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Retail sales rise 1.4% in March as shoppers stock up on big ticket items ahead of tariffs
  • April 16, 2025

Retail sales rise 1.4% in March as shoppers stock up on big ticket items ahead of tariffs

U.S. shoppers stepped up their shopping last month, fueled by a spending spree on big ticket items, particularly cars, before President Donald Trump’s expansive new tariffs started kicking in. Retail sales rose 1.4% in March, after rising 0.2% in February, according to the Commerce Department. Retail sales fell 1.2% in January, hurt in part by cold weather that kept more Americans indoors, denting sales at car dealers and most other stores.

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European Stocks Trim Losses as China Sees Potential for US Talks
  • April 16, 2025

European Stocks Trim Losses as China Sees Potential for US Talks

(Bloomberg) -- European equities pared losses after China said it’s open to trade talks if the Trump administration takes a number of steps and shows more respect. Most Read from BloombergHow Did This Suburb Figure Out Mass Transit?Trump Signs Executive Orders on Federal Purchasing, Office SpaceWhy the Best Bike Lanes Always Get BlamedLA County Floats Leaner Budget Burdened by Fire and Legal CostsThe Stoxx Europe 600 Index was down 0.6% at 12:51 p.m. in London after falling as much as 1.4% earli

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Lyft to enter European market with $200 million FreeNow acquisition
  • April 16, 2025

Lyft to enter European market with $200 million FreeNow acquisition

Lyft is buying mobility platform FreeNow from German automotive giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz for 175 million euros ($198.40 million) to expand into the European ride-hailing market, the U.S. company said on Wednesday. Under pressure from dominant ride-hailing rival Uber Technologies in its home North American market, Lyft has been seeking new avenues to grow its business. The acquisition of FreeNow will nearly double its potential market and open doors to major European cities such as London, Frankfurt, Paris and Milan, where the German firm offers services ranging from traditional taxi to e-scooter rentals and car-sharing options.

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