The bottom line
The big six tech companies; Amazon's growing revenue; Starbucks's gift cards; Divorce rate plunges during recession; Small business owners and the minimum wage
The big six tech companies
By the middle of 2013, just six technology companies—Apple, Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Oracle, and Qualcomm—together held more than a quarter of the $1.5 trillion held by U.S. nonfinancial corporations.
Slate.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Third-party sellers at Amazon
Amazon’s revenue has increased by at least 25 percent each year since 2008, largely due to the rapid growth of third-party sellers using Amazon’s website to peddle their products. Fees from such third parties make up almost one fifth of the company’s revenue.
The Wall Street Journal
Starbucks's gift cards
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Starbucks customers loaded $4 billion onto the coffee chain’s gift cards in 2013, including $1.4 billion in the last quarter alone. The cards now represent more than 30 percent of the company’s U.S. transactions, and 10 percent of American adults received one over the holidays.
Qz.com
Divorce rate plunges during recession
The divorce rate among women plunged during the recession—from 2.09 percent in 2008 to 1.95 in 2009, according to a study from the University of Maryland. But the figure has inched back up—to 1.98 percent in 2010 and 2011—as the economy has recovered and couples can better afford to split up.
Los Angeles Times
Small business owners and the minimum wage
Almost half of small business owners surveyed said they don’t support raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10, while 44 percent said they endorse the idea. More than a quarter said hiking the minimum wage to $10.10 would force them to cut back on employees or hours, but 95 percent agreed that the current rate is not a living wage.
CNN.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
How could escalation in the Middle East affect the global economy?
Today's Big Question Oil prices have already risen but wider conflict could see supply chains disrupted more broadly
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Helene's death toll surpasses 200'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Pig butchering: one of the world's fastest growing scams
In The Spotlight Beijing is cracking down on the crypto con but this has only pushed it worldwide
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The news at a glance...International
feature International
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The bottom line
feature Youthful startup founders; High salaries for anesthesiologists; The myth of too much homework; More mothers stay a home; Audiences are down, but box office revenue rises
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The week at a glance...Americas
feature Americas
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The news at a glance...United States
feature United States
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The news at a glance
feature Comcast defends planned TWC merger; Toyota recalls 6.39 million vehicles; Takeda faces $6 billion in damages; American updates loyalty program; Regulators hike leverage ratio
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The bottom line
feature The rising cost of graduate degrees; NSA surveillance affects tech profits; A glass ceiling for female chefs?; Bonding to a brand name; Generous Wall Street bonuses
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The news at a glance
feature GM chief faces Congress; FBI targets high-frequency trading; Yellen confirms continued low rates; BofA settles mortgage claims for $9.3B; Apple and Samsung duke it out
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
The week at a glance...International
feature International
By The Week Staff Last updated