Latest news with #MichelleChapman
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Midea recalling 1.7 million of its popular air conditioners due to mold concern
Midea is voluntarily recalling about 1.7 million of its popular U and U+ Smart air conditioners because pooled water in the units may not drain fast enough, leading to mold growth. The news comes as temperatures are rising across the U.S. and the official start of summer rapidly approaches. The Midea air conditioners fit in windows and resonated with consumers because of their unique design, which allows consumers to close their window 'through' the unit. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the recall also includes approximately 45,900 units sold in Canada. There's been at least 152 reports of mold in the air conditioners. This includes 17 reports of consumers experiencing symptoms such as respiratory infections, allergic reactions, coughing, sneezing and sore throats from mold exposure. The white air conditioners have brand names including Midea, Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire and Sea Breeze. They were sold in three sizes of cooling power: 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 BTU. The air conditioners were sold from March 2020 through May 2025 for between $280 and $500 at Costco, Menards, Home Depot, Best Buy and other stores across the country. They were also sold online through various websites including those of Midea, Amazon, Costco and Home Depot. Consumers can contact Midea for a repair or a refund that will be based on the purchase date or manufacture date. Individuals who want a refund will need to send the unit back to Midea with a free shipping label or submit a photograph showing that they cut the unit's unplugged power cord. Those who want a repair should contact Midea to have a technician install a new drain plug or be sent a repair kit that includes a new drain plug and bubble level, depending on the model. Consumers who want to continue using their air conditioners while waiting for a repair should visit to find out how to inspect their unit before continuing to use it. Individuals can visit and click on 'Recall Information' for more information or call 888-345-0256 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disney laying off several hundred employees worldwide
The Walt Disney Co. is laying off several hundred employees worldwide as the entertainment giant looks to trim some costs and adapt to evolving industry conditions. A Disney spokesperson confirmed the action on Tuesday. The exact number of jobs being cut is unknown, but layoffs will occur across several divisions, including television and film marketing, TV publicity, casting and development, and corporate financial operations. No entire teams will be eliminated. 'As our industry transforms at a rapid pace, we continue to evaluate ways to efficiently manage our businesses while fueling the state-of-the-art creativity and innovation that consumers value and expect from Disney,' the spokesperson said. 'As part of this ongoing work, we have identified opportunities to operate more efficiently and are eliminating a limited number of positions.' Last month Disney posted solid profits and revenue in the second quarter as its domestic theme parks thrived and the company added well over a million subscribers to its streaming service. The company also boosted its profit expectations for the year. Disney's also been riding a wave of box office hits, including 'Thunderbolts(asterisk)' and 'Lilo & Stitch," which is now the second-highest grossing movie of the year with $280.1 million in domestic ticket sales. In 2023 Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that Disney would cut about 7,000 jobs as part of an ambitious companywide cost-savings plan and 'strategic reorganization.' Disney said at the time that the job reductions were part of a targeted $5.5 billion cost savings across the company. Shares of Disney, which is based in Burbank, California, rose slightly in midday trading. Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Final boarding call for free bags as Southwest drops longstanding traveler perk
It's the last day to book a flight on Southwest Airlines without being hit with a fee to check bags after the airline abandoned a decades-long luggage policy that executives had described last fall as key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals. The airline announced the change in March, saying at the time that the the new policy would start with flights booked on Wednesday. Southwest had built years of advertising campaigns around its policy of letting passengers check up to two bags for free. Under its new policy, people who haven't either reached the upper tiers of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, bought a business class ticket or hold the airline's credit card will have to pay for checked bags. Southwest will continue to offer two free checked bags to Rapid Rewards A-List preferred members and customers traveling on Business Select fares, and one free checked bag to A-List members and other select customers. Passengers with Rapid Rewards credit cards will receive a credit for one checked bag. People who don't qualify for those categories will get charged to check bags. The airline said in March that it also would roll out a new, basic fare on its lowest priced tickets when the change takes effect. The airline estimated in September that charging bag fees would bring in about $1.5 billion a year but cost the airline $1.8 billion in lost business from customers who chose to fly Southwest because of its generous baggage allowance. Southwest did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its new checked bag fees, but most major airlines typically charge between $35 and $40 for checked bags. Another policy that will take effect on Wednesday is Southwest requiring passengers to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them because of concerns about the growing number of lithium-ion battery fires. These aren't the only changes at Southwest. The Dallas airline previously announced that it was leaving behind another Southwest tradition, the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years. Southwest expects to begin operating flights with passengers in assigned seats next year. The airline also said last year that it would charge customers extra for more legroom and offer red-eye flights. Southwest has struggled recently and is under pressure from activist investors to boost profits and revenue. The airline reached a truce in October with hedge fund Elliott Investment Management to avoid a proxy fight, but Elliott won several seats on the company's board. The airline announced in February that it was eliminating 1,750 jobs, or 15% of its corporate workforce, in the first major layoffs in the company's 53-year history. Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tariff turmoil prompts cloudy forecasts from General Motors, Harley-Davidson for the year ahead
