a new country, waiting in long lines at a theme park, or wandering around a state fair, it can help keep you cool in not one, but three ways. It’s great for walks, hikes, or runs in hot weather, as well as beach trips and camping trips in the summer. It will also be a lifesaver for anyone who commutes or if you tend to run hot in general.”This little handheld fan has some nice power to it! I have tried many handheld fans, and while they were okay while indoors, they did nothing once I was outside in the sweltering heat. I think this fan has the capability to help a lot more,” a shopper said. “It is going to be perfect for our road trip vacations in the summertime.”Shop more dealsBearwind Portable Handheld Turbo Fan, $19 (was $20) at AmazonCheerair Handheld Portable Fan, $27 at AmazonJisulife Handheld Fan, $60 (was $70) at AmazonIf you’re looking for a new gadget to help you cool off in the heat, the Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 Personal Fan is available on Amazon for $150.

As mortgage rates linger near 6.5%, a new fiscal threat taking shape in Washington could add further pressure to housing affordability. Research from George Mason University’s Mercatus Center connects Social Security’s funding crisis to the bond market dynamics that shape your mortgage rate. The connection runs through the federal debt, a channel separate from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions that most borrowers have been watching.Without a congressional fix before the retirement trust fund depletes in late 2032, the government could face hundreds of billions in new annual borrowing, the Mercatus Center research found.That surge in Treasury issuance would push bond yields higher, and 30-year mortgage rates could climb from about 6.3% toward 9%, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget projected. Bond investors would not wait for the trust fund to hit zero, because markets tend to reprice risk well ahead of fiscal deadlines, the researchers warned. How the trust fund shortfall could affect mortgage paymentsSocial Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund will deplete its reserves in the fourth quarter of 2032, the latest trustees report confirmed. At that point, ongoing payroll tax revenue would cover only 78% of scheduled benefits, leaving retirees with a 22% cut across all benefits.Bond markets could begin repositioning as soon as 12 months out from the projected depletion date if Congress fails to act, Jason Fichtner, executive director at the LIMRA Retirement Income Institute told CNBC.Financial markets may be pricing in a responsible congressional solution now, but if that expectation shifts toward large-scale borrowing, the correction will not come gradually, the researchers noted. Related: AARP, Fidelity share major warning on Social Security, 401(k)sThe OASI trust fund’s early-2030s depletion is “the inflection point that could lead to a fiscal crisis if legislative action is not taken beforehand,” wrote Mercatus senior research fellow Veronique de Rugy and Fichtner.The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget modeled replacing Social Security payroll tax revenue with borrowed money to cover funding shortfalls. Such borrowing could raise the neutral rate on 10-year Treasury bonds from 4.0% to roughly 6.6%, according to its 2025 research.A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage would follow that trajectory, potentially rising from roughly 6.3% to close to 9%, the organization projected.A $29.3 trillion gap with accelerating warning signsThe 2026 OASDI Trustees Report reveals a significantly worse financial picture than the year before, with the 75-year shortfall surging to $29.3 trillion from $25.1 trillion. Three forces drove the deterioration: a lower fertility assumption and lower net immigration both point to a smaller future workforce, while the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced projected tax revenue flowing to the trust funds, the Bipartisan Policy Center explainedThe Social Security Administration lowered its long-run fertility estimate from 1.9 children per woman to 1.75, reducing the projected future workforce that funds the system. Immigration assumptions also fell, further shrinking the payroll tax base, and the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut the trust fund’s income tax revenue, the report confirmed. More Social Security:Fidelity offers a lifeline to millions before Social Security shiftsSocial Security retirees could pocket a bigger 2027 raiseSocial Security’s funds will run out sooner than expectedMercatus research found that Social Security’s annual funding gap will reach $600 billion by 2033 and grow to about $700 billion by 2036. That gap would add to an already strained federal balance sheet, with the national debt projected to hit $46.5 trillion by 2033.Early warning signals have already appeared in Treasury markets, with foreign holdings of U.S. government debt declining amid tariff-driven global uncertainty, Fichtner noted. Inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, and longer-maturity yields on Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities suggest investors expect elevated price growth to persist, Fichtner and de Rugy warned.

