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What to know about investing in real estate

MetroCreative Investors look for various opportunities they hope will help them grow their wealth. Some invest in the stock market directly by buying stocks and bonds, while others choose a more passive form of investing like index funds. Certain investors prefer to back enterprising entrepreneurs, and some people determine that real estate is the avenue to pursue. There are several different ways to invest in real estate, including buying a home. Investing in real estate can be lucrative, although the return on such investments can be affected by high interest rates. When interest ...

Dizzying fuel prices are determined by factors that are largely outside of a gas station’s control

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The near-daily changes in U.S. gas prices are dizzying for drivers, who are left feeling frustrated and cash-strapped by the highest fuel costs since 2022. With the Iran war pushing up prices worldwide, the U.S. average for a gallon of gas topped $4 on Tuesday, according to AAA. The uncertainty at the pump is trickling down from a massive, volatile oil and gas market that’s making it hard for gas stations to keep up. Oil prices soared when U.S. markets opened Thursday following President Donald Trump’s speech Wednesday promising to hit Iran “extremely ...

Retail sales rose in February before the Iran war, which threatens to derail spending

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers increased their spending in February before gasoline prices spiked because of the attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.6% in February, from a revised 0.1% decline in January, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Retail analysts say it was a strong showing given that inflation has rattled American households, but that the war in Iran may have dented the psyche of consumers with spending on gasoline racing higher over the past five weeks. “While the overall numbers are good and suggest a continued ...

Stark County-based Consumers National Bank announces location of new Boardman branch

Staff report Consumers National Bank, a community bank based in Minerva, will place its newest branch alongside a well-known Boardman banquet center. Consumers Bank announced last week in a news release that it had bought an outlot in Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center’s parking lot, 7440 South Ave., for its Boardman facility. There will be no change to Mr. Anthony’s operations during or after construction, which is expected to begin later this year, Consumers Bank officials said. Consumers Bank purchased the approximately 1-acre parcel on Feb. 27 for $675,000 from Mr. ...

Spice maker McCormick to combine with Hellmann’s maker Unilever

NEW YORK (AP) — Spice and flavorings company McCormick announced on Tuesday that it’s combining with Unilever’s foods division, which includes brands like Hellmann’s and Knorr. The merger is the latest in a string of actions in the packaged food sector, as companies contend with inflation and changing consumer tastes. Last year, both Keurig Dr Pepper and Kraft Heinz announced plans to unwind huge mergers, although Kraft later put that plan on hold. Mars recently bought Cheez-It maker Kellanova while Nutella maker Ferrero bought WK Kellogg. The combined company will maintain ...

Founder of ‘orgasmic meditation’ company gets 9 years in prison in forced labor conspiracy

NEW YORK (AP) — The leader of a sex-focused women’s wellness company that promoted “orgasmic meditation” was sentenced Monday to nine years in federal prison for a scheme that a judge said exploited vulnerable women and coerced them into performing sex acts with the company’s clients and investors. Nicole Daedone, co-founder of OneTaste Inc., was also ordered to forfeit $12 million, and seven victims were awarded roughly $890,000 in restitution, federal prosecutors said. “Coercion disguised as wellness or empowerment is still exploitation and it is a crime that causes ...