News Archives - Page 8 of 45 - First Washington News

September 2, 2022

Fox News hosts deposed in voting tech company’s $1.6 billion lawsuit against network

Legal professionals for Dominion Voting Units notified Fox News very last week that it would be deposing host Tucker Carlson Wednesday, courtroom filings display. They also sought Sean Hannity’s deposition past 7 days, and Fox Organization Community host Maria Bartiromo is scheduled to appear for a deposition upcoming 7 days, in accordance to court filings.

Each of the hosts are specially mentioned in Dominion’s grievance in opposition to the community.

The depositions come as Dominion operates to gather proof that supports its circumstance that the network defamed the organization by spreading lies about fraud in the 2020 election that damage Dominion’s business enterprise. It can be unclear what the Fox News personalities who have sat with Dominion attorneys claimed or ended up questioned about during their depositions.

Dominion has alleged the community “recklessly disregarded the fact” and participated in a disinformation marketing campaign from it because “the lies were very good for Fox’s small business.”

Fox News has contested these types of promises and said it was “very pleased” of its 2020 election coverage.

“We are self-assured we will prevail as independence of the press is foundational to our democracy and will have to be safeguarded,” a Fox News spokesperson claimed in a assertion about the depositions.

The network extra, “In addition to the damages statements staying outrageous, unsupported and not rooted in seem money investigation, serving as practically nothing more than a flagrant attempt to discourage our journalists from executing their careers.”

A spokesperson for Dominion did not straight away have a comment.

Very last December, a Delaware judge denied Fox News’ motion to dismiss Dominion’s lawsuit.

In the quick aftermath of the 2020 election, then-President Donald Trump falsely asserted that the election experienced been rigged from him. His allies promoted outlandish conspiracy theories about Dominion to guidance Trump’s false promises.

“Fox took a tiny flame” of disinformation and “turned it into a forest hearth,” Dominion claimed in its lawsuit.

“The truth of the matter issues. Lies have implications,” Dominion’s lawsuit extra. “Fox marketed a wrong story of election fraud in get to serve its possess industrial needs, severely injuring Dominion in the process. If this circumstance does not increase to the amount of defamation by a broadcaster, then absolutely nothing does.”

Dominion is 1 of two election technologies businesses to have sued Fox News. Smartmatic, an additional voting technological know-how organization, has submitted a $2.7 billion lawsuit towards the network.

August 31, 2022

Premarket stocks: Rich people are worried about spending. That’s bad news

What’s occurring: The Convention Board’s buyer self confidence index for August, scheduled for launch later these days, is predicted to enhance by 1.8 details to 97.5, according to Goldman Sachs analysts. That comes following a few consecutive months of declines.

Meanwhile, the remaining final results of the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey this thirty day period confirmed a huge surge in the outlook for the calendar year forward.

That could possibly audio like great information. But a closer seem at the figures displays a more relating to image. The issue is that wealthy People in america aren’t as jazzed, and that could signal additional soreness forward for marketplaces and the financial state at huge.

“Significant income buyers, who generate a disproportionate share of shelling out, registered large declines in equally their present private funds as well as purchasing conditions for durables,” Michigan researchers wrote.

Why it matters: Paying from the top 20{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of earners made up virtually 40{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of overall client spending in the United States in 2020, in accordance to facts from the Bureau of Labor Figures. And consumer shelling out is the most critical driver of US economic growth.

Of program, there can be a change concerning how people today say they feel and what they essentially do. But in this case, we are starting up to see some genuine impact.

Analysts at the Lender of America Institute discovered that full credit card paying out for each residence (excluding grocery, fuel and clothing) for individuals producing more than $125,000 has contracted for a few consecutive months while remaining quite resilient for the lower-cash flow purchaser.

There are other signs that the abundant are trading down. Walmart (WMT) CFO John David Rainey informed CNBC earlier this thirty day period that consumers were buying less superior-margin discretionary items like clothes due to the fact inflation was creating them shell out more for necessities. He also, curiously, observed that about 3-quarters of Walmart’s second quarter marketplace share gains in food items arrived from prospects with yearly residence incomes of $100,000 or extra.