Social Security’s projected funding gap has ballooned to $29.3 trillion.Maskot/Getty Images

What proactive reform could mean for rates and the economyThe borrowing-driven rate spike is not inevitable, and the researchers argue that early action on Social Security could produce the opposite economic result. Marc Goldwein, senior vice president at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, told CNBC that structural reform could support faster economic growth. “If we make smart choices, we can target Social Security benefits to those who need it and actually promote faster economic growth in the process,” Goldwein said.The committee’s own 2019 reform proposal projected that a balanced fix could expand the economy’s total output by 3.5% to 13% by 2050. Any adjustments to Social Security may change incentives to save, invest, and work, Goldwein told CNBC. For homebuyers tracking 30-year rates in the mid-6% range, the Social Security standoff introduces a variable that the Federal Reserve’s decisions cannot control. Gopi Shah Goda, director of the Brookings Institution’s Retirement Security Project, said lawmakers had more gradual policy options two decades ago. Today, policymakers face greater urgency because they must address Social Security’s revenue shortfalls or benefit reductions much sooner, Goda told AARP.The senators elected in the 2026 midterms will still be in office when the trust fund runs dry, and their choices will determine what follows, the Bipartisan Policy Center warned. Social Security’s timeline matters for housing affordabilityWhether mortgage rates hold in the mid-6% range or surge toward levels not seen in decades depends on how quickly Congress addresses Social Security’s shortfall. Every year of delay narrows the available fixes and raises the cost of eventual reform, the Bipartisan Policy Center noted.Rising Treasury yields from Social Security borrowing would affect not only retirees but also families trying to buy or refinance homes.The 2032 deadline is six years away, but bond market consequences could arrive well before the trust fund reaches zero, the researchers stressed.Related: Americans must face long-term reality after mortgage rate news

Nobody walks down the aisle expecting to fight about a credit card statement. Yet money consistently ranks among the top sources of conflict in American marriages, and it trails only infidelity as a leading cause of divorce.The way many couples respond to that risk is telling. Separate checking accounts, separate credit cards, and entirely separate money lives have become the default arrangement, especially among younger spouses.The thinking goes that a little financial independence keeps the peace. If nobody shares an account, nobody argues over what comes out of it.In my years covering personal finance advice, I have watched that arrangement grow from an outlier into something close to conventional wisdom for newlyweds.Dave Ramsey believes the new conventional wisdom has things exactly backward.The bestselling personal finance author and host of The Ramsey Show has spent decades telling couples to merge every dollar they earn. On June 29, he condensed that philosophy into a few blunt sentences that have been ricocheting around social media ever since.”Marriage isn’t 50/50. Marriage is 100/100,” Ramsey wrote on X. “If you’re married, ‘my money’ and ‘your money’ do not exist. It’s OUR money.”He called it the only way for couples to win, together.

Dave Ramsey draws one of his hardest lines yet on how spouses handle money.Ippei Naoi / Getty Images

