Latest news with #UshaHaley
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Walmart Expands Into Fuel—And It's More Than Just Gas
Walmart is rolling into the fuel business in a big way, and the move could reshape its rivalry with Costco. With plans to open more than 45 new gas stations across the U.S. this year, Walmart is flexing its muscles in a space traditionally dominated by warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club. 'As EVs remain a long-term play, gas is still king,' said Joe Camberato, CEO of 'The switch to electric vehicles isn't happening overnight, and retailers know there's money to be made from traditional fuel for years to come.' Walmart's new gas stations, set to operate at stores without Murphy USA pumps, will boost its total fuel footprint to over 450 locations across 34 states, Quartz reported. The company is offering low prices at the pump and up to 10 cents per gallon off for Walmart+ members. It's a classic one-stop-shop strategy aimed at bolstering customer loyalty and driving foot traffic. 'Walmart's fuel expansion signals an effort to rival Costco's highly successful gas business, which made up around 12% of its total sales in 2024,' said Usha Haley, an international business expert at Wichita State University. The key difference? Walmart's stations are open to everyone, unlike Costco's members-only model. But Costco isn't standing still. Earlier this year, CEO Rob Vachris announced the company would extend hours at its members-only fuel centers, keeping most locations open until 10 p.m. It's a move designed to deepen loyalty and capture more sales as EV adoption remains watchers say the battle isn't just about gas. With inflation, tariffs, and supply chain disruptions hitting margins, retailers like Walmart and Costco are leaning into fuel as a reliable revenue stream. And with Walmart openly acknowledging that tariffs on Chinese goods could impact prices, low-priced gas is one way to keep customers coming back. 'The rise of EVs will eventually change the game,' said Manish Choudhary of SymphonyAI. 'But for now, these retailers are competing for a bigger slice of the fuel pie, and Walmart's latest move is a clear signal of intent.' Walmart Expands Into Fuel—And It's More Than Just Gas first appeared on Men's Journal on May 27, 2025
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Households Now Need 70% More Income To Buy A Home—Double Whammy Of Skyrocketing Prices And Rates Puts Homeownership Out Of Reach For Many
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. As if you needed proof of the housing crisis facing many Americans, a new report by reveals that the income required to buy a home has soared by a mighty 70% since spring 2019. According to the April 2025 Housing Market Trends Report, the household income needed to buy a home has increased by $47,000. This means that if a buyer wished to purchase a home at April's national median list price of $431,250, they would need to earn an annual income of $114,000, buy with a 30-year mortgage, and make a 20% down payment, according to Don't Miss: Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — The numbers factor in the homeowner not spending more than 30% of their gross income on their housing costs, which would account for their mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance. It effectively puts many middle-class workers out of the home-buying pool because an owner would need to make around $9,500 a month before taxes to cover their housing expenses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a typical American household earned just over $80,600 per year, in 2023, over 40% less than the figure needed to buy a home today. 'While the income needed to purchase a home has leveled off nationally over the past year, it remains significantly higher than before the [COVID-19] pandemic, underscoring the ongoing challenge of affordability even as market conditions gradually rebalance,' Chief Economist Danielle Hale said. Trending: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — According to data, the income needed to buy a home varies dramatically across the nation and spiked in some cities more than others since 2019. Memphis, Tennessee, has seen the greatest required salary spike of 94.8%. It means a potential buyer of an averagely priced home of $345,495 would need to make $91,300 a year. Providence, Rhode Island, was next, requiring a salary of $154,615 to buy a home costing $584,900 — a 93% increase, In third place was Las Vegas, which required an income of $125,654 to buy a home costing $475,000 — an 86.5% increase. These numbers do not reflect the cost of living, which, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics has decreased by 2.4% over the last year. However, the potential impact of tariffs remains to be potential would-be buyers looking to purchase a new home, tariffs could increase new home prices by $10,000, Usha Haley, professor of international business and management at the Wichita State University Barton School of Business told U.S. News & Wold Report, 'not including potential delays and supply chain disruptions,' she added. 'Shifting gears to domestic products for construction is possible, but will take time. The United States has over 300 billion trees, but not the industrial capacity to meet housing demand within the next couple of years,' Haley said. Interest rates are the big unknown. If they dropped, the amount homeowners would need to earn would also fall. However, as tariffs begin to bite, that does not seem on the cards, according to media reports, despite President Donald Trump's pressuring of the Federal Reserve to lower rates. Read Next: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock Send To MSN: 0 This article U.S. Households Now Need 70% More Income To Buy A Home—Double Whammy Of Skyrocketing Prices And Rates Puts Homeownership Out Of Reach For Many originally appeared on 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
