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Major moves and market momentum in this week’s top financial stories, including:

Producer Prices Pop to a 3-Year High
Bessent’s Bold Push for Big Fed Cuts
Fast-Casual Chains Lose Their Sizzle
Southwest Ends Open Seating, and a Strategy
Amazon Doubles Down on Grocery Domination
Ulta and Target Break Up the Beauty Aisle

FinWeekly has the latest updates on market-shaping headlines and business strategy insights: July’s Producer Price Index surprised markets, jumping 0.9% month-over-month, the fastest core gain in over three years. With consumer prices also running hot, inflation may be reaccelerating just as the Fed prepares to cut rates. Businesses are already feeling the squeeze and may pass higher costs to consumers, setting up a tricky fall for policymakers.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is urging the Fed to move faster, calling for a half-point cut in September and 150 basis points total over the coming months. That’s well below market expectations and adds even more weight to Powell’s August 22 Jackson Hole speech.

In the restaurant world, Cava, Sweetgreen, and Chipotle all posted disappointing Q2 results as lunch traffic cooled and budget-conscious customers pulled back. It’s a reminder that even cult-favorite brands aren’t immune to a consumer slowdown.

Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines is ending its decades-old open seating policy, trading boarding speed and customer loyalty for assigned-seat upsells, a shift that could erode one of its core strategic advantages.

Amazon is pushing deeper into grocery with same-day fresh delivery in 1,000 cities this year and 2,300 by the end of 2025, a direct challenge to an industry built on razor-thin margins.

And in retail, Ulta Beauty and Target will end their shop-in-shop partnership by August 2026, with Ulta focusing on standalone growth and Target looking to fill the beauty gap through private-label and new brand partnerships.

Tune in for strategic insight, smart commentary, and the financial context you need to lead in a changing world — only on FinWeekly.

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