Money fights are quietly breaking American marriagesRamsey’s company has spent years polling couples on exactly this question, and the findings help explain why his rule touches such a nerve.Ramsey has offered blunt advice on marriage and money before, often responding to couples wrestling with lopsided incomes and uneven debts, as TheStreet reported in 2025. Money is the number one issue married couples fight about, and it ranks as the second leading cause of divorce behind infidelity, according to a study of more than 1,000 U.S. adults from Ramsey Solutions.The secrecy problem may be the most corrosive part. Nearly half of people in committed relationships, 45%, admit they do not know everything about their spouse’s or partner’s finances, according to a January survey from Bankrate.Here is what the research shows about money inside marriages:63% of all marriages start off in debt, according to Ramsey Solutions.Couples who fight about money carry roughly $30,000 in consumer debt on average, per the same study41% of couples with consumer debt argue about money, versus 25% of debt-free couples, Ramsey Solutions also found.43% of Americans say keeping financial secrets is at least as bad as physical cheating, according to Bankrate.Those numbers describe a slow leak, not a blowout. Few marriages end over a single purchase. They erode over years of small arguments and quiet omissions.I ran a quick calculation on what that debt load actually feels like. If even half of that $30,000 sat on a credit card at roughly 20% interest, the interest alone would run about $250 a month. That is a recurring argument delivered to your household every 30 days.Related: Dave Ramsey says one daily habit costs you $5,000 a yearDave Ramsey says married couples must combine everythingThe June 29 post is not a one-off. It is the shortest version of an argument Ramsey has been making since he began teaching money classes in the 1990s.Separate finances create division, Ramsey argued in the post, while couples who handle money together build trust, teamwork and a shared future they both believe in.More Personal Finance:Dave Ramsey, Vanguard warn Americans on housing costsDivorce doesn’t automatically update beneficiary designations, trusts or estate plansFidelity, Vanguard have a warning for anyone taking RMDsWhen a caller once asked him whether newlyweds should merge accounts or simply split expenses down the middle, his answer left no wiggle room. “You combine everything. There is no middle,” he said on The Ramsey Show, in remarks reported by Benzinga.He often points to the wedding ceremony itself, noting that the preacher pronounced the couple as one, not as a joint venture.What struck me when I went back through his older interviews is how little the message has moved in three decades. The delivery keeps getting sharper, but the rule never changes.That consistency matters, because the country has been drifting the other way, and fast.Among Gen Z couples who are married or living together, 88% keep at least some of their money separate, compared with 52% of baby boomer couples, according to a separate Bankrate survey. Nearly half of those Gen Z couples keep everything apart.The youngest married Americans, put plainly, are building exactly the arrangement Ramsey is warning against.What joint account research says about Ramsey’s ruleYou do not have to take a radio host’s word for any of this. I ran Ramsey’s claim against the academic research, and the evidence lines up more closely than his critics might expect.Researchers followed 230 engaged and newlywed couples for two years, randomly assigning some to open joint bank accounts and others to keep their money separate, according to Indiana University.Couples told to merge their money sustained strong relationship quality across those first two years of marriage, while couples with separate accounts showed the typical newlywed decline, per the study published in the Journal of Consumer Research.The joint account couples also fought less about money and felt better about how household finances were handled, the researchers found. Merging promoted shared goals and a sense that nobody was keeping score.Lead researcher Jenny Olson described the difference as a shift in mindset. Partners with merged money helped each other because one of them had a need, while partners with separate accounts treated favors more like transactions to be repaid, she explained. Separate accounts also made it feel easier to walk away from the relationship.There is one caveat worth taking seriously. Couples do not necessarily need to combine every dollar, “but you do need to be aware of where your money is going,” Bankrate senior industry analyst Ted Rossman said.Financial therapists raise a sharper exception, cautioning that fully merged accounts can be risky for people recovering from financially abusive relationships. Ramsey’s rule assumes two partners acting in good faith.What married couples should do with Ramsey’s adviceYou do not have to merge every account this weekend to act on any of this.The common thread connecting Ramsey’s post, the survey data and the academic research is visibility. Couples who can see each other’s money stop keeping score, and couples who stop keeping score fight less.Ramsey’s version is the maximalist one, a single pot with a single plan. The research suggests even partial moves in that direction, like a joint bills account, a monthly budget meeting or a full debt disclosure, buy real trust.The couples most at risk are not the ones who deliberately choose separate accounts. They are the ones who never have the conversation at all.So if you are married and have never asked your spouse what winning with money actually looks like, have that talk soon. It is a lot cheaper than letting the next money fight find you first.Related: Kevin O’Leary reveals the gift mistake ruining marriages

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.There are few things more exciting than shopping for a brand new sofa. That said, the experience is even more enjoyable if you’re able to find a good deal on said furniture. That’s why we’re always on the lookout for a low-priced sofa, and we’ve just found one on sale at Walmart that has us on cloud nine. Online furniture sales have exploded over the past few years, and retailers like Walmart are scrambling to get in on the action. That’s why they often have shocking deals on great pieces. If you strike at the right moment, you can even redecorate your entire home for a fraction of the cost that you would have expected to pay. The above-mentioned couch is a boneless sectional that has an ultra-plush design similar to the viral Cloud Couch that costs 10x the price. This lookalike is available as a Flash deal, which means it’s only available at the discounted price for a limited time. That’s why it’s imperative that you take a look sooner rather than later if you want to take advantage of the exceptionally low price.What is a cloud sofa?There’s a good chance you’ve heard something about cloud sofas lately. However, not everyone knows exactly what one is. To state it simply, a cloud sofa is a deep-seated couch that typically has a lower-than-usual profile. They’re named as such because it’s said that sitting in one feels kind of like you’d imagine sinking into a cloud would feel. These sofas have become incredibly popular as of late. Part of this popularity has been driven by the exceptional comfort they offer. However, there’s also been a social media virality aspect to the increased sales of these couches. No matter the reason that people decide to buy one in the first place, most seem to be very satisfied with their purchases. The proliferation of cloud sofas in American living rooms seems to be more of a cultural shift than merely a passing fad.Another important aspect of many of the most popular cloud sofa models has to do with their versatility. Cloud sectionals are in high demand because they offer a more adaptable option for the user. Many are extremely lightweight and don’t necessarily have to be used in just one way. A lot of the most sought-after cloud sectionals have modular designs that allow you to move the individual pieces into any configuration you want. That makes them ideal for families with constantly changing space needs.Idealsoul Cloud Sectional Sofa

