• Amazon's Chicago Mega-Store to Dwarf Walmart
  
  Amazon is going big - really big - in Chicago, unveiling plans for a 230,000-square-foot mega-store outside the city that would be larger than the average Walmart and nearly big enough to swallow two Targets whole.
• Equity Funds See Outflows on Geopolitical Worries
  
  U.S. equity funds faced outflows in the week through January 21 as investors reduced risk exposure on concerns about President Donald Trump's tariff threats against European nations over Greenland.
• Silver Tops $100 an Ounce for the First Time
  
  Spot silver prices jumped to the key psychological level of $100 an ounce level for the first time Friday as robust demand and buying momentum fueled prices.
• Price Gougers Hit Shoppers Ahead of Winter Storm Fern
  
  As Winter Storm Fern barrels toward a wide swath of the U.S., from Texas to Massachusetts, desperate shoppers are getting hit with a second shock: skyrocketing prices on basic storm supplies.
• Goldman Sachs Raises 2026-End Gold Forecast to $5,400
  
  Goldman Sachs has raised its end-2026 gold price forecast to $5,400 per ounce from $4,900/oz earlier, noting private-sector and emerging market central banks' diversification into gold.
• Gold Hits New Peak Near $5,000
  
  Gold prices steadied as investors booked profits after prices struck another record high near $5,000 an ounce on the uncertain geopolitical outlook.Silver and platinum also hit record peaks.
• Microsoft 365 Down for Thousands of Users
  
  Microsoft's suite of productivity software was down for thousands of users Thursday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com.
• US Airlines Issue Travel Waivers Ahead of Winter Storm
  
  U.S. airlines have rolled out sweeping travel waivers as a winter storm, forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice across two dozen states, threatened to disrupt air travel across a wide swath of the country heading into the weekend.
• Gold Tops $4,900, Silver & Platinum Extend Record-Setting Rally
  
  Gold pushed past $4,900 per ounce for the first time Thursday, powered by ongoing geopolitical tensions, a softer U.S. dollar, and expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, while silver and platinum prices hit fresh record highs.
• Higher Heating Costs Add to US Affordability Crunch
  
  Madeline Marchiano realizes that this winter's runaway heating prices mean she can't afford to raise her thermostat enough to warm her entire South Philadelphia rowhouse.
• Stellantis Just Pulled the Plug on the Hybrids - And No One Is Being Straight About Why
  
  Jeep bet huge on electrification. It promised buyers they could keep everything that made a Jeep a Jeep: capability, toughness, and identity while adding electric efficiency. For a brief moment, that bet paid off.
• Zogby: Affordability Tops Voters' Midterm Concerns
  
  The 2026 midterms and the ongoing battle over media narratives, reality and perception are more specific than the age-old phrase "it's the economy, stupid" – pollsters say it all comes down to "affordability," they told Newsmax on Tuesday night.
• OpenAI Seeks to Increase Global AI Use in Everyday Life
  
  OpenAI is expanding its efforts to convince global governments to build more data centers and encourage greater usage of artificial intelligence in areas such as education, health and disaster preparedness.
• Gold Hits $4,887 Record on Greenland Tensions
  
  Gold prices extended their record run to breach the $4,800 per ounce level Wednesday on safe-haven flows driven by escalating friction between the United States and NATO over Greenland.
• Gold, Silver Hit All-Time Highs on Global Debt Fears, Central & Bullion Bank Buying
  
  Precious metals hit new all-time highs Tuesday as a result of continued central and bullion bank buying, and global debt fears.
• Gold Blazes Trail Past $4,700 on Safety Rush
  
  Gold surged past the $4,700 an ounce mark for the first time Tuesday, and silver hovered just below a fresh record high, as global tensions sparked yet another rush to safety.
• Google Nixes Policy Urging Teens to Override Parents
  
  Google says it's ending its practice of emailing 13-year-old children detailed instructions on how to remove parental controls following backlash from outraged parents and parental rights advocates.
• Why the Right Tires Matter More Than You Think
  
  Most drivers don't give their tires much thought until something goes wrong. Yet tires are the only part of a vehicle that actually touches the road, and the difference between an average tire and the right tire can dramatically affect ride quality, safety, noise levels...
• OpenAI to Begin Testing Ads on ChatGPT in the US
  
  OpenAI will begin testing advertisements inside its popular ChatGPT chatbot in the coming weeks, marking a major shift for the artificial intelligence company as it looks to expand revenue, CNBC reports.
• Melania Trump: Use AI, But Keep Thinking for Yourself
  
  First lady Melania Trump delivered a message of encouragement and caution to young Americans on Friday, calling artificial intelligence a powerful tool for creativity while warning against relying on it as a substitute for independent thought.
• 2026 Earnings Outlook: Another Year of Optimism
  
  The Wall Street consensus forecast for 2026 earnings growth is strong by historical standards. Analysts are giddy and projecting another year of double-digit growth in S&P 500 earnings per share (EPS).
• Why 'Affordability' Became a Hot Political Issue
  
  Even as inflation slows, families still struggle to pay basic bills and feel pessimistic. The baseline price level is so much higher. As if working to fix these affordability challenges weren't enough for the Trump administration, there is the national debt.
• Spotlight Dims for EVs at Detroit Auto Show
  
  At the North American International Auto Show, tires squeal as gearheads put shiny new vehicles through their paces on a pair of indoor tracks that sprawl across the event space.
• Gold Soared 70% in 2025 & Keeps Hitting New Records
  
  Gold prices have delivered one of the most dramatic runs in years , and investors are taking notice, the Financial Times reports.
• Californians Get New Data-Deletion Privacy Tool
  
  New year, new privacy rules. At least for Californians. Since Jan. 1, residents of the Golden State can use a new tool to request removal of their personal information held by more than 500 data brokers.

More Personal Finance Stories