Unusual Whales

Fake and false consumer reviews are now banned by the FTC

On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted unanimously to prohibit marketers from using fake reviews—such as those created by AI technology—and other deceptive practices to promote their products and services. All five FTC commissioners approved the final rule, which will take effect 60 days after it is

Hackers may have stolen the Social Security numbers of every American from National Public Data, around 2.9 billion records

Security experts are alerting the public to a potential breach of a background check site, which may have led to the exposure of billions of Social Security and address records, potentially affecting every individual in the United States. According to BleepingComputer, a hacking forum became active after a user claimed

34% of parents said they plan to take on debt to afford back to school supplies this year, and 16% said they plan to take on up to $1,000 in debt

As the back-to-school season approaches, parents are bracing for the financial impact of preparing their kids for the new school year. With children heading back to school later this month, some parents might find relief after dealing with high summer childcare costs, but the school year brings its own set

A labor strike that would shut down six out of 10 of the busiest ports in the US just weeks before the presidential election is looking increasingly likely

A labor strike that could close six out of ten of the busiest ports in the U.S. just weeks before the presidential election appears increasingly probable. Negotiations over a labor contract for key trade hubs from Boston to Houston have stalled since June when the dockworker union halted high-level

33% of American households are cutting back on groceries to help pay for their utility bills like AC as 75% of them expect their expenses to increase during the summer and “cause them financial strain"

Americans facing high summer air conditioning bills are having to cut expenses in other areas to cover the cost. According to new data from PowerSetter, a platform for comparing energy rates, one in three U.S. households have reduced their grocery spending to manage their utility bills. The company surveyed

Bud Light, $BUD, spent million dollars to overcome conservative boycotts, but it did not work

Bud Light, a brand synonymous with casual, rowdy fun, was a perfect fit for places like the Green Rock Tap and Grill in Hoboken, New Jersey. This bustling sports bar, known for its $1 wing nights, sold $250,000 worth of what was then America's best-selling beer in

Donald Trump says Google, $GOOGL, ‘has to be careful’ or it will be ‘shut down’

Donald Trump says Google, $GOOGL, ‘has to be careful’ or it will be ‘shut down’. Trump casually told Fox’s Maria Bartiromo that “Google has to be careful” because “they’ve been very irresponsible” and he suspects “Google is going to be close to shut down, because I don’t

74% of songwriters are making under $10,000

The majority of songwriters, about 74%, earn less than $10,000 annually. Those making a more sustainable income of over $30,000 per year constitute the top 10% of the industry. Songwriters report that their biggest hurdle is the lack of significant streaming revenue, followed by the challenge of standing

90% of job applications have been written by ChatGPT

Verma notes that plug-in AI browser tools that automatically fill in fields in job postings have significantly accelerated her application process, allowing her to apply to more jobs more swiftly. Others are leveraging generative AI programs like ChatGPT to create resumes and cover letters tailored to specific job requirements. Some

Average consumer now carries $6,329 in credit card debt

Americans currently owe a record $1.14 trillion on credit cards, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released Tuesday. The average credit card balance per consumer has reached $6,329, reflecting a 4.8% increase from the previous year, as reported by TransUnion’s

US releases $3.5 billion to Israel to spend on US weapon

The State Department announced on Friday that it will provide Israel with $3.5 billion for U.S. weapons and military equipment, following Congress’s appropriation of the funds during Israel's conflict in Gaza. The department informed Congress on Thursday of its intention to release this foreign military

Trump holds 2-point lead over Harris with a big advantage on economy

The CNBC All-America Economic Survey reveals that former President Donald Trump holds a significant lead over Vice President Kamala Harris on key economic issues, but only has a narrow 2-point edge in the head-to-head race for the White House. Following President Joe Biden's replacement by Harris, an assassination

Foreign buyers are fleeing the U.S. housing market, with sales at a record low

International buyers are pulling back from the U.S. housing market as high prices and limited supply create significant obstacles. Recent reports from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and CNBC reveal that the number of homes bought by international buyers has dropped to the lowest level ever recorded. Decline