Courtesy of Walmart

Check price at WalmartThe Idealsoul Cloud Sectional Sofa is a great example of why these couches are popping up everywhere you look. It has an extra-wide corduroy pattern with a velvet-feel upholstery. The ultra-deep seating design makes for a comfortable place to lie down, as opposed to smaller sofas that are only good for sitting. The overall dimensions of the sectional when positioned into an L shape are 104 inches long by 67 inches wide by 26.6 inches high. It’s a modular model as well, which means you can position the individual pieces as you wish to fit a number of spaces as needed.Adding to the cloud analogy is the construction of this couch. These pieces are also sometimes referred to as a “boneless” sofa because it has no internal frame or structure of which to speak. Each piece comes rolled and suction packed in a plastic bag. When you open the bag, the sofa expands over many hours, until finally you have a full-sized piece of furniture in the end. It’s a great way to get furniture shipped without a lot of extra hassle. It’s available in four color variants as well, so you have plenty of choices if matching your current living room decor is a concern.More cloud sofasIf this specific cloud sofa isn’t to your liking, there are plenty of other models available. In addition to Walmart, Amazon also has lots of great options similar to the above model. We’ve compiled a few of our favorites just in case you’re still looking. However, keep in mind that the Idealsoul Cloud Sectional Sofa is only on sale for a limited time, so take a chance on that one if you’re even remotely interested before looking any further.Vanress Modular Cloud Sofa

Courtesy of Walmart

Check price at WalmartVesgantti Boneless Sofa

Check price at AmazonKislot Boneless Cloud Sofa

Courtesy of Amazon

Check price at AmazonTheStreet Shopping is your guide for shopping insights and advice. We look beyond the price tag to find the best value in home, tech, and wellness gear based on product features and real-world use. Read more about our Editorial Standards and How We Choose Our Shopping Deals.

Costco is different from other retailers in that it doesn’t just rely on markups to generate revenue. Costco’s membership fees are a goldmine.During Costco’s third-quarter 2026 earnings call, the company reported $1.37 billion in membership fee income, up 10.7% year over year. The company also boasted an impressive 92.2% membership renewal rate across the U.S. and Canada.Costco has a number of strategies for keeping members happy and engaged. The company is known for more than its competitive prices; its Kirkland Signature brand also has an outstanding reputation for quality.In addition, the company does a great job of rotating inventory to keep things fresh and promote its famous “treasure hunt” style shopping experience.But investing in products and keeping prices low aren’t Costco’s only tickets to member retention. The company has also made a huge investment in its workforce, which has been a big part of its success. Costco prioritizes employee happinessThe world of retail isn’t exactly known for employee retention or satisfaction. But Costco has long strived to be the exception. Costco knows that its success hinges on the wellbeing of its employees. That’s why the company’s Careers page is quick to highlight the many perks of being a Costco employee, including:Industry-leading health care coveragePaid vacation and sick daysA 401(k)Adoption assistanceDisability coverageLife insuranceCostco employees also receive regular wage increases based on hours worked, while long-tenured workers are eligible for bonuses.The company also emphasizes promoting from within. According to Costco, the vast majority of warehouse managers began in hourly positions, reinforcing the idea that retail jobs can become long-term careers rather than temporary employment.Of course, there’s perhaps no better example of Costco’s culture of promoting workers internally than the company’s current CEO, Ron Vachris. Vachris started out as a forklift driver for Costco, and he’s clearly come a long way since. “You’ve got to give people room to try new things,” Vachris told Fortune.As a result, turnover after one year of employment at Costco is about 7%, which is well below the average turnover across the retail sector broadly, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

