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After years of wartime splurging, Russian shoppers are tightening their grip on their wallets — a shift that hints at growing stress in the country’s economy.Growth in consumer spending has weakened across most regions, the Central Bank of Russia said in a report published Wednesday.In October and November, demand softened even as unemployment remained near historic lows and inflation expectations ticked higher.”According to retailers across the country, an increasing share of products are being purchased during promotions, sales, and discounts. Household behavior has become more frugal,” according to the central bank report.Retailers in many regions report weakening demand for big-ticket…

US CEOs are heading into 2026 with a bit more confidence, even as their outlook remains softer than usual.Business Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Index, a measure of their intent to invest, spend, and sell, rose four points in the fourth quarter from the prior three months to 80, just under its historical average of 83. The survey gathered responses from 164 CEOs between November 21 and December 5.Expectations for sales improved the most, while plans for capital investment inched higher. Hiring intentions also ticked up compared to the previous quarter, though more CEOs still expect to reduce head count, rather…

It’s likely just a matter of time before we see the wisened duo of Rafiki and Jiminy Cricket weilding lightsabers on the icy plains of Arendelle.That’s courtesy of artificial intelligence, of course, and a new deal between Disney and OpenAI.OpenAI said Thursday it had struck a licensing agreement to use Disney’s characters and other intellectual property. Disney will also invest $1 billion in OpenAI and will purchase ChatGPT Enterprise for its employees.It’s a major shift for Disney, which has historically been deeply protective of its intellectual property. And it’s a big win for OpenAI, which is on a quest for…

Canada is coming up with ways to put its stockpiled American liquor to good use.Several provinces in the country halted imports of US booze and removed it from store shelves in March in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.Now, at least four provinces are planning to sell the remaining inventory and donate proceeds to food banks.Canada’s far eastern province, Prince Edward Island, told Business Insider that its government will put its stock of American booze, which it had pulled off the shelves, back in stores starting on December 11.A representative for the province’s finance department said the government anticipates profits of $600,000…

Lululemon knows it’s got a store layout problem, and it’s rolling out a fix.During a Thursday earnings call, company executives announced plans to enhance the athleisure giant’s in-store experience by reducing clutter and curating pieces better.”We plan to reduce the density of our assortment on a local basis to better highlight styles that are most relevant,” Meghan Frank, Lululemon’s finance chief, said.”This will enable improved visual merchandising for the styles we know are most important to the guest in each local market,” she added.CEO Calvin McDonald added that the company was testing the new store experience in Los Angeles and…

Passengers from an international flight enter customs and immigration control at McCarran International Airport (now known as Harry Reid International Airport) in 2011. The Department of Homeland Security is proposing collecting social media information from tourists visiting the U.S. from countries that don’t require a visa. Julie Jacobson/AP hide caption toggle caption Julie Jacobson/AP The Trump administration is proposing new rules that would further tighten its grip on who’s allowed into the U.S., asking visitors from several dozen countries that benefit from visa-free travel to hand over their social media history and other personal information. The new conditions were unveiled…

2025-12-11T22:28:45.555Z Share Facebook Email X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky WhatsApp Copy link lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. Costco reported first-quarter net sales of nearly $66 billion, up 8.2% from last year. In the US, comparable sales grew 5.9% with increases in both traffic and ticket size. CEO Ron Vachris said the company’s expansion is both faster and more productive than just two years ago. Costco just…

2025-12-11T22:06:00.094Z Share Facebook Email X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky WhatsApp Copy link lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald will step down at the end of January, the company said. The board is launching a comprehensive search for Lululemon’s next CEO. Lululemon’s stock spiked after the announcement and an earnings beat. Calvin McDonald, CEO of Lululemon, is stepping down from that role at the…

Disney is losing the war for attention. Can its blockbuster OpenAI licensing deal change the momentum on the battlefield?Soon, you’ll be able to use OpenAI products, such as ChatGPT and the video generator Sora, to create content featuring Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Ariel, and Darth Vader.CEO Bob Iger said the move would let Disney take advantage of a fast-growing area of entertainment.Iger said initially Disney would “curate some of the videos that have been created on the Sora platform and put them onto Disney+, which we think is a great way to increase engagement with our Disney+ users, particularly…

Customers walk in the parking lot outside a Costco store on Dec. 2, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson | Getty ImagesCostco on Thursday surpassed Wall Street’s quarterly expectations and posted year-over-year sales growth of 8.2% as the retailer attracted more digital sales and opened new locations.The warehouse club does not share a full-year outlook. On the company’s earnings call, CFO Gary Millerchip said e-commerce gains were one of the strengths of the quarter. Digital sales jumped by 20.5% year over year. Traffic on its website increased 24% year over year and traffic on its app shot up 48%. Same-day…