Substantial-money diners are also reportedly swapping pricier dining establishments for finances-pleasant specifications like Applebee’s and IHOP.

Product sales at the two chains, which are both of those owned by Dine Manufacturers (DIN), grew about 6{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} to 8{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} among households earning above $75,000 for every year in the second quarter, in accordance to Dine CEO John Peyton. The bump “suggests to us that attendees that typically dine at additional high-priced dining places are discovering Applebee’s and IHOP since of their properly-identified worth place,” Peyton stated all through a get in touch with with analysts earlier in the thirty day period.

That could sound positive for businesses that are properly-positioned to profit from such shifts in behavior. The issue is that sentiment amid reduce-earnings buyers typically lags higher-income sentiment, which signifies a bigger slowdown could be on its way.

“In an economic climate which is 60{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} driven by solutions, you can see how effortlessly that outlook on paying in a slim group of earnings earners has a greater influence on a larger group of Americans,” Marvin Loh, senior worldwide macro strategist at Point out Road, advised me. “This is the definition of trickle-down.”

Investor perception: That will not bode very well for shares of companies that provide objects men and women want but really don’t necessarily require. Names like Amazon (AMZN), Household Depot (Hd) and LVMH (LVMHF) helped rocket the sector from its mid-June lows, increasing approximately 30{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} through mid-August in advance of hurtling back down. The sector dropped precipitously immediately after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicated that there would be “agony” in advance as the US central financial institution proceeds its tightening plan.

“The gains that we saw more than the final six months didn’t make a total ton of sense to me,” Loh mentioned.

Many thanks a (pumpkin) latte

It really is 88 levels in New York City and California is grappling with a devastating drought. But as considerably as Starbucks (SBUX) is worried, it really is time to split out the chunky sweaters. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is again in outlets.

Though the PSL may possibly be temperature-resistant, it is not immune to inflation. The slide favourite, my CNN Enterprise colleague Jordan Valinsky studies, is receiving extra pricey, with a grande-sized scorching consume costing clients between $5.45 to $5.95 depending on site — a approximately 4{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} raise in comparison to 2021.

Starbucks is barely by yourself. Earlier this 12 months, Burger King removed the Whopper from its benefit menu and trimmed its 10-piece nuggets to 8 parts. Chipotle (CMG) has hiked rates at the very least a few occasions since August 2020. Dunkin’, Taco Bell, The Cheesecake Factory and McDonald’s (MCD) have also amplified costs to account for growing inflation. In the past year, the charge of food has grown by about 11{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. That’s the maximum examining in additional than 40 several years.

Hence considerably, buyers have ongoing to soak up substantial selling prices on discretionary items, but as inflation and desire prices go on to rise, some ponder if this tumble and vacation season will mark a turning point.

“This calendar year, we’re wanting at adverse discretionary income move for the 1st time since the 2008-09 economic crisis,” stated Goldman Sachs customer items analyst Jason English very last 7 days. Goldman estimates there will be a 1.2{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} fall this year in discretionary income offered for the holiday break year.

Starbucks is certainly viewing. The PSL has historically been a huge seasonal sales driver for the chain. In 2021, Starbucks experienced a noticeable uptick in sales the 7 days they begun offering PSLs. The 10{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} 7 days-in excess of-week boost was the biggest leap in weekly gross sales since spring.

And although PSL time might be a very little lackluster this calendar year, Goldman expects spending to decide up in the new 12 months. Buyer money stream will rise by 6{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} in the 2nd half of 2023, they forecast. Which is an all round attain of just about $600 billion, or about 110 billion lattes.

This Fed official is delighted that stocks are plummeting

Markets took a beating very last week — and which is not always a terrible matter, in accordance to 1 Fed official.

The plummet that adopted Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech on Friday reveals that buyers are lastly getting the Fed’s commitment to decreasing inflation costs significantly, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari claimed in an job interview with Bloomberg’s Odd Lots podcast on Monday.