Costco offers many employee perks, helping retain its workforce.Shutterstock

Happy employees lead to happier membersEmployee benefits may seem unrelated to the shopping experience at first, but they’re actually closely connected.Retailers with experienced employees often have lower turnover, meaning shoppers are more likely to interact with associates who know store layouts, inventory, and company policies. Veteran workers can answer questions more efficiently, resolve problems faster, and keep checkout lines moving.More Retail:Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryCostco makes major investment in online shopping for membersConsulting firm McKinsey says a better employee experience leads to a better customer experience, noting, “Satisfied employees stay longer, and employees with more experience make fewer errors, developing pattern recognition to solve unexpected problems.”The fact that Costco also pays workers fairly helps a lot. Costco recently boosted its maximum pay for hourly workers from $31.90 to $32.90 and increased its annual bonus, according to The Wall Street Journal. Higher wages allow workers to become more financially stable, which makes them less likely to jump ship.In fact, many thousands of Costco’s U.S. hourly workers have more than $1 million in their 401(k)s, CFO Gary Millerchip told The Wall Street Journal.While Costco is smart to invest in its Kirkland Signature line, improved checkout speeds, and other aspects of the shopping experience, at the core of it all is a workforce that’s educated, motivated, and content. That has a direct impact on the member experience and Costco’s most important financial piece — renewal rates.Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.Related: Sam’s Club just made a holiday closure decision Costco didn’t

