Although this holiday is widely celebrated across the United States, it is not a federal holiday and therefore not a holiday for federal employees. But as the government continues to shut down, many federal employees will inadvertently spend the holidays this year.

In order for the day to become a federal holiday, it must be passed into law through Congress and signed by the president. Schools, banks, and some private businesses typically observe federal holidays as holidays.

The next federal holiday to note on the calendar is Veterans Day, which falls on Tuesday, November 11th this year. Several banks and the U.S. Postal Service confirmed to USA TODAY that they will be closed on the holiday.

Amy Sullivan, CEO and director of Brand House Collective, said on a Sept. 16 conference call with analysts that the company plans to close 25 stores by January due to lease expirations, and those stores are not part of the two-year transformation plan.

Brand House Collective announced on September 15 that it has sold Kirkland’s intellectual property to Bed Bath & Beyond for $10 million, which Bed Bath & Beyond said will accelerate the store’s transformation. Sullivan said on a conference call with analysts that Bed Bath & Beyond will have about 250 new stores.

Bed Bath & Beyond is looking to restart after filing for bankruptcy and closing all of its stores in 2023. The company reopened its first Bed Bath & Beyond Home near Nashville on Aug. 8, and has since opened two more locations in Tennessee, according to the company’s store locator.

On October 29, the US Federal Reserve (FRB) lowered its short-term policy interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 3.75-4%. However, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell dashed market expectations for a rate cut, saying at a press conference that a rate cut in December was “not a foregone conclusion.”

The CME Fed Watch tool, which tracks the likelihood of interest rate changes at each Fed meeting, showed the probability dropped to just 66.6% after the Fed meeting and now hovers around 73%. Still, it’s far from the 91.1% probability it was a week ago.

Mortgage rates were near the lowest level this year at around 6.13% heading into the meeting, but rose to 6.27% shortly after Powell’s remarks. It further rose to 6.33% on October 30th.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, in many parts of the country, the average date of the first frost has passed and the cold nights of fall are already creeping in.

According to the American Automobile Association, as temperatures drop, tire pressure can decrease by 1 to 2 pounds per square inch for every 10 degrees of temperature drop.

“This is simply due to how air molecules react to changes in temperature,” said David Bennett, senior automotive manager at the American Automobile Association (AAA). “In cold weather, air molecules move more slowly and the air pressure decreases.”

Under-inflated tires can increase stopping distances, reduce road grip and reduce fuel efficiency, Bennett said.

Modelo Especial has been the best-selling beer since taking the top spot from Bud Light in 2023. However, based on sales volume so far this year, Michelob Ultra, launched in 2002, has taken the lead, parent company AB InBev announced on Thursday, October 27th.

Based on the past 52 weeks of retail sales data, Michelob Ultra is the top-selling product by volume in retail stores including bars, restaurants, supermarkets, drug stores and convenience stores, according to a company news release.

However, Constellation Brands, which sells beer in the U.S. market, says Modelo Especial remains the best-selling beer by dollar amount spent, accounting for 10% of all beer sales. Constellation sells Modelo and Corona beers in the U.S., and AB InBev manages those beers in all other markets.

Who is right? It depends on how you look at it, says Dave Williams, president of Bump Williams Consulting in Shelton, Conn., which serves the alcoholic beverage industry.

Leavitt, a self-proclaimed beverage enthusiast, is partnering with Panera Bread to promote her Unlimited Sip Club, a subscription-based service that gives members “unlimited refills” by bringing to life one of her favorite “dirty” soda concoctions.

Dirty soda drinks are DIY, customized combinations that are typically made by mixing a classic fountain drink with cream or flavored syrups, and are particularly popular among Gen Z consumers.

According to a Panera Bread news release, Leavitt “became one of the most popular creators by sharing her signature mixes and inspiring millions of people to try their own flavor combinations.”

Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE has booked a 4.7 billion euro charge from Porsche’s electric vehicle strategy shift announced in September, but Europe’s largest automaker is expected to suffer losses of up to 5 billion euros this year due to U.S. import tariffs and the resulting drop in sales, the company said on Thursday.

The tariffs will increase pressure on Volkswagen boss Oliver Blume, who last month warned the company would take a multi-billion euro hit and is set to take over as CEO of the troubled Porsche division early next year. Former McLaren manager Michael Leiters will take over as Porsche’s successor.

Tariff issues will continue

Volkswagen’s finance chief Arno Antlitz said at least 4 billion euros of the tariff costs were direct, with the rest related to margin losses from countermeasures.

The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, announced by the company on Tuesday, October 28, was released with a slightly modernized boxer look and a ground-up turbocharged four-cylinder engine that Stellantis is calling the Hurricane 4.

Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf unveiled the 2026 Grand Cherokee at a press event, saying, “We’re making so many changes to this brand so quickly,” noting that this will be the third revived or redesigned vehicle Jeep will launch in 2025.

But the Grand Cherokee is an important vehicle for the Jeep brand and Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis.

“(The Grand Cherokee) is the No. 1 sales driver, not just for the Jeep brand, but for Stellantis as a whole,” Broderdorf said.