Rachel Layne

The cluster of deadly storms that slammed the U.S. last weekend is the latest sign that tornado activity has waned in the Great Plains — historically known as "Tornado Alley" — while picking up in the southeastern U.S., a manufacturing-rich region…

Online prices rose at a record pace in November, climbing 3.5% compared to a year ago and capping a steady 18-month inflationary climb out of the COVID-19 pandemic last April, according to newly released data from Adobe Digital Insights. The surge in…

Zillow's online house-flipping division bought fixxer-upper homes high and is now selling them relatively low as its flips turned into a flop, forcing the company to exit the emerging business and dump thousands of its own properties on local real…

As U.S. merchants grapple with clogged ports as well a shortage of truck drivers, warehouse workers and front-line employees, the supply-chain snarls are leading to another concern as the pandemic drags on: cargo theft. "The more that the supply…

American consumers are worried that supply-chain woes will hinder their holiday shopping this year, according to a new survey from software maker Oracle. Some 28% worry about more expensive products, while almost as many fret that they'll struggle to…

If it feels like some retailers are pushing holiday shopping before you've even considered a Halloween costume, that's because they are. Amazon on Monday announced what it called "Black Friday-worthy" deals and a hub to help consumers plan for…

Hurricane Ida now ranks as one of the costliest ever U.S. storms, with its toll estimated at $100 billion and 82 deaths — a stark reminder of the heightened risk of flooding due to climate change. Yet coastal real estate at risk of inundation is…

By now you've probably noticed empty shelves or delivery delays for everything from trucks and toilet paper to toys and smartphones. Even supermarkets, restaurants and school cafeterias are missing shipments. One reason? A labor shortage along the…

Samuel Adams' latest version of its limited-quantity "Utopias" beer is so strong that the 28% alcohol content makes it illegal in 15 U.S. states. Released every two years, the 12th version of Utopias is barrel-aged and finished with 2,000 pounds of…

Millions of renters with little or no credit record have long been shut out of the American dream of home ownership. For some, that's about to change for the better. Starting September 18, mortgage giant Fannie Mae will consider the most recent…

Supply chain problems that stymied retailers and clogged U.S. ports this year are expected to continue into 2022 as the COVID-19 Delta variant's effects linger. That means shoppers face potential delays in retailers replenishing everything from video…

As America ends two decades of conflict in Afghanistan, the full financial tab is coming into view. Since the September 11 attacks nearly 20 years ago, the U.S. will have spent $5.8 trillion waging war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria by the…

Although the U.S. is trying to turn the page on two decades of war in the Middle East, American taxpayers can expect to pay for those conflicts for decades to come. The ultimate cost of the nation's engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq, on top of the…

Even if you don't live near any of the recent megafires burning in the U.S. West and around the globe, chances are you've experienced some of the environmental fallout as a result of the wildfires — even from hundreds of miles away. Smoke from fires…

In theory, millions of Americans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss should be able to walk into a drug store today, buy devices akin to smartphone earbuds and re-engage with the audible world as they exit the store. That they can't is another thing…

As climate change stokes extreme weather events like droughts, flooding and wildfire, another concern is emerging for companies and their investors: the cost and dwindling supply of water. More companies are listing water security and scarcity among…

As climate change worsens extreme weather events like the record-breaking heat in the Pacific Northwest last month, another concern looms — that the impact on companies from global warming could incinerate people's retirement savings. Pensions and…

The triple-digit temperatures roasting the Pacific Northwest under a lingering heat dome are also starting to hurt the region's economy. In Portland, Oregon, temperatures forced the city's streetcar system to shut down as power cables melted and the…

How can you tell if climate change represents a big financial risk for a business or your investments? For now, Wall Street's top regulator doesn't offer much help. That's because there are no set rules for what companies must disclose to the…