Business news 2021

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As 2020 dawned, business experts were predicting more concept stores, more pop-up stores, more "cord cutting," voice assistants in automobiles, huge growth in quantum computing and artificial intelligence and an increase in sales of secondhand goods and clothing. Nobody could have predicted a coronavirus that would infect more than 83,000,000 people and cause more than 1,825,000 deaths by year's end. The year 2021 has to be better than 2020......doesn't it?

8 expert predictions on how and when business will return to normal in 2021
Sean Ludwig, US Chamber of Commerce, Dec 16 2020

For many business owners, 2020 presented unprecedented challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic forced companies to adapt to a "new normal." As businesses look toward 2021, some wonder if the new year will bring back "business as usual" or if we will move in a new direction.Here are eight predictions from business experts on what could come to pass in 2021.

Remote work will persist through 2021 and beyond. Salaries could be adjusted for remote workers. Some employers might require vaccination to come back in person. Companies will reduce the number of virtual activities and meetings. Employees expect more diversity and company culture. Business travel will be significantly reduced. Economic growth could return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021.Retraining and reskilling workers will be a 2021 priority

https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/s...ss-predictions

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Yes sir, in the midst of a pandemic that has caused the death of more than 355,000 Americans, these drug manufacturers are all heart.

Drugmakers raise prices 3.3% in the new year
About 70 companies raised prices, albeit at a lower rate than in recent years.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/drugmak...ar-11609521644

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The new union will "promote workplace equity and ethical business practices." Yeah, good luck with that.

Google employees form labor union in United States and Canada

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-a...-idUSKBN29918A

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Five months ago, Cook's net worth surpassed one billion dollars. He has a long way to go to catch up to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, though. Bezos' net worth increased by $70 billion in 2020 and is now $186 billion. "The rich get richer."

Apple CEO Tim Cook's pay soared nearly 30% last year to almost $15 million as the iPhone maker thrived amid the pandemic

https://www.businessinsider.com/appl...on-2020-2021-1

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Reuters reporter Bhargav Acharya says Parler "is favored by many supporters of President Donald Trump, who was permanently suspended from Twitter on Friday, and it is seen as a haven for people expelled from Twitter." Lovely.

Amazon, Apple, Google ban Parler app over violent content around Capitol attack
Parler was used at least in part to plan the Capitol Hill attack, pushing tech companies to reckon with the part they played in the riot.

https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-app...apitol-attack/

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Before creating the MyPillow pillow in 2004, Mike Lindell was addicted to cocaine, crack cocaine and alcohol. They obviously caused permanent brain damage. How else to explain Lindell's continued support for Donald Trump and his acceptance of Trump's lies and conspiracy theories?

Bed Bath & Beyond stops selling MyPillow after CEO's Capitol siege comments
CNN, Jan 19 2021 4:00 PM ET

Bed Bath & Beyond has stopped selling MyPillow products following CEO Mike Lindell's support of the January 6 insurrection and his continued false statements questioning the validity of the US Presidential election. Wayfair, Kohl's and HEB also stopped selling MyPillow products. Lindell, a major Republican donor, said in an interview with a right-wing broadcaster that the retailers are "scared" and blamed "leftist groups" for pressuring retailers into dropping his product.

Despite the violence at the Capitol two weeks ago, Lindell has held firm with his support of President Donald Trump. He called the attack "very peaceful" and blamed "undercover antifa dressed as Trump people" for the chaos. "Donald Trump will be our President for the next four years," he said earlier this month. Lindell also has presented other false conspiracy theories echoed by Trump since the election.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/busin...les/index.html

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US stocks hit a record high today. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 is at a record high. Markets in China, Australia and Hong Kong also posted big gains.

Wall Street closes at record highs as Netflix jumps, Biden inaugurated
Reuters, Jan 20 2021

US stocks closed at record highs today as Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President, while solid results from Netflix sparked a rally in shares of “stay-at-home” beneficiaries. Shares of the world’s largest streaming service Netflix surged 16.85% after the company said it would no longer need to borrow billions of dollars to finance its TV shows and movies.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKBN29P1GS

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Charles Lazarus opened the first Toys Я Us store in 1957 in Rockville, Maryland. The Я was backwards to look as if a child had written it. The chain filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed all its stores in the United States and Great Britain in 2018. The company emerged from bankruptcy in 2019 and opened two new stores in the United States – and those stores are now out of business. Blame the coronavirus.

Toys Я Us has closed all its stores – again

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/31/busin...res/index.html

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Bezos will bcome an "executive chair." Isn't that a piece of furniture?

Jeff Bezos to step down as Amazon CEO, Andy Jassy to take over in Q3

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/02/jeff...ver-in-q3.html

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Lawsy me, Aunt Jemima, why, she be sho' nuff gone for good. Quaker Oats is resurrecting the name of the company that created Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix in 1888 and named the product after the minstrel show song Old Aunt Jemimah.

PepsiCo renames Aunt Jemima pancakes, syrup as Pearl Milling Company

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-p...-idUSKBN2AA04H