US restaurant sales fall as Iran war drives up gas prices

With pain at the gas pump reaching new highs due to U.S.-Iran tensions, many consumers are pulling back on dining out. Major restaurant brands report falling revenue as households pivot to cost-saving measures to offset rising daily expenses.

Clinique and M.A.C.-owner Estée Lauder to cut 3,000 more jobs, mainly at its stores

Estée Lauder revealed this week thousands of more job cuts are in the works as the company continues its restructuring effort. The announcement came Friday as the company also increased its annual profit forecast, sending shares higher in pre-market trading. 

US national debt surpasses size of the economy for first time since World War II

The U.S. national debt has now surpassed the size of the U.S. economy, a historic threshold that hasn't been crossed since the conclusion of World War II.

California high-speed rail costs soar to $231 billion

Calls are growing to scrap the high-speed rail project as costs balloon by 700% and federal funding is withdrawn under the Trump administration.

Trump signs DHS funding bill, ending a record shutdown

The House approved a bill on Thursday to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security to end the longest agency shutdown in history.

Federal government made $186B in improper payments last fiscal year

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that improper federal spending surged to $186 billion in 2025. The GAO found that the bulk of these payments happened within the nation’s largest programs.

Record number of Americans say their financial outlook is ‘getting worse’

A new survey finds rising costs still dominate Americans’ concerns, with a record share saying their financial situation is getting worse. Here’s what to know.

Google co-founder rips California billionaire tax: 'I fled socialism'

Google co-founder Sergey Brin slammed the proposed billionaire tax in California, likening it to the socialism that he fled with his family from the former Soviet Union.

California billionaire tax measure secures signatures for November ballot

California labor unions have gathered 1.5 million signatures for a ballot initiative to tax billionaires 5% to fund healthcare and offset federal cuts.

New CalFresh work requirements start June 1: What you need to know

New federal rules starting June 1, 2026 expand CalFresh work requirements for adults aged 18-64 in California, with specific exemptions for certain groups.

Bed Bath & Beyond returning to California: What to know

Bed Bath & Beyond is partnering with The Container Store to open physical shop-in-shop locations in Southern California starting May 2026.

Californians flee high costs – and many come out ahead financially, study finds

California residents pay about 11% more for groceries, 40% more for gas and 61% more for utilities than the national average, according to the report.

Iran war has military seeking higher funding in 2027 for drones, air defenses

The war with Iran has led the U.S. military looking to increase its spending for next year to billions on drones, air defense systems and fighter jets. 

Soaring jet fuel prices threaten to drive up summer travel costs

Americans who will be traveling this summer could see the cost of their summer vacations jump due to the spike in jet fuel prices.

Here's where gas prices have increased the most in US

Gas prices are spiking nationwide, with sharp increases hitting every state over the past year. New data reveals where drivers are feeling the biggest jumps.

Meta plans to slash roughly 8,000 jobs next month: report

According to a report, Meta is preparing to cut thousands of jobs as early as next month, with more layoffs expected later this year. Here's what to know.

$50 billion in oil lost in 50 days of Iran war, analysis finds

The war in Iran has shaken up financial markets and the oil industry, so much so that an estimated $50 billion in oil has not been produced globally since the war began, according to a Reuters analysis.