“I was essentially delighted to see how Chair Powell’s Jackson gap speech was been given,” claimed Kashkari

“I absolutely was not thrilled to see the stock market rallying right after our past Federal Open Current market Committee meeting,” he included. “Due to the fact I know how dedicated we all are to finding inflation down. And I by some means believe the marketplaces were being misunderstanding that.”

Markets have fallen substantially due to the fact Powell’s speech in which he explained that the combat towards inflation will bring “some agony to households and firms.”

The S&P 500 closed 3.4{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} decreased Friday, its worst working day considering the fact that mid-June. It pulled back again once more on Monday.

Up subsequent

▸ The Convention board releases US customer self esteem for August at 10am Jap

▸ JOLTS position openings for July are introduced at 10am Jap

▸ Earnings from Baidu (BIDU), Best Invest in (BBY), HP, Hewlett Packard Company (HPE), Chewy (CHWY), PVH and CrowdStrike

On Tuesday: US ADP private sector employment China formal PMI India GDP earnings from Evergrande, Meitu, Brown-Forman and Designer Brand names

August 28, 2022

Powell says higher US interest rates are likely ‘for some time’ | Business and Economy News

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled the US central lender is very likely to retain boosting interest fees and depart them elevated for a although to stamp out inflation, and he pushed again in opposition to any strategy that the Fed would before long reverse system.

“Restoring selling price steadiness will most likely demand keeping a restrictive plan stance for some time,” Powell reported Friday in remarks geared up for the Kansas City Fed’s once-a-year plan forum in Jackson Gap, Wyoming. “The historical record cautions strongly towards prematurely loosening policy.”

He stated restoring inflation to the 2{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} focus on is the central bank’s “overarching emphasis proper now” even though individuals and enterprises will experience economic suffering. He reiterated that a further “unusually large” improve in the benchmark lending charge could be acceptable when officers obtain following month, though he stopped shorter of committing to a person.

“Our selection at the September meeting will depend on the totality of the incoming facts and the evolving outlook,” he claimed.

Prior to Powell’s speech, buyers observed the odds of a half-position or one more three-quarter position hike at the Fed’s Sept. 20-21 accumulating as about even.

“Restoring value balance will just take some time and involves using our resources forcefully to provide demand and provide into far better harmony,” Powell said in remarks that were being established to be dwell-streamed for the to start with time from inside of the lodge where by the party has been held due to the fact 1982.

Other Fed speakers in recent days have also pushed again from expectations, priced into futures markets, that the Fed would raise quickly to a restrictive coverage stance and then start out to ease.

Restoring selling price security will involve a “sustained” time period of underneath-pattern advancement and a weaker labor industry, Powell reported. “While higher curiosity fees, slower growth, and softer labor industry disorders will convey down inflation, they will also convey some ache to homes and companies,” he explained.

Powell’s remarks at the retreat, which gathers best plan makers from close to the environment, appear as US central bankers confront the highest inflation in 40 many years. Officials were sluggish to spot the chance and are now going aggressively to maintain costs from accelerating further more. Officers elevated rates by 75 foundation details at their last two meetings and signaled the identical could be on the table all over again when they collect up coming thirty day period.

Critics have slammed the Fed for failing to anticipate the inflationary surge, which the Fed originally viewed as transitory. Powell told the conference in his deal with a year ago that cost pressures ended up confined to a somewhat narrow group of products and products and services. But inside of months it was spreading and by the time the Fed started raising charges from near zero inflation was by now three instances their 2{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} focus on.

It continues to be elevated: Inflation according to the Fed’s desired measure rose 6.3{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} for the 12-thirty day period period of time ending July, according to a federal government report released earlier on Friday , although the main evaluate minus foods and power rose 4.6{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. Yields on the U.S. governing administration 2-calendar year take note dropped to the lows of the day subsequent the report.

“While the lessen inflation readings for July are welcome, a one month’s improvement falls far brief of what the committee will have to have to see prior to we are confident that inflation is moving down,” the Fed main explained to the audience, gathered in person just after two many years of holding the meeting practically mainly because of the pandemic.

