By , , YORK, S.C./LEVELLAND, Texas/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Ask a Federal Reserve official what is the most important step needed to get the economy on track from the body blow dealt by the coronavirus pandemic, and you will likely get a short and fast answer: Wear a mask.It is a message now rolling out with greater repetition and urgency from the most influential U.S. economic players in both the public and private spheres as early signs of a fast recovery have begun to fade amid a resurgence of the disease in most states and rising deaths. (Open in an external browser for a Reuters...…By , , YORK, S.C./LEVELLAND, Texas/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Ask a Federal Reserve official what is the most important step needed to get the economy on track from the body blow dealt by the coronavirus pandemic, and you will likely get a short and fast answer: Wear a mask.It is a message now rolling out with greater repetition and urgency from the most influential U.S. economic players in both the public and private spheres as early signs of a fast recovery have begun to fade amid a resurgence of the disease in most states and rising deaths. (Open in an external browser for a Reuters...WW…

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comApril 23 (Reuters) - Four-time Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles has signed up with Gap Inc's Athleta brand for a new apparel partnership, ending an almost six-year deal with Nike Inc .Biles, the most decorated gymnast in world championship history at age 24, said in an Instagram post on Friday she wanted to partner with a brand that shares her "passion to help girls rise and own their limitless potential.""They are committed to diversity and inclusion, which was really important for me to see in a partner," she said.Register now...…Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comApril 23 (Reuters) - Four-time Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles has signed up with Gap Inc's Athleta brand for a new apparel partnership, ending an almost six-year deal with Nike Inc .Biles, the most decorated gymnast in world championship history at age 24, said in an Instagram post on Friday she wanted to partner with a brand that shares her "passion to help girls rise and own their limitless potential.""They are committed to diversity and inclusion, which was really important for me to see in a partner," she said.Register now...WW…

A Walmart sign is seen inside its department store in West Haven, Connecticut, U.S., February 17, 2021. REUTERS/Mike SegarRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comCHICAGO, April 14 (Reuters) - Between 2009 and 2014, Walmart’s Marketplace business, where outside merchants hawk everything from baby blankets to power tools, counted no more than six sellers, and was described by one expert as “in limbo.”But what was treated as an afterthought for years has emerged as an important leg in the world’s biggest retailer’s long-term strategy to take on Amazon Inc (), which it is battling...…A Walmart sign is seen inside its department store in West Haven, Connecticut, U.S., February 17, 2021. REUTERS/Mike SegarRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comCHICAGO, April 14 (Reuters) - Between 2009 and 2014, Walmart’s Marketplace business, where outside merchants hawk everything from baby blankets to power tools, counted no more than six sellers, and was described by one expert as “in limbo.”But what was treated as an afterthought for years has emerged as an important leg in the world’s biggest retailer’s long-term strategy to take on Amazon Inc (), which it is battling...WW…

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comCHICAGO, April 12 (Reuters) - Nike Inc said on Monday it will start refurbishing sneakers - from Vapormaxes to Reacts - returned by shoppers and selling them at cheaper prices, a service offered increasingly by retailers to reduce consumer waste.The Beaverton, Oregon-based company said it would clean up gently worn, like-new or slightly imperfect sneakers by hand and resell them "at a value for consumers" at certain Nike stores. To qualify for refurbishment, the sneakers need to be returned to Nike stores within 60 days of purchase."Up to...…Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comCHICAGO, April 12 (Reuters) - Nike Inc said on Monday it will start refurbishing sneakers - from Vapormaxes to Reacts - returned by shoppers and selling them at cheaper prices, a service offered increasingly by retailers to reduce consumer waste.The Beaverton, Oregon-based company said it would clean up gently worn, like-new or slightly imperfect sneakers by hand and resell them "at a value for consumers" at certain Nike stores. To qualify for refurbishment, the sneakers need to be returned to Nike stores within 60 days of purchase."Up to...WW…

