PITTSBURGH (TNS) —This holiday season, consumers nationwide upped their spending in stores and online, according to early data from Visa's Retail Spending Monitor. Overall retail spending in the U.S. this holiday season increased by nearly 5% from 2023. Visa's report reflects spending at retail merchants from the seven-week period following Nov. 1 across all payment methods. It excludes spending in some categories, such as autos, gasoline, restaurants and more, and is not adjusted for inflation. "The spending growth this holiday season portends continued consumer confidence in their own outlook — jobs, wage growth — and the broader economy going into 2025," said Visa Chief Economist Wayne Best. Where are people shopping this holiday season? In the Pittsburgh area, over 30% of people said they prefer to shop at online-only stores over the holidays, according to a regional survey conducted by Schmidt Market Research in November. But nationally, in-person shopping experienced the most growth. Visa found that total retail spending in stores increased by 4% from last year — more than double its growth rate from 2022 to 2023. Online shopping at stores with and without brick-and-mortar locations still increased, but at slower paces than last year, according to the report. And over three-quarters of all payments occurred in store during the seven-week period. Best said that in-person shopping gains today show "the adaptability of both consumers and retailers" after a slowdown during and after the pandemic. What are shoppers buying? Sales of electronics and appliances — from cell phones to washers, dryers and refrigerators — increased significantly this year, according to Visa's report. Best said that category saw growth in 2023 as well, but at a slower pace. Increased spending in 2024 could be the result of consumer concern about higher prices next year due to President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs, he said. Clothing and accessories sales also rose more this year than last, according to the report. And spending on building materials — such as hardware, paint and gardening supplies — is up nearly 5% after a downturn in 2023. While power tools and other items in that category make popular Christmas gifts, Mr. Best said, people also could be more motivated to take on home improvement projects amidst an unfavorable housing market and high-interest rates. Four years out from 2020, homeowners who locked in low rates during the pandemic might be ready for upgrades. "Consumers spending more money on experiences and DIY projects can be an enjoyable way to make homes cozier," Best said. Fraud is on the rise Visa said it blocked almost double the amount of suspected fraud attempts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2024 versus 2023. Throughout the weekend, potential fraudulent transactions rose 200% globally. That's likely because fraudsters are using artificial intelligence to launch more sophisticated phishing attacks, holiday travel scams and more, Best said. In response, Visa started using generative artificial intelligence this year to stop fraud before it happens — part of a five year, $11 billion investment in technology to fight fraud. What does this mean for spending in 2025? Overall, Best said Visa's findings indicate that shoppers are feeling more confident in the economy's strength. Spending growth on non-necessity items, from accessories to tech gadgets, was not only sustained, it increased faster this year than last. "Looking ahead, 2025 will be characterized by continued solid economic growth," Best said. "As the Federal Reserve trims rates, continued consumer spending and business investment will be core supports to growth."OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE: Jackson stayed with Muskogee roots
By JESSICA DAMIANO Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote Things To Do | ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained? Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.Social Don't miss out on the headlines from Social. Followed categories will be added to My News. Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has donated $1 million to an inauguration fund for President-elect Donald Trump — a perhaps surprising move given the pair’s rocky past. The tech giant’s billionaire CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, dined with the president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago resort in November, as he tried to patch up relationship with the 78-year-old following the election. The Republican previously was highly critical of Mr Zuckerberg and Facebook – calling the platform “anti-Trump” in 2017. It is understood Meta didn’t make similar donations to President Joe Biden’s inaugural fund in 2020 or to Trump’s previous inaugural fund in 2016. The company confirmed its million-dollar donation to the inaugural fund to US media on Wednesday. While it sounds like a lot of money to the everyman, $1 million is pocket change for Mr Zuckerberg who is worth $214 billion personally and whose company Meta is worth $1.59 trillion. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Picture: AFP MORE: Ivanka reveals ‘hurtful toll’ behind Trump snub Inauguration funds are used to pay for events and activities when a new president takes office — although many see them as attempts to win influence with the new administration. Mr Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US president on 20 January. A rocky past It has been far from smooth sailing between Mr Trump and Mr Zuckerberg in recent years. Things went even further south when Facebook and Instagram suspended the former president’s accounts in 2021, after they said he praised those engaged in violence at the Capitol riot on 6 January. Since then, Mr Trump has slammed Meta – calling Facebook an “enemy of the people” in March. He also said this year that a law banning TikTok in the US would unfairly benefit Facebook. In August, Mr Zuckerberg told Republican politicians in a letter that he regretted bowing to pressure from the Biden administration to “censor” some Facebook and Instagram content during the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Trump will be sworn in next month. Mr Trump wrote in a book published in September that Mr Zuckerberg would “spend the rest of his life in prison” if he tried to intervene in the 2024 election. But the president-elect appears to have changed his tune in recent months. He told a podcast in October it was “nice” Mr Zuckerberg was “staying out of the election”, and thanked him for a personal phone call after he faced an assassination attempt. However, there’s a clear favourite for Mr Trump when it comes to tech billionaires — with Elon Musk positioning himself as the president-elect’s ‘first buddy’ because of his extensive donations to his election campaign. The bromance was so strong, it led to Mr Musk being placed in charge of a new Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). So if Mr Zuckerberg is trying to impress he might have to dig a little deeper into those pockets. More Coverage Dad, stepmum did unimaginable to girl, 10 Ed Southgate – The Sun TV legend’s bizarre porn mag collection Annette Sharp Originally published as Zuckerberg’s surprising $1m Trump move Read related topics: Donald Trump More related stories Technology How Labor will punish tech giants who don’t pay up The federal government has unveiled its proposal to force tech giants to pay for Australian journalism or risk harsh penalties. See how it affects you. Read more Social ‘Sl*t’: Moment teen model unleashed on mum Court documents reveal what went on at a ritzy Sydney apartment that saw Paris Ow-Yang charged with assault. Read more