“We are relocating our policy stance purposefully to a amount that will be adequately restrictive to return inflation to 2{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.”

Fed officials in June projected prices growing to 3.4{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} by the stop of this 12 months, according to their median estimate, and 3.8{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} by stop 2023. They will update people forecasts in September. Buyers had been pricing in the probability of cuts in the back again half of 2023, nevertheless Fed officers are beginning to press again in opposition to that see.

Wanting over and above the recent amount-hike cycle, coverage makers are making an attempt to evaluate whether or not more time-run inflation pressures will continue to be persistent. Source chain expenses may be shifting better, and the provide of U.S. labor could remain restricted for decades to occur thanks to an ageing populace and constrained immigration.

Powell mentioned the labor industry is “clearly out of balance” with demand from customers for staff “substantially” exceeding supply.

US unemployment rate matched a 5-ten years low of 3.5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} in July with payrolls thoroughly recovering to pre-pandemic degrees.

In advance of Powell’s speech, numerous Fed officers emphasized the central lender is in no way accomplished, with Kansas Metropolis Fed Main Esther George noting that the desired destination of the federal funds amount might be better than marketplaces are presently priced for.

“We have to get fascination costs higher to sluggish down demand and provide inflation again to our goal,” reported George, who votes on financial plan this year.

Fiscal markets have the benchmark lending rate peaking beneath 4{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} early future calendar year.

Requested how high the Fed really should press borrowing expenses, George explained there was “more area to go” and pushed back again from bets in economic marketplaces the central bank would start slicing fees future calendar year.

“I assume we will have to hold — it could be about 4{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. I don’t believe that is out of the query,” she mentioned in a Bloomberg Tv interview. “You won’t know that, I consider, right until you begin to view the information signals.”

July 26, 2022

English pottery a hit in Asia thanks to Squid Game | UK news

A 200-12 months-aged English pottery has observed its brand name increased in South Korea many thanks to the lockdown hit Squid Match.

Denby Pottery, named after the Derbyshire village exactly where it was set up by Joseph Bourne in 1809, has been steadily growing its enterprise in Asia. It is now on sale with a noted £50m valuation, and seeking new investors to extend at any time even further.

Launched on a rich seam of clay through the making of a primary road serving mills in between Alfreton and Derby, the model is now ploughing a loaded new seam of prospects, specially in China and India.

Due to the fact Denby’s Halo cup featured in an episode of the Netflix clearly show, the firm’s acceptance has greater even more in South Korea, in which it has a retail outlet in Gangnam, a district of Seoul designed well known in the 2012 pop track Gangnam Design.

Back again in the 1970s, Denby had 3 bowls in its vary. Now it has 40, with things such as nesting pots, straight-sided rice and deep ramen noodle bowls, smaller spherical dishes as well as soju cups in which to provide Korean alcohol.

In 2009 the firm was rescued from administration by the investment company Hilco Money, a turnaround professional that has assisted businesses including Homebase, Habitat and HMV. Hilco has appointed finnCap to recommend on the sale.

Sebastian Lazell, the Denby chief govt, informed the Instances: “There are 55 million men and women in South Korea and they adore the premium informal appear of our glazes because formal ornate ware is out of fashion. They lay the desk quite in different ways in Korea so virtually 40{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of our creation around there is bowls.”

Vikki Irvine, a senior manufacturer manager at the pottery, additional: “Our collections are well-known with youthful generations in Korea. It is also a go absent from the traditional tableware their mom and dad owned, as we see a shift in the Korean society for the younger technology to have their individual identity.”

Lazell mentioned Hilco was delighted at the sustained development of its investment and was eager to make sure that the beneficial trajectory carries on. “Denby Pottery, our traders and advisers are, as a result, examining options for the potential ownership of the Denby Team, most likely involving the guidance of investors improved suited to the more and more global demands of the business enterprise in the decades in advance.”

He added: “No selections have been taken at this time and any opportunity long run conclusion will be taken with the passions of the company’s stakeholders often in brain.”

