Study: Americans optimistic about financial future

According to a new study, Americans are optimistic about their current financial situation, as well as their prospects heading into 2020.

Official: Cruise ship could house 1,000 homeless in Oakland

A San Francisco Bay Area city official wants to explore the possibility of using a cruise ship to house up to 1,000 homeless people amid a high cost of living and a shortage of housing.

Popeye’s unveils chicken-inspired ugly Christmas sweater

You can now add “ugly Christmas sweater” to the list of the many chicken-inspired items available form Popeye’s. 

FTC: University of Phoenix to cancel $141m in student debts as part of settlement over deceptive advertising

Officials with the Federal Trade Commission announced that University of Phoenix will cancel $141 million in debts owed to the school by students who were harmed by ads that were allegedly deceptive.

That shoddy, last-minute gift wrapping job could play in your favor, study suggests

Whether you wrap gifts like Martha Stewart or toss items into a bag at the last second and call it good enough, the presentation of your gift will likely have an effect on the recipient’s expectations about what’s inside — and potentially even how they feel about the present once it’s unwrapped.

BPA levels in humans are likely 44 times higher than previously assumed, analysis finds

BPA, a chemical found in many consumer products ranging from plastic bottles to thermal receipts, is likely present in humans in significantly higher levels than previously thought.

Popeyes selling $120G Chicken Sandwich duct-taped to a canvas

The piece, officially named “The Sandwich,” is listed at $120,003.99 and is being described as “a mixed media work of art consisting of a toasted brioche bun, two pickles, fried chicken, mayo and duct tape over a canvas.”

CDC: Outbreak of E. coli infections linked to some Fresh Express salad kits

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and public health and regulatory officials in several states are investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli infections that have been linked to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp chopped salad kit, and the CDC is urging anyone who may have purchased one of the salad kits to throw it away.

Christmas tree prices rise 2 years in a row

It takes as long as 10 years to grow a Christmas tree, so any change in how many trees a supplier might plant won't affect supply for nearly a decade. Christmas tree growers planted fewer trees after the Great Recession. That is why the prices of Christmas trees rose about 4% in 2018 and are likely up about the same amount in 2019.

Ex-Fed Chair Volcker dies, tamed inflation with recession

Paul Volcker, who as Federal Reserve chairman in the early 1980s elevated interest rates to historic highs and triggered a recession as the price of quashing double-digit inflation, has died, according to his office.

White Castle frozen burgers, cheeseburgers recalled over listeria concerns

White Castle has issued a recall for select frozen products sold at select retailers over concerns that they may be contaminated with listeria.