Donald Trump calls for his supporters to stop using Google, $GOOGL, calling the search engine "illegitimate"

Republican nominee Donald Trump urged his supporters to stop using Alphabet Inc.’s Google, labeling the search engine as “illegitimate” and reinforcing his criticism of major tech companies. “Something’s wrong with Google,” Trump stated during an interview with the controversial video-game personality Adin Ross on Monday. “Maybe everyone should

Making $150,000 is considered 'lower middle class' in in CA, VA, WA, AZ

Recent research from GOBankingRates reveals that in several major U.S. cities, an annual income of $150,000 may only qualify you as “lower middle class.” This is particularly true in two Northern California cities and Arlington, Virginia. In these high-cost areas, the steep prices for essentials such as housing,

A black market of Nvidia, $NVDA, chips used to power advanced AI systems is booming in China despite US export controls

Nvidia is developing a version of its new flagship AI chips specifically for the Chinese market, as reported by Reuters. The company is collaborating with Inspur, a major distributor partner in China, to introduce the tentatively named “B20” chips, which are slated for release in the second quarter of 2025.

Instagram, $META, now has AI girlfriends and boyfriends

Last week, Meta unveiled its latest AI tools, powered by the Llama 3.1 AI model, which let users create digital clones of themselves or design new characters. Previously, Meta had introduced AI characters modeled after celebrities like Paris Hilton, MrBeast, and Snoop Dogg, but has now shifted focus to

90% or real estate investors report losing money on a property

According to new research from Clever Real Estate, a real estate firm based in St. Louis, nearly all residential real estate investors (90%) have experienced financial losses on their investments. Nearly half (42%) report losing more money than they have gained from real estate investing. Furthermore, almost half of the

1 in 3 parents say they can't afford back-to-school shopping this year

The company found that nearly one-third (31%) of parents are struggling to afford back-to-school shopping for their children this year. Additionally, 34% of parents plan to incur debt to cover these expenses, with 16% intending to take on up to $1,000 in debt. The issue of affordability is particularly

The White House has lifted the ban on U.S. sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia

This week, the administration updated Congress on its decision to lift the ban, with a congressional aide indicating that sales could potentially resume as soon as next week. Notifications about the sale were expected to be sent out by Friday afternoon. A senior Biden administration official stated, "The Saudis

Americans' credit card debt has reached a new all-time high of 1.14 trillion dollars

Americans are all too familiar with credit card debt, and a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York highlights how rapidly these issues are escalating. Total credit card debt in the U.S. reached an all-time high of $1.14 trillion in the second quarter of 2024,

Astronauts who went to ISS for 8 days could be stranded in space until 2025 because of problems with Boeing, $BA, spaceship

On Wednesday, NASA officials announced that if Boeing's Starliner is still considered unsafe for returning astronauts to Earth, the two astronauts delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) in June might return on SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February 2025. NASA is in discussions with SpaceX about

Donald Trump says that the Federal Reserve has "gotten a lot wrong," and "US Presidents should have a say in Fed actions"

Decisions made by the Federal Reserve reflect the most explicit sign yet of former President Donald Trump's interest in challenging the central bank's independence should he return to the White House. "I believe the president should have at least some say in those matters,"

Retail investors bought the dip during Monday's stock market plunge

Data from Interactive Brokers, a major retail trading platform, indicates that their clients viewed Monday's market selloff as a buying opportunity rather than a reason to exit the market. Here are the details: Although Interactive Brokers doesn't release daily data, it provides five-day moving averages. For

JPMorgan, $JPM, now sees a 35% chance that the US economy tips into a recession by the end of this year, up from 25% as of the start of last month

JPMorgan Chase analysts now view a recession in the U.S. economy as more likely by the end of the year. In a Wednesday analyst note, JPMorgan economists, led by Bruce Kasman, raised the probability of an economic downturn this year to 35%, up from their earlier estimate of 25%