July 24, 2022

Today in History: July 24, Apollo 11 returns home | News

Right now is Sunday, July 24, the 205th day of 2022. There are 160 times left in the calendar year.

Today’s Spotlight in Heritage:

On July 24, 1915, the SS Eastland, a passenger ship carrying much more than 2,500 individuals, rolled on to its facet whilst docked at the Clark Street Bridge on the Chicago River an believed 844 persons died in the catastrophe.

On this date:

In 1847, Mormon leader Brigham Younger and his followers arrived in the Wonderful Salt Lake Valley in existing-day Utah.

In 1866, Tennessee became the to start with condition to be readmitted to the Union right after the Civil War.

In 1911, Yale College background professor Hiram Bingham III observed the “Lost Metropolis of the Incas,” Machu Picchu, in Peru.

In 1937, the point out of Alabama dropped prices against 4 of the 9 young Black guys accused of raping two white women of all ages in the “Scottsboro Situation.”

In 1959, during a check out to Moscow, Vice President Richard Nixon engaged in his well-known “Kitchen Debate” with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

In 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts — two of whom had been the very first guys to set foot on the moon — splashed down safely in the Pacific.

In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Courtroom unanimously dominated that President Richard Nixon had to turn above subpoenaed White House tape recordings to the Watergate unique prosecutor.

In 1975, an Apollo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific, completing a mission which integrated the first-at any time docking with a Soyuz capsule from the Soviet Union.

In 1998, the movement photograph “Saving Personal Ryan,” starring Tom Hanks and directed by Steven Spielberg, was produced.

In 2010, a stampede inside of a tunnel crowded with techno songs supporters left 21 persons lifeless and far more than 500 injured at the famed Like Parade competition in western Germany.

In 2016, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza had been inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame.

In 2019, in a day of congressional testimony, Robert Mueller dismissed President Donald Trump’s assert of “total exoneration” in Mueller’s probe of Russia’s 2016 election interference.

Ten yrs in the past: In his initially overseas plan speech considering that rising as the possible Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney termed for an impartial investigation into statements the White Household experienced leaked countrywide safety details for President Barack Obama’s political gain the White Property replied that the president “has designed abundantly distinct that he has no tolerance for leaks.” Actor Chad Everett died in Los Angeles at age 75. Actor Sherman Hemsley died in El Paso, Texas, at age 74.

Five a long time back: In a speech to a national Boy Scout accumulating in West Virginia, President Donald Trump railed against his enemies and promoted his political agenda, bringing an indignant reaction from some mothers and fathers and previous Scouts from both functions. Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner answered thoughts from Senate investigators for 4 hours about contacts with Russians throughout and soon after Trump’s marketing campaign for the White Household he stated he “did not collude with Russia” and that all of his actions “were good.” A Taliban suicide bomber killed 24 folks in an early early morning assault in a community of the Afghan funds where well known politicians lived.

One particular calendar year in the past: Jackie Mason, a rabbi-turned-comic who took his sharp wit and piercing social commentary to Catskills nightclubs, West Coastline talk exhibits and Broadway levels, died at 93.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor John Aniston is 89. Political cartoonist Pat Oliphant is 87. Comic Ruth Buzzi and actor Mark Goddard are 86. Actor Dan Hedaya is 82. Actor Chris Sarandon is 80. Comedian Gallagher is 76. Actor Robert Hays is 75. Previous Republican nationwide chairman Marc Racicot is 74. Actor Michael Richards is 73. Actor Lynda Carter is 71. Film director Gus Van Sant is 70. Former Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., is 69. Country singer Pam Tillis is 65. Actor Paul Ben-Victor is 60. Basketball Corridor of Famer Karl Malone is 59. Retired MLB All-Star Barry Bonds is 58. Actor Kadeem Hardison is 57. Actor-singer Kristin Chenoweth and actors Laura Leighton and John P. Navin Jr. are 54. Actor-singer Jennifer Lopez and basketball participant-turned-actor Rick Fox are 53. Director Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”) is 51. Actor Jamie Denbo (Tv: “Orange is the New Black”) is 49. Actor Eric Szmanda is 47. Actor Rose Byrne and place singer Jerrod Niemann are 43. Actors Summer months Glau and Sheaun McKinney are 41. Actors Elisabeth Moss and Anna Paquin are 40. Actor Sarah Greene is 38. NHL middle Patrice Bergeron is 37. Actor Megan Park is 36. Actor Mara Wilson is 35. Actor Sarah Steele is 34. Singer Jay McGuiness (The Required) is 32. Actor Emily Bett Rickards is 31. Actor Lucas Adams is 29. Television identity Bindi Irwin is 24.