Meta Platforms has a lot in common with its “Magnificent 7” brethren. Like Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla, Meta is a technology giant with a market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion. Its stock has dramatically outperformed the broader S&P 500 over the past decade, and the company is investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI).But one key difference sets Meta apart.Unlike every other member of the Mag 7, Meta has never executed a stock split. Here’s why — and whether there’s any truth to the speculation that one could happen in 2026.Why hasn’t Meta conducted a stock split?Since its initial public offering (IPO) on May 18, 2012, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has never split its stock. A stock split increases a company’s total number of outstanding shares while proportionally reducing the price of each share. For instance, in a 2-for-1 stock split, investors receive two shares for every one they own, but, at the same time, the price per share is halved.Companies typically execute stock splits to make their shares more affordable — because 10 or 20 years ago, a retail investor wasn’t able to buy fractional shares. High share prices effectively put many stocks out of reach for smaller investors.But the advent of commission-free brokerages like Robinhood and Charles Schwab put the ball in investors’ court. Today, they can purchase tiny slices of even the most expensive stocks, making stock splits less common — and largely irrelevant.Now, companies generally split their stock for symbolic reasons, such as to signal management’s confidence in the company’s future. @thefounderadvisor Mark Zuckerberg has total control over Facebook. I’m going to explain how he accomplished this and if he can actually be fired. Mark Zuckerberg, is co-founder and CEO of Facebook Meta, and if you’ve seen the movie The Social Network, you know that he holds significant control over the company. We’re going to talk about how he achieved this and if he can be fired. So Zuck has tremendous control over Facebook/meta – and here’s why: When Facebook went public in 2012, it did so with a dual-class stock structure. This structure is designed to keep voting power within a certain group, typically the company’s founders and early investors. 1. Dual-Class Stock Structure: Facebook specifically has Class A and Class B shares. Class A shares are what most investors own and what you own if you buy their stock. They carry one vote per share. Class B shares, which are primarily held by Zuckerberg and a few other insiders, carry 10 votes per share. This means that even though Zuckerberg does not own the majority of Facebook’s shares, he controls a majority of the voting power. This means if he just had 10% of the ownership of Meta, he could outvote the other 90% of shareholders. As of today, he owns about 13.6% so he has a fair amount of leeway here. Let’s talk about what Voting Control enables him to do that would require other companies to get full shareholder approval: • Election of the board of directors: Shareholders elect who will serve on the company’s board of directors. The board represents shareholders’ interests and oversee the company’s management, and as I’ve shared on multiple occasions, they hire and fire the CEO. • Executive Compensation: Shareholders vote on compensation packages for top executives – so theoretically, Zuck can set his own salary. • Issuing new stock for raising capital, stock splits, or employee stock option plans. • And most interesting. Mergers, acquisitions: Shareholders vote on buying new companies – Wildly. Zuckerberg was unilaterally able to buy Insta, Oculus, and WhatsApp. Combined these purchases were over $20b. He did this without shareholder consent. So, here’s the operative question – can Zuck be fired from Meta: In theory, Mark Zuckerberg could be fired by the board of directors of Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook). However, because of his percentage of control of the class B shares, he controls the election and removal of board members. So, it’s safe to assume that he hired all of his board members himself and its incredibly unlikely that they will exit him. Even in they fired him, he could theoretically appoint new board members to reinstate him. This situation highlights the implications of a dual-class stock structure, where the balance of power is heavily skewed in favor of the founders and early investors, often leading to debates on corporate governance and shareholder rights. And, while its incredibly rare, other companies also have this structure, including Pinterest, Lyft, Snap Implementing controls like these may seem complex, so we’ve been assembling a partnership that will allow you to incorporate with all the controls I mentioned here and more. So feel free to send us a message if you’re interested in this. Like and follow if you have questions on board structure or anything else around becoming a founder. #founderadvice #startupadvice #startuptips #boardofdirectors #zuckerberg #startup #foundersupport ♬ original sound – Ryan | Startup Founder Advice Companies also conduct splits when share prices are considered “high,” around the $1,000 threshold, to boost trading volume and liquidity, even though the stock’s underlying value remains unchanged. For example, Nvidia completed a 10-for-1 stock split in 2024. This lowered its share price from roughly $1,000 to about $100 and made the stock appear more accessible to individual investors.But there’s another reason a company may choose to complete a stock split — and this is something Meta has done, or at least tried to do: Maintain voting power. In 2016, Facebook shareholders actually approved a corporate action to issue a one-time stock dividend of two non-voting Class C shares for every Class A and Class B share. This would have kept voting rights with the original Class A and B shareholders and would have allowed CEO Mark Zuckerberg to preserve his voting power while donating much of his stake to his charities. However, after shareholder litigation challenged the proposal, Facebook abandoned the plan in 2017.  Meta’s stock price performanceMeta went public in 2012 with its IPO price set at $38. The stock closed on July 10, 2026, at $669.21, representing a more than 17-fold increase. That suggested a $10,000 investment at its IPO and held in 2026 would have been $176,000. By comparison, the S&P 500 Index had an almost fivefold gain in the same period.Will Meta split shares in the future?At least once a year in recent memory, analysts drum up speculation that Meta will soon split its shares, citing its mid-to-high triple-digit trading price as a reason.Some noted that Meta has traded in roughly the same price range as Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla did when they split their shares.Meta’s management, however, has given little indication that a stock split is under consideration. Instead, executives remain laser-focused on the company’s aggressive AI plans.More on tech stocks:Nvidia’s stock split history: Everything you need to knowAMD’s stock buybacks explained: History, balance & outlookDoes Intel pay dividends? History & future prospects explainedDuring its latest earnings call on its first-quarter 2026 performance, Meta raised its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to $125 billion to $145 billion, which emphasized its long-term AI ambitions over its share structure.Zuckerberg himself seems to have little incentive to split Meta’s stock. Although he owns only about 13% of the company’s outstanding shares, he controls roughly 99.7% of its Class B shares, giving him 61% of Meta’s total voting power — and effective control over the company.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealAs comfy as any mattress can be, sometimes it can get hot under the covers. All of those quilts and sheets can weigh you down, making you feel the heat of the night when you really don’t want to. The good news is that Walmart is selling a Sormag Cooling Comforter at a price that keeps you and your budget cozy.Typically listed for $130, this queen-size comforter is on sale for $34 thanks to a 74% discount. You can get that discount in gray and a blue/gray combo. The comforter is also on sale in a king size for 73% off at $40. Whatever size you pick, you’re getting an incredible deal on a blanket that’s cool in more ways than one.Sormag Cooling Comforter, $34 (was $130) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?The Sormag Comforter measures 90 by 90 inches in its queen size. The blanket is made from special cooling fibers that quickly absorb body heat and are breathable, so it can release hot air. It also feels soft to the touch and is machine washable, so it’ll last season after season. It can be more than just a comforter for your bed; it’s perfect for movie nights in the living room, and it’s lightweight enough to pack in your suitcase for your next vacation.Related: Walmart’s bestselling $110 boho comforter set is just $36Walmart shoppers loved the Sormag Cooling Comforter, praising it with five-star ratings and reviews. One shopper called it “very lightweight” and “silk-like in texture” that kept them “comfortably cool” overnight. A different shopper said the comforter had a “very soft and silky feeling” that had “just enough weight to be comforting.”Details to knowSizes: Queen size measures 90 by 90 inches. King measures 104 inches by 90 inches. Machine washable: Yes.Colors: Available in gray and blue/gray.One customer said the Sormag was “truly cooling” and felt “silky soft against the skin.” Another shared, “The softness, stretch, and squishiness are just perfect.”The Sormag Cooling Comforter is a great addition to any bed, couch, or cozy spot in your home. It traps body heat, lets you breathe overnight, and feels super soft to the touch. Grab it at Walmart before the deal disappears.

