Premium products take priority as companies struggle with cost of living

“As we’re making more premium drinks, it’s getting harder for customers to replicate at home and we think that helps with the concept of lower commerce,” Starbucks chief financial officer Rachel Ruggeri told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” August 3. Gary Hirschhorn / Contributor / Getty Images Custom coffee, “high-end” skincare and “high” sauces and secrets are … Read more

Iona wins gubernatorial primary in Hawaii | Health, medicine and fitness

By AUDREY McAVOY – Associated Press Honolulu (AFP) – Former Lieutenant Governor James R. “Duke” Iona on Saturday in the GOP primary for Hawaii governor, defeating Mixed Martial Arts Championship fighter PJ Bean and Honolulu City Councilman Heidi Tsuneyoshi. Iona served as Deputy Governor during the administration of former Governor Linda Lingle from 2002 to … Read more

Play Powell-itics as inflation target in perit

Fed officials don’t speak too much: The central bank and its chief, Jerome Powell, believe the 2% inflation target is sacrosanct and would risk a recession and a bear market to get there. So why are the markets going up so hard – as if Powell is about to cut rates soon, not raise them? … Read more

heavy Russian bombardment eastward; Ukraine hits a major bridge

Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) – The Russian military pounded residential areas across Ukraine overnight, claiming gains, as Ukrainian forces pressed a counterattack to try to retake occupied southern territory, striking the last working bridge over a river in the Russian-occupied Kherson region. Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday. A Russian missile attack on the city of Kramatorsk … Read more