July 19, 2022

Nutson’s Weekly Auto News Wrap-up July 10

AUTO CENTRAL CHICAGO – July 17, 2022; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Auto Channel Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Auto Channel’s “take” on this past week’s automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets.

LEARN MORE: Complete versions of today’s news nuggets, along with thousands of pages of relevant news and opinions, information stored in a million-page library published and indexed on The Auto Channel during the past 25 years. Complete information can be found by copying a headline and inserting it into any Site Search Box.

Nutson’s Automotive Weekly Auto News Wrap-up – Week Ending July 16, 2022 Below are the past week’s important, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as
expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive universe news nuggets.

* Gas prices fell this week to a national average of $4.67, 12 cents lower than last week’s average, according to new data from AAA. The national average is 32 cents less than a month ago, but $1.53 more than last year, AAA reported. Just last month, gas prices reached an all-time high, surpassing $5 per gallon and hitting the highest point since AAA began tracking prices in 2000.This recent decrease came despite a surge in demand for gas after the July 4th holiday, according to AAA.

* Michael Sivak Sivak Applied Research examined the differences between the prices of gasoline in blue and red states. Blue states were defined as those states where in 2020 Joe Biden won all or a majority of electoral votes (26 states); red states are those where Biden won no or a minority of electoral votes (25 states). The average prices of regular gasoline on July 14, 2022 came from AAA. The average of state averages in blue states was $4.81 per gallon, while in red states it was $4.50. There was only 1 blue state in which the average price was below $4.35 (GA), compared with 11 red states (AL, AR, FL, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN, and TX). Conversely, there were only 3 red states in which the average price was above $5.00 (AK, ID, and UT), compared with 6 blue states (CA, HI, IL, NV, OR, and WA).

* The average price paid for a new vehicle in the U.S. in June was the highest on record and marked the first time the average transaction price (ATP) surpassed the $48,000 mark, according to new data released by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company. The new-vehicle ATP increased to $48,043 in June 2022, according to KBB, beating the previous high of $47,202 set in December 2021. June prices rose 1.9{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} ($895) from May and were up 12.7{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} ($5,410) from June 2021. The average price paid for a new non-luxury vehicle last month was $43,942, up $615 from May, the highest price for a non-luxury vehicle on record. The average luxury buyer paid $66,476 for a new vehicle, up $1097 month over month, the highest price for a luxury vehicle ever.

* Tesla Inc.’s new assembly plant in Gruenheide, Germany, is building the Model Y only in black or white, according to a report from Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche. Customers who choose red, blue, or silver vehicles will be supplied from the automaker’s Shanghai factory and will not receive their vehicle until March 2023 at the earliest. If they opt for black or white, they can expect their cars in October. Facing a global shortage of semiconductor chips and other supply-chain disruptions, other automakers in Europe are offering pared-down options for cars so customers can get their new cars quickly. Renault is offering “fast track” delivery for its Arkana crossover to customers who choose black, pearl-white or gray.