We have largely come to accept a modern digital bargain: When we interact with AI chatbots, our prompts become fodder for their ongoing training.These models feast on a constant stream of user data to survive. Now, however, that massive accumulation of chat history is exactly what has landed OpenAI in hot water.The New York Times and more than a dozen other publishers asked a federal judge on Thursday to sanction OpenAI over how the company handled evidence in their copyright lawsuit.The original case asked whether OpenAI trained ChatGPT on stolen journalism. This motion asks something narrower and more damaging: whether OpenAI lied about what it could already prove.OpenAI accused of obstructionThe filing, submitted in the Southern District of New York, accuses OpenAI of a “deliberate and systemic effort to obstruct discovery,” according to a Bloomberg Law report.For two years, OpenAI told the court that searching ChatGPT training data and logs for copyrighted material was not technically feasible, a Reuters report noted. Plaintiffs say that was false.The claim rests on a February deposition of Vinnie Monaco, OpenAI’s privacy engineering lead, a TechCrunch report confirmed.Monaco reportedly testified that OpenAI had already searched its training corpus and built a database of roughly 78 million de-identified ChatGPT conversations before the Times filed suit in 2023. He also said it had developed an internal tool called Project Giraffe to detect reproduced text.That timeline undercuts OpenAI’s central excuse, since the tools existed before the lawsuit, not because of it.

The New York Times and other publishers asked a federal judge to sanction OpenAI for hiding evidence in their copyright lawsuit.boonchai wedmakawand / Getty Images

OpenAI court case: disputed evidence and deleted logsPlaintiffs originally sought a sample of 120 million chat logs. OpenAI negotiated that down to 20 million, then submitted a version in December so heavily redacted that the court called it unusable, according to TechCrunch.The newspapers also allege that OpenAI deleted billions of ChatGPT conversations after a court preservation order took effect.More OpenAI:OpenAI’s $1 trillion ambition could delay its IPOOpenAI just built a chip to cut Nvidia out of one jobOpenAI makes IPO decision amid Anthropic, SpaceX fervorThe remedy plaintiffs want is where the real leverage lies. They are asking the judge to bar OpenAI from using its own reduced log sample as evidence and to simply rule as fact that the logs would show OpenAI reproduced their journalism, Reuters noted.Ian Crosby, the Times’ lead attorney at Susman Godfrey, said OpenAI concealed what it knew for more than two years, and that resolving discovery this way would settle the case’s most contested technical question without a trial.OpenAI’s defense and the financial stakesOpenAI rejects that framing entirely. Spokesperson Drew Pusateri said in a statement that The Times is using privacy claims to compensate for a weakening case, and that the company will keep defending user privacy and fair use.Notably, the sanctions motion does not target Microsoft, OpenAI’s co-defendant and largest financial backer, according to The Times’ own report on its filing.The dollar figures already on the table elsewhere in AI litigation show what is at stake. Anthropic agreed to pay authors $1.5 billion to settle a separate training-data case, the largest AI copyright settlement to date, according to The Associated Press.Related: Your wallet is being put in danger by OpenAIThat amount is a small fraction of Anthropic’s $965 billion valuation, but it set a price for what a court finding against an AI company can cost.The Times itself has spent more than $28 million fighting AI companies in court, including $4.2 million in this year’s first quarter alone, a Variety report confirmed.NYT shares traded near $73 this week with little visible reaction to the filing. Discovery motions rarely move markets the way settlements or verdicts do, even when the allegations are this severe.The bigger stakes as OpenAI eyes a public listingWhat the sanctions fight really tests is how AI companies answer for their conduct during litigation, separate from what they did while building their models.OpenAI is preparing for a public listing that bankers have discussed at valuations approaching $1 trillion, and its eventual prospectus will need to disclose litigation risk like this to new shareholders.A finding of discovery misconduct would hand publishers, and every publisher watching this case, leverage that a fair use defense alone cannot buy back.Related: Venice AI raised $65M to exploit OpenAI’s blind spot

