Category: Commerce

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center confirmed on Aug. 6 that its midseason update maintains a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season forecast, with only Tropical Storm Bertha having formed in the basin so far. The agency attributed the quieter-than-average season to atmospheric and oceanic conditions including sea surface temperature patterns. NOAA emphasized that below-normal seasons can still produce dangerous storms and urged residents in coastal areas to maintain preparedness. The forecast is significant for millions of Americans living in hurricane-prone coastal communities who calibrate storm preparation investments based on seasonal outlooks. A maintained below-normal prediction offers some reassurance, though meteorologists consistently warn that

Industries that rely heavily on patents, trademarks and copyrights account for 44% of U.S. gross domestic product and employ one-third of the American workforce, according to an economic study released Aug. 3 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The study found that IP-intensive industries provide higher-paying jobs on average than sectors that do not depend heavily on intellectual property protections. The findings quantify the economic stakes in ongoing trade disputes, patent reform debates and discussions about AI-generated content ownership. The 44% GDP contribution figure encompasses industries spanning technology, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, manufacturing and financial services — any sector where patents,

A federal court shut down a sprawling credit repair network of 17 companies on Aug. 10 after the Federal Trade Commission alleged the operation scammed consumers out of nearly $200 million. The companies allegedly made false promises to remove accurate negative information from credit reports. The court issued a temporary restraining order at the FTC’s request, halting all business operations and freezing the network’s assets pending further proceedings. The case is among the largest credit repair fraud actions the FTC has pursued. The scheme allegedly targeted consumers with poor credit who were desperate for financial relief, using deceptive marketing to

The Federal Trade Commission issued a formal policy statement on Aug. 7 announcing it will no longer pursue enforcement actions under disparate-impact or unfair-discrimination theories. The shift significantly changes the regulatory landscape for businesses using algorithmic systems, lending tools and hiring technology. The move reverses an enforcement posture used in prior administrations to challenge business practices that produced discriminatory effects even without evidence of discriminatory intent. The FTC said it will continue to pursue cases involving intentional discrimination under applicable statutes. The policy shift applies commission-wide and affects how the FTC evaluates a broad range of business conduct, from AI-powered