NEW YORK (AP) — Uncertainty continues to hang over the latest round of financial results and forecasts for companies both big and small as they try to navigate a global trade system severely shaken by a shift in U.S. policy. Roughly half of the companies in the S&P 500 have reported their latest quarterly financial results, but the focus has been on how they will adjust to tariffs and any change in consumers' behavior. Here's a look a what companies are saying about tariffs and the potential impact: General Motors General Motors trimmed one of its profit measures as the carmaker braces for the potential impact from auto tariffs. Auto companies like General Motors have operations spread out throughout North America, with auto parts and assembly steps often crossing multiple borders before a car is produced. The company said that it expects full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes in a range of $10 billion to $12.5 billion. That's down from a previous range of $13.7 billion to $15.7 billion. The revised guidance includes a current tariff exposure of $4 billion to $5 billion. President Donald Trump signed executive orders Tuesday to relax some of his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts. Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson withdrew its financial forecast for the year because of uncertainty over tariffs and the economy. The iconic motorcycle maker said it is focusing on productivity measures, supply chain management and cost controls to help deal with the impact from tariffs. The company gets just under 70% of its revenue from within the U.S., according to FactSet. That leaves a large chunk of its revenue exposed to retaliatory tariffs from other nations. Hershey Hershey reaffirmed its financial forecasts for the year, which include assessments for tariff expenses as they currently stand. The chocolate maker estimates the current tariff expenses to range from about $15 million to $20 million in the second quarter. Hershey and other chocolate makers are already dealing with cocoa supply issues that have helped push prices higher. More than 70% of the global cocoa supply comes from West Africa and the region has been dealing with stressed and damaged crops for years. Church & Dwight Church & Dwight slashed its financial forecasts for the year as it faces the impact from tariffs and a potential slowdown in consumer spending. The maker of Arm & Hammer and other household and personal care products now expects earnings to range from flat to 2% growth. It previously forecast earnings growth of up to 8%. It estimated that its tariff exposure over the next 12 months is about $190 million. The company hopes to reduce that exposure by up to 80% with several measures, including no longer sourcing Waterpik flossers from China for the U.S. market. It will also potentially shut down or sell some of its brands. ___ AP writer Michelle Chapman contributed to this report. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Tariff turmoil prompts cloudy forecasts from General Motors, Harley-Davidson for the year ahead
Uncertainty continues to hang over the latest round of financial results and forecasts for companies both big and small as they try to navigate a global trade system severely shaken by a shift in U.S. policy. Roughly half of the companies in the S&P 500 have reported their latest quarterly financial results, but the focus has been on how they will adjust to tariffs and any change in consumers' behavior. Here's a look a what companies are saying about tariffs and the potential impact: General Motors General Motors trimmed one of its profit measures as the carmaker braces for the potential impact from auto tariffs. Auto companies like General Motors have operations spread out throughout North America, with auto parts and assembly steps often crossing multiple borders before a car is produced. The company said that it expects full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes in a range of $10 billion to $12.5 billion. That's down from a previous range of $13.7 billion to $15.7 billion. The revised guidance includes a current tariff exposure of $4 billion to $5 billion. President Donald Trump signed executive orders Tuesday to relax some of his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts. Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson withdrew its financial forecast for the year because of uncertainty over tariffs and the economy. The iconic motorcycle maker said it is focusing on productivity measures, supply chain management and cost controls to help deal with the impact from tariffs. The company gets just under 70% of its revenue from within the U.S., according to FactSet. That leaves a large chunk of its revenue exposed to retaliatory tariffs from other nations. Hershey Hershey reaffirmed its financial forecasts for the year, which include assessments for tariff expenses as they currently stand. The chocolate maker estimates the current tariff expenses to range from about $15 million to $20 million in the second quarter. Hershey and other chocolate makers are already dealing with cocoa supply issues that have helped push prices higher. More than 70% of the global cocoa supply comes from West Africa and the region has been dealing with stressed and damaged crops for years. Church & Dwight Church & Dwight slashed its financial forecasts for the year as it faces the impact from tariffs and a potential slowdown in consumer spending. The maker of Arm & Hammer and other household and personal care products now expects earnings to range from flat to 2% growth. It previously forecast earnings growth of up to 8%. It estimated that its tariff exposure over the next 12 months is about $190 million. The company hopes to reduce that exposure by up to 80% with several measures, including no longer sourcing Waterpik flossers from China for the U.S. market. It will also potentially shut down or sell some of its brands. ___ AP writer Michelle Chapman contributed to this report.