By CHICAGO (Reuters) - Plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat said on Thursday it has signed multi-year supply deals with McDonald’s Corp and Taco Bell owner Yum! Brands Inc, underscoring consumers’ appetite for vegetable-based alternatives and Beyond Meat’s leading position.But its shares lost early gains as the company reported sales and a loss that widely missed analyst expectations for the second quarter in a row.The plant-based meat industry has developed a frenzied following in recent years, and companies like Beyond Meat and rival Impossible Foods are among top players competing...…By CHICAGO (Reuters) - Plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat said on Thursday it has signed multi-year supply deals with McDonald’s Corp and Taco Bell owner Yum! Brands Inc, underscoring consumers’ appetite for vegetable-based alternatives and Beyond Meat’s leading position.But its shares lost early gains as the company reported sales and a loss that widely missed analyst expectations for the second quarter in a row.The plant-based meat industry has developed a frenzied following in recent years, and companies like Beyond Meat and rival Impossible Foods are among top players competing...WW…

By , (Reuters) - Walmart Inc expects full-year sales and profit growth to slow as it reinvests in its business, after revenue soared to $560 billion last year as people stocked up on groceries during the pandemic.The world’s biggest retailer, which employs 1.5 million people in the United States, also said it is raising wages to more than $15 per hour on average. About half of Walmart’s hourly U.S. workers will earn $15 an hour or more, though there are some roles that will still start at $11 an hour, the company said.Shares in Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart closed down 6.5% on...…By , (Reuters) - Walmart Inc expects full-year sales and profit growth to slow as it reinvests in its business, after revenue soared to $560 billion last year as people stocked up on groceries during the pandemic.The world’s biggest retailer, which employs 1.5 million people in the United States, also said it is raising wages to more than $15 per hour on average. About half of Walmart’s hourly U.S. workers will earn $15 an hour or more, though there are some roles that will still start at $11 an hour, the company said.Shares in Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart closed down 6.5% on...WW…

By , NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Companies and industry groups lobbying to get their U.S. workers to the front of the line for COVID vaccination are running into a patchwork of state plans and confusion over who is essential, and who is not.Inoculation against the disease caused by the novel coronavirus is key to safely reopening large parts of the economy and reducing the risks of illness at crowded meatpacking plants, factories and warehouses.But before one needle has entered the arm of an American worker, confusion has broken out over who exactly is considered essential during a...…By , NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Companies and industry groups lobbying to get their U.S. workers to the front of the line for COVID vaccination are running into a patchwork of state plans and confusion over who is essential, and who is not.Inoculation against the disease caused by the novel coronavirus is key to safely reopening large parts of the economy and reducing the risks of illness at crowded meatpacking plants, factories and warehouses.But before one needle has entered the arm of an American worker, confusion has broken out over who exactly is considered essential during a...WW…

By , But AB InBev is growing fast since launching Bud Light Seltzer at the start of the year, and the world’s largest brewer believes it can become U.S. market leader over time, by growing at twice the industry average.“The winners are not necessarily those that get there first, but the winners are the ones that manage to scale up their initiatives better and bigger,” U.S. chief marketing officer Marcel Marcondes told Reuters in an interview.He drew a parallel with light beers, which first appeared around 1970. Anheuser-Busch only launched Bud Light in 1982, but with three other brands and...…By , But AB InBev is growing fast since launching Bud Light Seltzer at the start of the year, and the world’s largest brewer believes it can become U.S. market leader over time, by growing at twice the industry average.“The winners are not necessarily those that get there first, but the winners are the ones that manage to scale up their initiatives better and bigger,” U.S. chief marketing officer Marcel Marcondes told Reuters in an interview.He drew a parallel with light beers, which first appeared around 1970. Anheuser-Busch only launched Bud Light in 1982, but with three other brands and...WW…

By , , TOKYO/CHICAGO/STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Think Michelangelo vs Da Vinci. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Batman v Superman. Another epic rivalry is rejoined this week when Sony and Microsoft go head-to-head with the next generation of their blockbuster video-game consoles.Sony, whose PlayStation 5 (PS5) takes on Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S, is widely viewed as being in pole position to capitalise on a pandemic-driven boom in consumer spending that has buoyed the $150 billion video game industry.The Japanese company’s deep bench of games and broader fan base - it has sold over 100...…By , , TOKYO/CHICAGO/STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Think Michelangelo vs Da Vinci. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Batman v Superman. Another epic rivalry is rejoined this week when Sony and Microsoft go head-to-head with the next generation of their blockbuster video-game consoles.Sony, whose PlayStation 5 (PS5) takes on Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S, is widely viewed as being in pole position to capitalise on a pandemic-driven boom in consumer spending that has buoyed the $150 billion video game industry.The Japanese company’s deep bench of games and broader fan base - it has sold over 100...WW…