coronavirus

Casino operator MGM Resorts plans to lay off 18,000 furloughed workers in the United States as a global travel slowdown from the coronavirus crisis hurt its operations, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The job cuts will start Monday, the report said. The company had about 52,000 full-time and 18,000 part-time employees in the …

American consumers increased their spending by just 1.9 percent in July as the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic lost some momentum. Last month’s $267.6 billion jump in consumer spending beat economists’ expectations for a 1.5 percent gain even as growth slowed from a strong rebound in the prior two months, the US Commerce Department …

Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota all reported record one-day increases in the number of new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. While deaths from the virus climbed to more than 180,000 on Thursday, new cases, deaths, hospitalizations and test positivity rates are all largely declining nationally, aside from a few emerging hotspots in the Midwest. …

Gap and Banana Republic will close more than 225 stores worldwide this year as their parent company slims down its brick-and-mortar footprint. Gap Inc’s Thursday announcement suggests it’s closing far more stores than it expected in March, when it said it would end the 2020 fiscal year with about 90 fewer company-operated shops. The San …

“Real Housewives of Dallas” star D’Andra Simmons is “very proud of Bravo” for how they’ve handled production amid the coronavirus pandemic, because they have “taken it very seriously.” The reality star revealed that the network put in place several precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all the cast, staff and crew while filming. She …

The New York City Council on Thursday extended emergency legislation slashing what food delivery apps can charge Big Apple restaurants during the pandemic. Bills capping what apps like Grubhub and UberEats can charge for facilitating a takeout order or food delivery had been set to expire in September. On Thursday, the city council agreed to …

Cosmetics maker Coty on Thursday posted a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss and a 56 percent slump in sales, as the coronavirus-induced closure of stores and parlors hammered demand for its beauty products. Cosmetics makers are battling the closure of other channels of sales, including duty-free shops at airports, and also contending with work-from-home customers focusing on …

“The Bachelorette”’s long-awaited upcoming season has finally scored a date on the ABC fall schedule as the Disney-owned network unveils plans for its unscripted slate. The dating format will launch on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. This comes amidst behind-the scenes drama on the season, which is understood to feature more than one Bachelorette. …

Julien’s Auctions has announced an exclusive charity auction for MusiCares’ Covid-19 relief fund. The collection at auction on Sept. 9 will include a wide range of items from notable musicians and celebrities, with proceeds going toward struggling artists and crew members in the music community. Auction highlights include an animal print caftan worn by Barbra …

America’s biggest dollar store chains reported better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, as cash-strapped consumers sought lower-priced groceries and household items in a coronavirus-induced economic downturn. Sales at Dollar General and Dollar Tree remained robust even after the panic-buying surge at the start of lockdowns, with high US unemployment pushing demand for cheaper cereals, vegetables and …