The future of U.S. roadways will feature a lot more automated vehicles, so the country must work out the kinks now before the AV population starts really increasing. One of the biggest issues already poking its head through is the multiple instances of automated vehicles driving through or otherwise ignoring emergency response situations where the police or first responders are involved. The tragic mass shooting in Austin, Texas, earlier this year is a prime example of this.Police and first responders raced to and from the scene where two people were killed and 14 were injured, but one emergency vehicle was filmed being severely delayed by an obstruction in the road that refused to move: a malfunctioning Waymo. Eventually, a police officer opened the vehicle and moved it, but by the time he did, the ambulance’s human driver had already navigated around the malfunctioning Waymo.“As our protocols are designed and we’ve trained first responders to do, a police officer disengaged the vehicle, and our roadside assistance team retrieved it,” Waymo said in a statement to 11Alive at the time.That wasn’t the first time Waymo vehicles have failed to navigate emergency situations properly.In February, a driverless Waymo vehicle with a passenger in the back drove into the middle of an active police scene before stopping in Atlanta, Georgia.A local television news station that had been covering Waymo’s failure to stop at school buses with their stop signs deployed just happened to be on the scene, filming the police standoff with an armed suspect, who had fired at law enforcement, grazing one in the head.Now the NHTSA is saying that not only Waymo, but other robotaxi operators like Tesla and other automated vehicle makers need to tighten up their protocols. NHTSA issues call to action over AVs interfering in emergency situationsThis week, in a letter dated July 8, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a call to action for all AV makers to fix the glitch causing their vehicles to ignore emergency situations.While admitting that it believes in the “immense potential” of AV technology to “reduce human error and improve safety” on the nation’s roads. Still, the regulatory bodies tasked with safeguarding the country’s streets have “documented multiple instances in which AVs drove directly into active emergency scenes, blocked the paths of ambulances and firefighters, or failed to recognize and respond to basic safety conditions like flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones.”The letter called the AVs’ inability to navigate those situations a “functional insufficiency” that the agency expects to see progress on soon. The NHTSA says it will schedule meetings with AV system developers “by month’s end” to hear about how they plan to fix this problem. “Let me be clear: the inability to detect and appropriately respond to such situations represents a functional insufficiency,” NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said. “Emergency scenes are not rare or extreme ‘edge cases.’ As such, NHTSA is today issuing a call to action for AV developers and operators to immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue. Waymo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Heather Diehl / Getty Images

U.S. Senators question Tesla FSD safety dataLast month, Reuters reported that Tesla was exaggerating its safety claims for FSD and that it is using a team of “data labelers” to help the AI that powers FSD be better.This revelation suggests that Elon Musk’s declaration that FSD is already up to 10 times safer than human drivers and ready for more widespread adoption is hollow.So Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Administration saying the Reuters report exposes “dangerous gaps” in its autonomous vehicle data collection.“Tesla has repeatedly told investors, consumers, and the public that FSD is far safer than human driving, but the data analysis justifying those claims is weak and misleading. These representations are not merely marketing claims; they may shape how drivers use Tesla’s FSD, how the public understands the risks of the technology, and how regulators evaluate potential safety defects,” the letter stated.According to the letter, Tesla’s data to come up with the “10 times safer” is flawed for several reasons, including:Comparing unlike crash outcomes that made Tesla look better.Comparing newer Tesla vehicles to the entire U.S. vehicle fleet.Counting FSD involved crashes only if it is active at the time of crash or within five seconds. The NHTSA uses a 30-second time threshold for all ADAS systems.Relying on incomplete automated telemetry.Tesla is cooking the books, according to the Senators and the NHTSA has not been able to get the real data it needs, which makes the whole situation more dangerous for drivers.“The push to allow more autonomous vehicles on public roads depends heavily on the claim that these driving systems are safer than human drivers,” the letter stated.“To the extent that Tesla or other vehicle manufacturers are misleading the public about their safety data, however, consumers may choose to purchase or ride in an AV based on the unproven expectation that they are safer than non-autonomous vehicles. This type of information asymmetry is a classic market failure, which will likely result in more AVs on the road — and potentially more traffic injuries and fatalities if those systems are not in fact as safe as they claimed.”Currently, the NHTSA does not require vehicle manufacturers to submit data on the number of vehicles they operate, the distances they travel, and other data that could help contextualize crash rates.They say that is the type of data that “would help prove or disprove Tesla’s safety claims.”So the Senators are asking the agency to “significantly expand autonomous vehicle data reporting requirements.”Related: Waymo outages disrupt traffic in this major city yet again