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Stock market today: Wall Street’s rally stalls as Nasdaq pulls back from its recordNone
Mattr provides the following correction to the press release issued earlier today, December 6, 2024, which stated that the yield to maturity on the 125,000 Subscription Receipts, as defined below, to be issued pursuant to the private placement offering is 6.375%. Such yield to maturity for each Subscription Receipt should read 6.735%. TORONTO, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mattr Corp. (“Mattr” or the “Company”) (TSX: MATR) announced today that it has entered into an underwriting agreement to sell, pursuant to a private placement offering (the “Offering”), 125,000 debt subscription receipts (the “Subscription Receipts”) at a price of $1,018.75 per Subscription Receipt (yield to maturity of 6.735%), plus accrued but unpaid interest on the underlying Note (as defined below) from October 2, 2024 to, but excluding the closing of the Offering, for an aggregate issue price of $1,034 and gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $129.3 million. Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and without payment of additional consideration or further action, a newly authenticated 7.25% senior unsecured note of the Company due April 2, 2031, in a principal amount of $1,000 (collectively for all Subscription Receipts, the “Notes”). The Notes shall be issued as “Additional Notes” pursuant to the trust indenture dated April 2, 2024 between TSX Trust Company and the Company, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, such that, following the issuance thereof, $300 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% senior unsecured notes of the Company due April 2, 2031, will be outstanding. Mattr intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to pay a portion of the purchase price for the Company’s previously announced indirect acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of all of the issued and outstanding shares of AmerCable Incorporated. Mattr expects the closing of the Acquisition to occur in the first quarter of 2025. “This Offering provides continued capital structure stability and converts a portion of the anticipated AmerCable funding to fixed rates once closing conditions have been met,” said Tom Holloway, Mattr’s CFO. “We are deeply appreciative of the support and confidence of all investors and are excited by the additional balance sheet optionality created to continue our long-term value creation strategies.” The Subscription Receipts are being offered through TD Securities and National Bank Financial Markets. The Subscription Receipts will be offered for sale in Canada to accredited investors on a private placement basis, in accordance with Canadian securities laws. The Subscription Receipts have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and are being offered and sold in the United States to qualified institutional buyers only, pursuant to Rule 144A of the U.S. Securities Act. The Subscription Receipts may be sold outside of the United States in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. Subject to customary closing conditions, the Offering is expected to close on or about December 19, 2024. About Mattr Mattr is a growth-oriented, global materials technology company broadly serving critical infrastructure markets, including transportation, communication, water management, energy and electrification. Its two business segments: Composite Technologies and Connection Technologies, enable responsible renewal and enhancement of critical infrastructure while lowering risk. For further information, please contact: Meghan MacEachern VP, External Communications & ESG Telephone: 437.341.1848 Email: meghan.maceachern@mattr.com Website: www.mattr.com Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "may", "will", "should", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "believe", "predict", "estimate" or similar terminology are used to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on assumptions, estimates and analysis made in light of the Company's experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that are believed by the Company to be reasonable and relevant in the circumstances. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those predicted, expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Source: Mattr Corp.Annamayya SP calls for peace in Rayachoti, condemns adverse reports in social media
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's stock is skyrocketing as investors look to cash in on the company's reported efforts to increase profitability. US-listed shares surged 9% as of Thursday afternoon to trade at an intraday high of $197.44. The company's Tokyo-listed shares, meanwhile, rose 6% for an 11% gain over two days, its biggest two-day advance since August. The stock's rise comes after the Nikkei newspaper reported the company aims to double its return on equity target to 20%, up from market forecasts of 11% for the year ending in March. The report cites a company executive who asked not to be named. Toyota's surge brings the company's gains to just over 8% this year, underperforming the 's 26% year-to-date rally. The stock's latest rise helps pare recent losses after it had skyrocketed as much as 40% on a year-to-date basis in March. It's largely cratered since amid little demand growth compared to other auto giants like , and , despite being the world's biggest automaker after Germany's Volkswagen AG. The Japanese carmaker's global sales plateaued in November amid slowing demand and a pause in production at two of its facilities. The automaker's production process has also faced high exposure to tariff risks, with 19% exposure to Canada and 8% to Mexico, Citi analysts said in a note last month. President-elect has floated as high as 25% on both countries, though it remains uncertain if he will fully follow through on the policies or if his proposals are merely . Other carmakers have similarly surged in recent weeks, with reports of a sending Honda and Nissan's stocks skyrocketing. If finalized, the merger would make for the world's third largest automaker by volume, helping the companies better compete with Toyota. Honda and Nissan would have a combined light vehicle volume of 7.4 million units, compared with Toyota's 10.3 million, according to a recent Morgan Stanley note. The merger would also mark the largest in the Japanese auto industry's history and could be the start of a trend as automakers face an increasingly competitive landscape, the analysts said. "Given the industry dynamic, there could be more consolidation to come, in our view. Legacy auto companies that don't find new partners must face the prospect of being smaller companies with higher capex/R&D spend per unit," they wrote. Read the original article on
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