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WPP鈥檚 RTO mandate could spill over to other agencies: Its four-day requirement is upsetting employees hired during an era of remote work.

Solid December sales cap a year of healthy retail growth: But 2025 could be a different story, as tariff concerns keep all but the wealthiest consumers from spending freely.

The incoming Trump administration aims to square a circle: Members of the economic team consider how they can implement tariffs without sparking inflation.

Trump鈥檚 tariff threats create stress and uncertainty: 鈥淣othing is off the table鈥� when it comes to the shape, structure, or form of tariffs, which makes planning for them difficult.

Apple鈥檚 MacBook mostly dodged holiday weakness a few quarters ago, but shipments fell 40.5% compared to the first three months of 2022. This trend could continue throughout the year.

2023 layoffs expose Big Tech鈥檚 dirty laundry: Tone deafness, overexpansion, and lack of focus on security are the industry鈥檚 pressing problems that need to be resolved before the economy recovers.

Uncertainty ahead: Job creation among small and medium-size businesses has been good for workers, but it signals that the Fed could continue to enact bold interest rate hikes this year. A resulting drought of capital could curtail the outlook for tech鈥檚 economic recovery and mean more layoffs.

A growing list of legal problems for large platforms: A Texas investigation is a reminder of the coming era of privacy regulation.

Amazon laying off 18,000: That鈥檚 significantly more than previously disclosed and could indicate that widespread job cuts are around the corner for tech companies. Job uncertainty could lead to panic and stall innovation.

Smartphones are one of Korea鈥檚 largest exports due to the dominance of Samsung as an Android OEM. They are also a key source of income for Vietnam, where various phone and component factories assemble the devices. Apple, whose iPhone 14 supply was constrained by China鈥檚 factory closures, is looking to expand into India. Decreased demand could slow down expansion plans.

Microsoft is the latest to resort to layoffs: The company is reducing its headcount by 5% as it pivots to plug AI into its key products, subscriptions, and cloud services. But AI still has a lot of hurdles to jump.

SVB leaves void of startup support in its wake: Depositors may get their money back but they鈥檒l lose the go-to institution for young companies accessing capital. Brace for startup failures.

Meta鈥檚 vow of efficiency marks renewed optimism: Meta shares rally after analysts upgrade stock due to Meta鈥檚 new, leaner direction. Meanwhile, the company continues to spend billions on an unrealized metaverse pivot.

US, allies put pressure on China鈥檚 chipmaking efforts: Key producers of equipment critical for advanced chip design won鈥檛 be exported to China, which could lead to reprisal or wider geopolitical retaliation.

The news: Reeling from its first revenue decline since 2019 as iPhone and Mac sales slump, Apple is reportedly thinking of more premium handsets, while allowing carriers to discount in China, per The Register. Apple reported earnings of $117.1 billion, versus the $121.1 billion expected. This is its biggest decline in revenues since 2016, per Yahoo.

Chinese consumers kept a tight lid on spending in November: Retail sales fell short of expectations despite Singles Day promotions, pushing Beijing to promise stronger stimulus.

The trend: The debut of generative AI made attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos nervous about the future of white-collar jobs and the rise of misinformation. AI can now process a mortgage application in minutes compared with the previous 30 days, according to Automation Anywhere CEO Mihir Shukla, per The Guardian. OpenAI鈥檚 ChatGPT passed Wharton MBA and medical school exams.

VC firms scramble to keep money flowing to climate tech: After a pandemic-era funding boom, economic uncertainty threatens to undermine climate innovation. Recognizing the ROI, VC firms are taking action.

Tech鈥檚 nightmare becomes reality: As Amazon lays off thousands more, the talent bloodletting shows no signs of letting up. It鈥檚 a symptom of impulsivity in the tech industry that could come back to haunt it amid the tight labor market.

UK retailers face a challenging holiday season: The UK economy has grown in just one of the four months since Labour took power, exacerbating shopper gloom.

What this means for bank marketers: Banks can position themselves as trusted partners to their customers who are feeling the economic uncertainty or struggling to navigate the rate changes. Here's how:. Offer specific tools like mortgage calculators, budgeting tools tailored to rate-sensitive expenses, and educational resources on managing debt in a changing environment.