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Planning to buy a car? These brands are safest from tariffs and these could cost you a bomb as new auto tariffs go into effect
5 Cars That Are Safest From Tariffs — And 5 Getting Hit the Hardest- As President Donald Trump takes steps to ease tariffs on auto imports in 2025, some vehicles are getting a bit of breathing room — but many cars are still vulnerable to price hikes. For American drivers, this means costs are still climbing, especially for models heavily dependent on foreign parts. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Code of war: India and Pakistan take their battle to the (web)front Forex reserves show a pauperised Pakistan, a prospering India Pakistan conducts training launch of surface-to surface ballistic missile Which cars are the safest from auto tariffs in 2025? When it comes to surviving tariff shocks, domestically produced cars with high U.S.-made content are faring the best . According to Motor1, which recently ranked vehicles based on the percentage of American parts and manufacturing, Tesla leads the way . Here's a look at the top 5 vehicles that are safest from tariffs: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Conocoto Modular Homes: See Prices Mobile Homes | Search ads Undo Tesla Model 3 Performance – 87.5% domestic content Tesla Model Y – 85% domestic content Tesla Cybertruck – 82.5% domestic content Tesla Model S – 80% domestic content Tesla Model X – 80% domestic content Tesla's strong domestic production puts it in a favorable spot. As Usha Haley, Barton Distinguished Chair at Wichita State University, told Quartz , 'Tesla will be among the least affected.' These cars are built largely in the U.S., keeping them out of the tariff crosshairs — for now. Also ranking well are Ford's Mustang GT AT, at 80% U.S. content, and Volkswagen's ID.4 AWD (82 kWh), which hits 75.5%. Live Events What makes some cars more vulnerable to tariffs? The biggest losers in this tariff shakeup are cars built with mostly foreign parts, and there are plenty of them. Models that rely heavily on overseas supply chains are getting hit the hardest by the new tariff rules. According to Motor1 data, here are five cars most impacted by tariffs due to their low U.S. production share: Hyundai Elantra – 1% domestic production BMW M3 Sedan – 1% Subaru BRZ – 1% Toyota GR 86 – 1% Toyota GR Corolla – 1% These vehicles are largely built abroad or depend on imported parts. That makes them more exposed to tariff-related cost hikes. Liz Hempel, partner at McKinsey & Company, explained that auto supply chains aren't easy to move. 'Switching production venues takes at least two years and billions of dollars,' she said. 'Tariffs, which hit overnight, only add to the complexity.' Are prices already going up — and by how much? Yes, prices are rising — and quickly. Even with Trump's easing of tariffs, car prices have jumped since the announcement. Kevin Roberts, director at CarGurus, told Quartz that: The average new car price is up $650 Used car prices climbed $150 This surge is largely driven by a rush of demand in March, as buyers hurried to beat potential increases. 'The impact has been most pronounced in the affordable segment,' Roberts noted, especially for cars under $50,000. George Faracchio, VP at AutoLenders, added that current inventory has softened the initial blow — but that won't last long. 'As we move deeper into the spring and summer months, if tariffs remain in place… we expect prices to climb steadily,' he said. What does this mean for the rest of 2025 car sales? If you're thinking about buying a car this year, you might want to act sooner rather than later. John Lash, group VP at e2open, says the March buying surge was no surprise. 'With budgets tight, many consumers decided it was smarter to buy now than risk paying more later,' he said. But that jump might be short-lived. Lash predicts a steep drop in sales ahead. 'After this brief jump, we should get ready for a long and extended drop in new car sales,' he said, unless tariff policies shift again. Why this matters for U.S. car buyers The 2025 automotive tariff story is more than politics — it's already changing what people pay for cars. Whether you're buying new or used, or even just watching the market, knowing which cars are safer from tariffs can help you make a better decision. Cars like Tesla's Model 3 or Ford's Mustang GT are better positioned to avoid steep price hikes, while imports like the Hyundai Elantra or Toyota GR 86 could come with a much bigger price tag in the months ahead. And as experts across the board agree: these changes aren't going away soon. So if your old car is on its last legs, now might be the best time to shop before prices climb further. FAQs: Q1: Which cars are least affected by the 2025 automotive tariffs ? Cars with high U.S.-made parts like Tesla models and Ford Mustang GT. Q2: Why are car prices going up despite tariff relief in 2025? Because most cars still rely on imported parts, raising overall production costs.
