Consumer Trends

The Business News Headlines 19 February 2026

For the second time this week we kick things off with a story about how tariffs are impacting businesses.  This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 19th day of February, thanks for listening. . In other news, we’ve got a story about the trade deficit that might interest you. Some new news about unemployment benefits coming up. Some good news for homebuyers. The nation’s largest retailer reports it had a great quarter but Walmart says the future is less certain. The Metropolitan Opera will produce fewer shows this year. The Civil Rights Commission is suing a regional Coca-Cola bottling company. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and some news out of Burger King that you might like.  Let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 10 February 2026

It was a report that surprised economists as Americans pulled back their spending in December and we'll start our newscast with that story.  This is the Business News Headlines for Tuesday the 10th day of February, and thanks for listening. In other news, Honda reports lower profits and the reasons why. Paramount has sweetened its hostile bid for Warner Brothers. The nation’s largest utility now wants to keep its coal energy plant. In a bid to restructure Saks Global will close some stores. Coca Cola saw a strong fourth quarter but, there is a but..  We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and delinquency rates on loans from mortgages to credit cards surge and we’ll share that story.  Let’s go
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 5 February 2026

There were a number of factors that tanked Wall Street today and one of them was a dismal report on job openings.  This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 5th day of February, thanks for listening. In other news, Google reported some strong numbers this week. There is open conflict when it comes to AI think Chat GPT and Claude. News out of Pizza Hut that you might be interested in. Telehealth company Hims and Hers in trouble with Novo Nordisk.  We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and Coca Cola announced the end of some famous frozen products in the U.S. and Canada.  Let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 3 February 2026

We kick things off today with a story out of France that has to do with a raid on the headquarters of X...and why. This is the Business News Headlines for Tuesday the 3rd day of February, thanks for listening. In other news, Iger is out D’Amaro is in at Disney. Amazon to slash even more jobs and why. Want an SBA loan and are a green card holder?  You are out of luck soon. Valentines Day becomes a marketing bonanza for…fast food and we’ll offer up some examples. We’ll have the numbers in The Wall Street Report and some good news for cash strapped shoppers…and it has to do with PepsiCo.  Let’s go…
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines and More 15 January 2026

With the Trump Administration going all in on fossil fuel the future of EV's is in doubt and proof comes from the Detroit Auto Show. This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 15th day of January, thanks for listening. In other news, more Grok news for you as Musk backs down. Fewer Americans filed for unemployment and we’ll share the numbers. We’ll check the numbers from the Wall Street Report and Verizon explains what happened with that outage on Wednesday. For the conversation you’ll meet entrepreneur Stephen Wilson from NuDoseDaily.com.  The company that promises better days and restful nights.  But first the news.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 12 January 2026

Yet another manufactured crisis comes out of the White House and this time the target is Fed Chair Powell.  We'll start there.  This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 12th day of January, thanks for listening.  In other news, Apple wants some help from Google…and its all about Siri. A real estate investment gone bad in Detroit. The Texas expansion of medical marijuana is a hit and more and more people have signed up to take part. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and what was once a casual stroll into your local Costco is now much more restricted and we’ll share the impact.  Let’s go.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 26 December 2025

Today just seemed like the perfect day to review the Trump Tariffs and that's where we'll begin. This is the Business News Headlines for Friday the 26th day of December.  We hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday and thanks for listening.  In other news, some interesting trends appeared for retail and we’ll share.  Speaking of retail what the National Retail Federation says about…returns. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and Budweiser has announced it is closing three manufacturing plants in various parts of the country.  Why?  We’ll share what we know and who will be impacted. Ready? Let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 23 December 2025

Once again you are driving the U.S. economy even if you have doubts about the future. We'll start with that story today. This is the Business News Headlines for Tuesday the 23rd day of December, thanks for listening. In other news, consumers are seeing lower gasoline prices and we’ll share why. Federal regulators have said yes to a new weight loss pill from Wegovy. You know about that pulled 60 Minutes segment about the prison in El Salvador? Well, it aired on a TV app…anyway and Paramount is not…pleased.  We’ll have the story. We will also check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and even though airline prices are higher…it’s not hurting holiday travel…yet another tip of the hat the U.S. consumer.  Let’s go.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 22 December 2025

Fewer and fewer Americans are making charitable donations and the reason seems to be easy to understand.  We'll start there first. This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 22nd day of December, thanks for being with us. . In other news, there is a battle going on over at CBS and it has to do with a pulled 60 Minutes segment. Tyson Foods is closing a plant in Nebraska and it will have a devastating impact on the town and its citizens. A storied Kentucky bourbon distillery is closing down and why. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and a deceptive practice over at InstaCart is going away…and you have to ask how they got by with it in the first  place.   Let’s go.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 16 December 2025

The Jobs Report that was out this morning held some surprises and we'll start with that story. This is the Business News Headlines for Tuesday the 16th day of December, thanks for being with us.  In other news, we’ve got the latest when it comes to retail sales.  16 states and the District of Columbia sue the Trump Administration and we’ll share why. Hyundai and Kia are ordered to fix millions of vehicles at their expense. Public transit in Chicago will get a boost of dollars to fix and upgrade scores of busses and trains. Howard Stern is coming back to the radio.  We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and if you have the right stuff you can now watch short Instagram Videos on your TV.  Let’s go…
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.