CBX Daily 12/06/2024

Author

Jeanette Brown
December 06, 2024

Today, tech giants are leading the retail industry’s race, but let’s start with how family health insurance premiums are increasing at a steady pace…

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Annual Health Premiums Surge For Family Insurance Coverage  

CBX Vibe

The annual cost of family health insurance coverage at work is soaring with employees shelling out an average of $6,575 for their share of the premium, up almost $500, or close to 8%, from last year. This considerable increase in health insurance premiums could be the tipping point with nearly two-thirds of employed Black and Hispanic adults who reported difficulty affording health care costs.     

How Shopify, Amazon & Google Are Redefining Retail        

CBX Vibe:

Shopify (SHOP +2.72%), Amazon (AMZN 1+.05%), and Google (GOOG -0.46%) are going head-to-head to dominate the retail sector. The stakes have never been higher and now, the trio is integrating more advanced AI technologies, to enable small and mid-sized retailers to access sophisticated customer targeting, dynamic pricing, and inventory management features. Shopify already teamed up with Coveo to integrate AI and offer more personalized shopping experiences and streamlined services.    

Michael Jackson’s Estate Sets The Gold Standard For Music Business      

CBX Vibe:

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you may have noticed that music intellectual property has become one of the most valuable assets in the entertainment business. Michael Jackson’s estate exemplifies this trend, having earned an astonishing $3.3 billion since his death 15 years ago. With income streams spanning music, merchandise, licensing, and media, his legacy reached new heights with the recent $600 million sale of his music catalog.    

Tune-in Tuesdays!

Trump has threatened a 100% tariff on BRICS countries if they move forward with creating a new currency. Is this a strategic power play to protect the dollar’s status, or a heavy-handed approach to stifle emerging economies?

A. "Power is Mine" by SpookyVic, prod.zed – The BRICS push for a new currency is seen as an effort to reclaim financial independence and Trump’s decision is a desperate effort to cling to America’s position as the global financial leader
B. "Tread Carefully" by SZA – Trump is sending a loud message to emerging economies, that if they challenge the U.S. dollar, they risk facing serious consequences in the global marketplace
C. "New Rules" by Dua Lipa – Trump’s tariff threat means he’s shaking in his boots and that the U.S. can’t maintain its economic dominance. BRICS, with persistence can spark a global power dynamics shift

What are your thoughts on this? Tune in next Tuesday to see which jam captures the prevailing sentiment!

A  |  B  |  C

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Last week’s results are in and it looks like it’s a tie between ‘Take the money and run’ and ‘Born to be wild’ with the duct-taped banana art.

Black Friday Spending Spree Fueled By BNPL Purchases    

CBX Vibe:

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, consumers are using Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans for everything from groceries and dining out to travel, technology items and home decor. CNBC’s Small Business Survey reported higher BNPL popularity among Black and Hispanic Americans with 12% and 13% respectively saying they use these platforms for holiday purchases, compared to only 5% of white Americans. Fast growing BNPL companies like Klarna and Affirm (AFRM +2.47%) are expected to capitalize on this and set new records this season, driving $18.5 billion in online spend, up 11.4% from this time last year.    

CEO Searches Stalling With Shift In Work-Life Balance    

CBX Vibe:

In the corporate world, that is forever changing, finding the right CEO has become a marathon rather than a sprint. What once took a mere 3-4 months is now dragging out to almost 9 to 12 months. Companies find themselves grappling with unsuitable candidates and a lack of local talent, forcing them to cast wider nets. However, this extended search isn't just a corporate inconvenience—it highlights a symptom of deeper shifts in the workforce and leadership expectations.   

Vibes of the Week

It may be "TV Off" for black and Hispanic adults as family health costs climb. Kendrick Lamar and Lefty Gunplay tell it in our CBX Vibes!