Services Sector Expands Despite Mixed Economic Outlook

Sometimes the best metric for business success is how close you are to your original vision. If you Google “phases of a startup,” you’ll see lots of up-and-to-the-right charts and rocket analogies. After launching a product or service, you can expect boosts—accelerating growth—and if you’re lucky, takeoff. A typical example looks something like this:

Many climate scientists say warming trends are following what they have studied and predicted based on the buildup of carbon dioxide from rising fossil fuel use. Month after month, global temperatures are setting new records. Meanwhile, scientists and climate policymakers warn of the growing likelihood that the planet will soon exceed the warming target set at the landmark Paris 2015 climate talks.

The agreement between the two agencies shows regulatory scrutiny is gathering steam amid concerns over concentration in the industries that make up AI. The U. S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have reached a deal that allows them to proceed with antitrust investigations into the dominant roles that Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia play in the artificial intelligence industry, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Temporary hires offer a way for companies to cope with tight labor markets, and their declining use is considered a sign of economic slowing. Like many firms during the pandemic Worxbee, a small business that provides virtual executive assistant services, brought on bodies when Chief Executive Kenzie Biggins thought she found a good match.

Once the tariffs snap back into place on June 6, solar companies will have just 180 days to use that Southeast Asian stock or they will need to pay up. A two-year U. S. tariff holiday on solar panels from Southeast Asia expires on Thursday, starting the clock ticking for American project developers to use the huge amount of equipment they stockpiled duty-free over that period by the end of this year.

Rivian’s flagship SUV and pickup is getting a major, under-the-hood redesign. Three years after its launch, the Rivian R1 is getting its first significant update. While fans await the release of the recently announced R2 and R3, the $69,900 electric pickup (R1T) and $75,900 SUV (R1S) are getting 600 hardware updates, including a battery option that reaches 420 miles on a charge, heat pumps to warm the cabin efficiently, and an improved quad-motor option that generates 1,025 horsepower and gets 0-60 in 2.4 seconds. Even if a Rivian isn’t parked on your horizon, your next car may look more like one all the same.