McDonald's is subsidizing part of the cost of its $5 value meals to attract lower-income customers amid a decline in their traffic, acting as a short-term strategy to navigate economic stress and maintain sales, while also gaining market share from higher-cost competitors.
Despite the glorification of minimal sleep in hustle culture, scientific evidence shows that everyone needs 7-9 hours of sleep for optimal functioning. Economic stress, poor health, and mental health issues are major contributors to sleep deprivation, particularly in low-income, rural areas. Structural changes like better healthcare access and income-support programs are needed to address the root causes of sleep inequality, rather than relying on individual sleep hacks.
Warren Buffett has reportedly had "multiple conversations" with top members of the Biden administration over the last week to discuss the possibility of helping to stabilize the US banking system by potentially investing in regional banks. Buffett has a history of bolstering US banks with timely investments during periods of economic stress. The talks occurred as trouble at regional bank First Republic and Zurich-based giant Credit Suisse fueled concern about global economic contagion. Bank stocks have struggled despite a Biden-backed move by federal regulators to guarantee all deposits at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank following their collapse.