A looming US economic outlook obscured by a government shutdown-triggered data gap could impact interest rate decisions and investment, as US retailers grapple with operational changes after the penny's demise and the Trump Administration lifts some food tariffs to ease prices, while a housing official attacks Democrats citing a disputed family legacy.

• US economic outlook obscured by shutdown-triggered data gap — Financial Times -
• US retailers try to handle change after penny’s demise — Financial Times -
• Trump Administration Lifts Some Food Tariffs in Effort to Ease Prices — The New York Times Business -

• Housing Official Who Attacked Democrats Invokes a Disputed Family Legacy — The New York Times Business -

Nike's CEO outlines a significant company reinvention plan, Tesla aims to build American cars without Chinese parts amid rising tariffs, Apple intensifies its CEO succession planning for Tim Cook, and Lil Luv Dog launches a luxury beauty brand for pets, while retailers are challenged to reassess in-store music for customer experience.

• Nike CEO on Company’s Reinvention Plan — Wall Street Journal -
• Lil Luv Dog Launches Goop-Like Beauty Brand for Dogs — The New York Times Business -
• Tesla Wants Its American Cars to Be Built Without Any Chinese Parts — Wall Street Journal -

• Apple intensifies succession planning for CEO Tim Cook — Financial Times -
• What Will It Take to Get Retailers to Kill the Music? — Wall Street Journal -

Economists are debating the crucial question of investment needed to avoid an AI apocalypse, with Meta building buzz for its AI glasses through new pop-up stores, and small business owners successfully integrating AI for practical applications.

• An Economist Asked, How Much Should We Spend to Avoid the A.I. Apocalypse? — The New York Times Business -
• An Economist Asked, How Much Should We Spend to Avoid the A.I. Apocalypse? — The New York Times Business -
• Meta Opens Pop-Up Stores to Build Buzz for Its AI Glasses — Wall Street Journal -

• These Small-Business Owners Are Putting AI to Good Use — Wall Street Journal -

The UK plans to curtail automatic asylum seeker accommodation rights, South Africa receives its first credit rating upgrade in two decades, Germany risks squandering economic opportunities, and China faces a tomato paste surplus as sales to Italy collapse, while the UK budget sparks concerns about cargo bike business tax breaks and triggers pension panic.

• UK to curtail asylum seekers’ automatic right to accommodation — Financial Times -
• South Africa’s credit rating upgraded for first time in two decades — Financial Times -
• Germany risks squandering a golden opportunity — Financial Times -

• How salary sacrifice tax breaks greased the wheels of cargo bike businesses — Financial Times -
• The pension panic — Financial Times -
• China left with tomato paste mountain as sales to Italy collapse — Financial Times -

A former Fed official faces scrutiny for violating trading rules, while companies are reminded of the continued importance of IPOs despite growing private capital options.

• Former Fed Official Violated Trading Rules, Disclosures Show — The New York Times Business -
• Companies still need IPOs — Financial Times -

Disney and YouTube TV resolved their 15-day blackout standoff, college football teams explore sports betting for revenue generation, and calls are growing to ban horseshoe crab fishing, alongside the emergence of a travel app to navigate flight disruptions.

• Is Your College Football Team Short of Cash? Sports Betting Can Help. — The New York Times Business -
• Hochul Urged to Ban Horseshoe Crab Fishing — The New York Times Business -
• Disney and YouTube TV End Blackout — The New York Times Business -

• Disney and YouTube TV Reach Deal, Ending 15-Day Standoff — Wall Street Journal -
• The Smartest Fliers Use This App to Survive America’s Travel Hell — Wall Street Journal -