America’s consumer economy is pulling in opposite directions, a gulf increasingly apparent in C-suite commentary, with premium brands profiting from well-off customers while value-focused firms battle restraint from cash-strapped households. Companies ranging from Ralph Lauren, Tabby handbag maker ​Tapestry, and American Express, to airlines including United and Delta Air exceeded expectations in their results for the most recent quarter as their affluent consumer base spends

Outside Los Angeles County Superior Court in Los Angeles, Feb. 2, 2026. Opening statements began in a trial claiming social media companies design addictive products that cause personal injury. (Stella Kalinina/The New York Times) By ELI TAN and CECILIA KANG In a crowded Los Angeles courtroom earlier this week, Mark Lanier pulled three wooden children’s blocks from his bag and stacked them on top of each other. “This case is as easy as ABC,” said Lanier, a lawyer. “Addicting,

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq edged down ‌on ​Tuesday while the Dow notched a fresh record high ‌as investors digested disappointing retail sales figures and waited for a key labor market report.  The S&P 500 communication services sector ​was weighed down by a 1.5% drop in Alphabet shares, creating the biggest drag for the S&P 500, after Google’s parent said it sold bonds worth $20 billion. The announcement came as investors have ‍been worrying about the amount of money technol

Jaylynn Dean at a hotel in Phoenix, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. A federal jury in Phoenix on Thursday ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a passenger who said one of its drivers had raped her, setting the stage for thousands of similar cases around the country. (Caitlin O’Hara/The New York Times) By EMILY STEEL A federal jury in Phoenix has ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a passenger who said one of its drivers had raped her, setting the stage for thousands of similar cases

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained after ‌a ​shaky start on Monday, as technology stocks found their ‌footing following last week’s AI-sparked selloff, while investors waited for key economic data that could shed light on the ​Federal Reserve’s interest-rate path. The S&P 500 technology sector, up 1.8%,  was looking to extend Friday’s gains after a steep selloff last week.  Software companies were clawing back some losses, tracking for a ‍second straight day of gains after a b

An artificial intelligence-driven shakeout in the heavyweight technology sector is set to keep stock investors on edge in the coming week while a barrage of data could shift focus to the health of the economy. A deepening rout among software stocks commanded Wall Street’s attention last week, as investors worried about the extent to which AI would upend business models throughout the industry. Further weakness in the tech sector, which holds massive weight in the major U.S. e

A suburban housing development in Seguin, Texas, Dec. 9, 2025. Bipartisan Senate and House packages, aimed at rewarding new construction and eliminating red tape, could bring significant changes to federal housing laws. (Callaghan O’Hare/The New York Times) By RONDA KAYSEN President Donald Trump has struggled to address the housing crisis. But Congress has been moving forward with legislation that, if signed into law, could bring the most significant changes to federal housin

Walmart crossed above $1 trillion in market value on Tuesday, becoming the first traditional retailer to hit the milestone and joining a small club mostly made up of technology giants such as Apple and Microsoft.  By KAILYN RHONE Walmart crossed above $1 trillion in market value earlier this week, becoming the first traditional retailer to hit the milestone and joining a small club mostly made up of technology giants such as Apple and Microsoft. The nation’s largest retailer