Business

A month-by-month checklist of common personal finance items for 2026 highlights key dates — including the Jan. 15, 2026 final estimated tax payment for 2025 and the April 15 federal tax-return and retirement-contribution deadlines.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said pandemic-era business rates relief will end in April and the government has provided £4.3bn to phase the transition; she said an announcement on additional targeted support for pubs is due in the next few days.

Midtown Manhattan stores report that women's business pants — often wide-cut, high-waist and made from premium fabrics — are the current popular item among finance professionals, with prices typically ranging from about $60 to $350.

U.S. Treasury yields were little changed as investors awaited several U.S. economic reports, and the consumer price index rose 2.7% year‑over‑year in December.

US restrictions on institutional purchases of single-family homes may prompt large US investors to increase activity in UK new-build housing, and tenants' groups have raised concerns about possible higher rents and lower upkeep.

The UK awarded contracts totalling about 8.4GW of offshore wind projects across England, Scotland and Wales, including the planned Berwick Bank farm; officials say these additions help progress the government’s 43GW offshore target for 2030, while analysts warn delivering the capacity by 2030 will be challenging.

The Louvre is introducing a two-tier ticketing system that raises admission for most non-European visitors from 22 euros to 32 euros, a 45% increase; some groups, including visitors under 18 and some younger European residents, remain eligible for free entry.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tied to renovation work, and the Fed said it was served grand jury subpoenas; Powell called the action an unprecedented challenge to the Fed's independence.

Ford said the 2027 Bronco RTR will join the Bronco lineup as an eighth model, described as a mix of off-road and street performance and a 'more attainable' gateway to the Raptor; pricing was not disclosed but it is expected to sit between the $51,475 Bronco Heritage Edition and roughly $80,000 Bronco Raptor.

Prosecutors say Paul Caneiro took about $78,000 from his brother shortly before the brother and three relatives were killed in 2018, and they presented surveillance audio and testimony in court. Caneiro has pleaded not guilty and is facing a trial expected to last about two and a half months.

The article mentions that JPMorgan beat earnings and revenue but its shares fell about 4.2% after the close, and Jim Cramer said the stock often rebounds after such dips.

The Labour government pledged up to £45bn for Northern Powerhouse Rail and has made about £1.1bn available to develop a detailed three-stage plan to improve links between cities from Liverpool to Newcastle.

Netflix is discussing revised terms for its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, including an all-cash offer, after lining up substantial financing and amid a competing bid from Paramount Skydance.

Tim Macklin Sr. remembered Renee Good as outgoing and "a real good person" and said he is praying for their six-year-old son; federal authorities, including the FBI, are investigating Good's Jan. 7 death after an encounter with an ICE agent.

The Senate Banking Committee released the full text of a proposed market-structure bill that includes limits on stablecoin rewards and is scheduled for committee markup this week.

The Stuart Piltch Scholarship for Entrepreneurs is now accepting nationwide applications and offers a one-time $1,000 award, with an application deadline of September 15, 2026.

Areva Martin of Special Needs Network said the autistic Barbie has sparked national discussion about representation and that visibility should be paired with authentic, sustained supports and engagement with autistic communities.

Alphabet’s market value crossed $4 trillion after shares rose about 1% following Apple’s announcement that it chose Google’s Gemini for its AI models; the company also finished 2025 with a roughly 65% gain in its shares.

Many Americans are moving away from the traditional age‑65 retirement model and choosing flexible approaches such as phased retirement, semi‑retirement, micro‑retirements, or continuing to work for fulfillment.

JPMorgan Chase reported fourth-quarter profit of $13.0 billion, down 7% after a $2.1 billion charge tied to assuming the Apple credit card, while revenue rose 7% to $45.8 billion.

Federal Reserve officials said recent productivity gains, including hopes tied to AI, are encouraging but too uncertain to justify lowering interest rates now; they expect policy to remain near the current 3.50%-3.75% range while inflation stays above target.

Senior bank executives publicly urged protecting the Federal Reserve's independence after the Justice Department issued subpoenas related to an investigation involving Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

The Labor Department reported the consumer price index for December rose 2.7% year‑over‑year and 0.3% from November; the Federal Reserve's federal funds target range is 3.50%–3.75% as reported in the article.

Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, has died at 68; his former wife announced his death and read a statement he said he had written before his death, and he had announced in May 2025 that he had aggressive prostate cancer.

U.S. consumer prices rose 0.3% in December, driven mainly by a 0.4% gain in shelter costs and a 0.7% increase in food prices; core CPI excluding food and energy advanced 0.2%.

Josh Allen delisted his Dana Point, California, four-bedroom home that had been listed at $8.5 million; the move came days after his wife, Hailee Steinfeld, announced they are expecting.

Bojangles has opened a Brooklyn location at 5910 Church Ave. in East Flatbush and will operate 24 hours a day, with the dining room closing at midnight while the drive‑thru remains open.

India's labor minister asked quick-commerce firms to remove marketing that promised 10-minute deliveries and to discuss worker safety, Bloomberg reported; BlinkIt has removed the 10-minute messaging.

Experts advise reassessing finances after a layoff, avoiding early retirement-account withdrawals when possible, and considering bridge work; Social Security can be claimed from age 62, with full retirement age 67 for those born in 1960 or later and higher benefits for delays up to age 70.

The article lists five smart home habits—constant power, cheap sensors, paid subscriptions, choosing smart bulbs over switches, and frequent automation toggles—that can raise bills or shorten device life.