Business News - News of Austin

Living room table holds stack of envelopes with open slips showing dollar amounts and a faint January 2026 clock in light

2026 Social Security COLA Boost and 50% Field Office Visit Cut Announced

Morgan J. Carter December 18, 2025

A new year’s check for millions of retirees and disability beneficiaries is set to arrive a bit larger than last year’s, thanks to a 2.8 percent...

Teen hiker standing at lake edge with worn wooden sign and backpack gazing over golden autumn waters.

Business News Local News

Teen Founder Launches Outdoor Brand to Push Kids Off Their Phones

Morgan J. Carter December 18, 2025

16‑year‑old Antonio Vezina is turning a childhood phrase into a movement that urges teens to swap screen time for real‑world adventures. He recently...

People strolling down Austin downtown street with golden sunset light and lake reflection

Business News Local News

Austin Tops U.S. Metros for Affluent Millennials, Trust & Will Study Shows

Morgan J. Carter December 18, 2025

Austin has emerged as the top destination for affluent millennials in a comprehensive ranking of 73 U.S. metropolitan areas. The study, conducted by...

Frozen slider revealing beef patty with wooden cutting board and ketchup splatter

Business News Consumer News

White Castle Recalls Over 1,000 Cases of Original Sliders After Undeclared Allergen Error

Morgan J. Carter December 18, 2025

White Castle has issued a recall for more than 1,000 cases of its frozen Original Sliders after the company discovered undeclared milk and soy...

Investors huddle around tables with glowing screens and a central stock ticker on the dimly lit trading floor.

Business News Market News Tech News

Wall Street Slips on Quiet Monday as Traders Await Key Economic Data

Morgan J. Carter December 18, 2025

Wall Street moved quietly on Monday as traders awaited key U.S. economic data that could shape the Federal Reserve’s next interest‑rate...

Seasonal worker holding empty gloved hands outside office with UPS trucks in background

Business News Legal News

NY AG Files $45 Million Wage Theft Lawsuit Against UPS, Accusing Company of Systematic Underpayment of Seasonal Workers

Morgan J. Carter December 18, 2025

In a courtroom showdown that could reshape how a logistics giant treats its most vulnerable employees, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed...

Woman smiles while holding glass of red wine with warm light and lush greenery in her home garden

Business News Health News

FDA Expands Addyi Approval to Postmenopausal Women Up to 65

Morgan J. Carter December 18, 2025

The FDA has broadened the use of Addyi, a once‑daily pill for low libido, to include postmenopausal women up to 65, expanding its reach after a...

Mark Latino and workers weaving silver tinsel onto Christmas tree branches with lantern light and vintage machine in room

Business News Consumer News

Tariffs Spark Price Rise for U.S. Fake Christmas Trees, Shifting Production Overseas

Morgan J. Carter December 17, 2025

On a recent December day, Mark Latino and a handful of his workers spun sheets of vinyl into tinsel for Christmas tree branches. They worked on a...

Abandoned F-150 Lightning electric vehicle sits on dusty warehouse floor with a spotlight highlighting its hood and a line.

Automotive News Business News Tech News

Ford Shifts Focus from Electric Trucks to Gasoline and Hybrid Models Amid Losses

Morgan J. Carter December 17, 2025

Ford’s announcement stunned the auto industry, as the company said it will discontinue the electric F‑150 Lightning pickup truck and instead focus on...

Truck driver looking concerned with crooked wooden sign and abandoned grant documents near a faded semi‑truck poster.

Business News Local News Political News

Texas Faces Federal Threat Over Commercial Driver License Practices

Morgan J. Carter December 17, 2025

By Andrew Schnitker, Josh Funk, AP, and Chrissy Mazzone.\n\nOn December 15, 2025, KXAN reported that the federal government threatened to withhold...