More than a decade of losses have put the U.S. Postal Service in a dire financial situation. To understand how this happened, WSJ takes a look back at how the modern postal service became an entity balancing public service and the need for profit.
Photo Illustration: Jacob Reynolds/WSJ
Once known for its “treasure hunt” atmosphere, colorful home furnishings, and distinctive holiday decorations, Pier 1 filed for bankruptcy in February 2020.
Pier 1 later announced it was winding down its entire business, in part, due to the coronavirus pandemic. And while Pier 1 had a smaller share of the home furnishing industry than some of its rivals, those store closings could mean good news for a few retailers.
The survey of new orders for long-lasting goods contains one of the most closely watched U.S. economic indicators. WSJ explains durable goods, and why investors look beyond the headline number for a better read on business activity.
Photo: Josie Norris/The San Antonio Express-News
The coronavirus has pushed nearly half of U.S. colleges and universities into some degree of remote learning, a change that’s sending shock waves through small college town economies. WSJ’s Carlos Waters explains.
The Chinese fintech titan Ant Group—co-founded by Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma—is set to go public in what could be one of the largest listings ever. WSJ explains how Ant’s backbone service, Alipay, has revolutionized payments and investing in the world’s most populous country.
Photo Composite: Crystal Tai
Restaurants must function at 75% capacity in order to achieve profitability. With many restaurants operating at 50% capacity or less, how do they make up the remaining 25%? The three main contributing factors are contactless dining, labor optimization and changing the customer journey. Learn more about how restaurants are recovering during the COVID-19 pandemic in this infographic by OneDine.
Brooks Brothers — the self-proclaimed oldest clothier in the U.S. — filed for bankruptcy in July. Analysts say the suit dealer wasn’t able to keep up with modern men who often wanted styles that were cheaper and more functional.
Alejo and Andrea started exploring alternative lifestyles when they quit their jobs in Miami and started travelling in a travel trailer, but after falling in love with kite boarding, they realized that life on the water would be a better fit, and they moved onto a catamaran sailboat so they could chase the wind every day!
For work, they own a pet supply company called Mokai, which they are able to operate remotely, and they also have a YouTube channel where they share videos about their daily lives.
You can follow Living Hakuna’s sailing adventures here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrlb…
Hertz was a pioneer in car rental and a highly recognized brand nearly as old as the American auto industry itself. Decimated by coronavirus, Hertz tried in mid-2020 to take advantage of an odd Robinhood-driven spike in its share price and sell stock to pay off its debts. At the time, the company admitted the shares it was selling could end up worthless. Will Hertz be able to emerge from bankruptcy in some form, or will this be the end of its century-long story.
Tesla’s stock has more than tripled since the start of the year, giving it a market capitalization larger than many behemoths of American industry. But its rise wasn’t necessarily driven by fundamentals. WSJ explains.
Illustration: Jacob Reynolds/WSJ
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