* New-vehicle sales in the second quarter struggled, up only modestly from the first quarter and down more than 20{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} from Q2 2021. But, Cox Automotive reports sales of battery-powered electric vehicles – pure EVs – jumped to 196,788, a record high and a 13{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} increase from Q1. Sales of electrified vehicles – combined EVs, hybrids, and fuel-cell-powered vehicles – jumped to 442,740 in Q2, an increase of 12.9{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} from year-ago levels. Electrified vehicles account for 12.6{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the U.S. market last quarter. In Q2, EV sales accounted for 5.6{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the total market, an increase from 5.3{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} in Q1 and a record high. EV share in Q2 2021 was 2.7{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

* Electric vehicle chargers are coming to highway truck-stop gasoline stations. GM and Pilot Company (Pilot and Flying J) are collaborating on a national DC fast charging network that will be installed, operated and maintained by EVgo. This network of 2,000 charging stalls, co-branded “Pilot Flying J” and “Ultium Charge 360”, will be powered by EVgo eXtend and open to all EV brands at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers. Many of these sites will feature canopies to help protect customers from the elements while charging, as well as pull-through capability allowing convenient charging for electric pickup trucks and SUVs pulling trailers.

* There is an alarming increase in people being struck and killed while walking. The number of people struck and killed while walking reached yet another new high in 2020. More than 6,500 people were struck and killed while walking in 2020, an average of nearly 18 per day, and a 4.5 percent increase over 2019. This epidemic continues growing worse because our nation’s streets are dangerous by design, designed primarily to move cars quickly at the expense of keeping everyone safe. The result in 2020 was a significant increase in all traffic fatalities, even with less driving overall due to the pandemic. See the report here: https://smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design/

* Various members of the automotive media were all abuzz over a story that BMW was going to charge a subscription fee for features such as heated seats to be activated in a vehicle. This led BMW of North America to issue a clarifying press release saying that’s not the case. BMW Functions on Demand on the other hand is designed to offer premium features through software upload that use data and sensors from factory option hardware already built into BMW vehicles. As an example, some BMW models equipped with certain specific options from the factory can currently add the first two Functions on Demand features available in the US – namely a dash cam function called BMW Drive Recorder and BMW Remote Engine Start function—through a software download in a customer’s vehicle.

* Yay, a new sedan is coming to market–and not another utility vehicle. Toyota pulled the sheet off the 2023 Toyota Crown. The Crown is a 4-door sedan with coupe-like styling, a traditional trunk opening and slightly lifted ride height. It will be have a hybrid powertrain and come with all-wheel drive as standard. The Crown is a premium sedan that will replace the Avalon.

* Bloomberg reports Chinese drivers are souping up their electric scooters, helping to grow one of the most successful corners of battery-powered transportation. Electric two-wheelers sold by companies like Niu Technologies have proved to be incredibly well-received in China’s megacities by delivery drivers and commuters who need to bypass traffic and travel short distances in little time. Their popularity has endured despite a 2019 move by the government to force manufacturers to cap speeds at 25 kilometers per hour (16 mph). Drivers and sellers have fought back by hacking software and taking online tutorials that allow them to bypass the controls, enabling some advanced models to hit speeds of 50 kph (31mph or more.)

* The Jeep brand is being recognized for the 20th consecutive year as America’s Most Patriotic Brand in the annual Brand Keys Inc. 50 Most Patriotic Brands survey. “Since 1941” is a badge of honor proudly displayed on all Jeep brand vehicles, recognizing the Jeep brand’s long-standing military heritage for over 80 years. Consumers surveyed based results on brands that best embody the value of patriotism in 2022.

* Nissan is recalling certain 2020-2022 Frontier and Titan vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway. 180,176 units are affected.

* Autoweek reports former NASCAR driver and three-time USAC National Champion racer Bobby East died following a stabbing attack at a gas station in Westminster, Calif., on July 13. East was 37. East is credited with 56 career USAC feature race wins, including 48 in national divisions. He won the USAC Silver Crown Series championship in 2012 and 2013 with Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing. In 2012, East became just the ninth driver in USAC history to win on dirt and pavement tracks in the three top categories: Silver Crown, National Sprint Car and National Midget. He made 31 career starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and 11 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series between 2005 and 2008. His best NASCAR finishes were eighth-place finishes in the Truck Series for team owner Jack Roush at Texas and Memphis in 2008. He raced for the famed Wood Brothers Racing team in the Truck Series in 2006.

Stay safe. Be Well.