The graph below, created by KPMG economist Diane Swonk, shows the proportion of corporate profits as a share of gross domestic product and the proportion that goes into workers’ wages. This is a grim visual, similar to a “K-shaped” economy, where the fortunes of the “haves” rise and the fortunes of the “have-nots” fall.

The past few decades have “really not been good for workers,” Swonk said in an interview with USA TODAY, noting that “things are getting progressively worse. We’re certainly reaching a tipping point.”

It’s an issue she’s grappling with, she said, as official statistics appear to paint a fairly healthy economy, even as confidence indicators plummet and Americans feel increasingly divided and often bitter.

The four new locations were announced in the Sweden-based furniture company’s 2025 Annual Overview published on February 17th. Six other openings for 2026 were already announced last year.

Of the 10 new stores opening in 2026, one will open in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma and Virginia, and three will open in Texas.

“As we move into fiscal 2026, we are focused on continued investments in the U.S. to make IKEA more affordable, accessible and sustainable, building on this momentum,” said Rob Olson, Interim CEO of IKEA US.

Neither option is best for every room or for every homeowner, so understanding the differences between hardwood floors and engineered wood floors can help you decide which one is best for your space.

What is hardwood?

As the name suggests, hardwood floors are made from hardwood, and manufacturers mill each plank from solid wood. Most hardwood floors are made from deciduous trees such as oak, maple, walnut, and mahogany.

Modern hardwood floors come in planks with tongues and grooves for easy installation, but each plank is constructed entirely of hardwood.

Interim CEO Ken Cook first told investors during a quarterly earnings call on Nov. 7 that the company would close “a mid-single-digit percentage” of its roughly 6,000 U.S. locations.

Cook said on a Feb. 13 earnings call that the company has already closed 28 restaurants in the final quarter of 2025 as part of a 5% to 6% reduction plan.

As of the end of the year, approximately 5,969 stores were open nationwide, so in total, approximately 300 to 360 stores will be closed. The exact list of locations scheduled to close has not been announced.

Pricing, fees, and service models vary widely across the precious metals industry, so understanding how a dealer operates, from cost transparency to customer support, is an important first step. In this review, we explain how Priority Gold works, what it costs, what customers can expect, and how the company compares to other precious metals companies.

Priority Gold Overview

Priority Gold sells gold coins, silver coins, and bars to investors interested in diversifying their portfolios and saving for retirement. Like most dealers in the industry, the company does not manage retirement accounts or directly store metals. Instead, Priority Gold works with third-party custodians that manage self-directed IRAs and IRS-approved custodians that store metals.

The company primarily serves retirement investors, particularly those who roll over funds from traditional IRAs or 401(k)s into physical precious metals. We also cater to first-time buyers and investors who purchase directly outside of a retirement account. Priority Gold emphasizes education and one-on-one guidance, with experts helping customers understand IRA rules, pricing structures, and purchase options before completing a transaction.

According to a new report from Cox Automotive, used EV sales reached 31,503 units in January, an increase of 21.2% compared to January last year and a 20.8% increase compared to December 2025.

“January was a reset for the EV market, with demand for new cars slowing sharply and inventories building up, while used EV sales strengthened and supply became even tighter,” Cox said.

“Prices declined slightly in both segments, with premiums contracting for EVs and (internal combustion engines),” the group said.

Hilary Hodge suffers from severe allergic asthma, Kathleen Wong reports. But in 2012, she found hope in biologics. There was one problem. She was living in the United States at the time and was told that the biologics would cost her $36,000 a year.

A few years later, she and her husband moved to Algiers, France. Across the pond, the same treatment cost 12 times less.

Older women voters are not satisfied with the economy

With midterm elections approaching, older women voters are worried about the economy.

That’s the message from a new AARP survey of American voters.

Americans pay customs duties, not other countries.

U.S. consumers and businesses paid nearly 90% of the cost of President Donald Trump’s tariffs by the end of 2025, according to a new report from the New York Fed.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that American families are paying the price of President Trump’s import taxes.