Features

Trump imposes new tariffs on 60 countries

The Trump administration imposed new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on 60 U.S. trade partners, citing their alleged "failure to impose and effectively enforce" bans on forced-labor practices in trade with the U.S. The new tariffs took effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, effectively replacing Trump's temporary 10% global tariffs that expired at the same time. The 60 affected countries account for 99% of U.S. imports, with tariff rates tiered at 10% for countries that adopted at least some forced-labor restrictions and 12.5% for those that have not. The administration used Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 for legal authority, a slower and more procedural approach requiring formal investigation, public comment, and official findings before tariffs can be imposed, in contrast to the Supreme Court-rejected International Emergency Economic Powers Act that previously allowed near-overnight tariff implementation.

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KFC closed 300-plus U.S. stores in past year

KFC permanently closed at least 312 restaurants across the United States between July 15, 2025, and July 6, 2026, representing 7.64% of the chain's over 4,000 locations, according to Local Falcon's analysis comparing KFC's official store directory with Google Maps data. Kansas experienced the largest percentage decline with 21.1% of its KFC restaurants closing, followed by Louisiana at 16.1%, Alabama at 13.4%, and Tennessee at 13.3%. California saw the most closures in raw numbers with 44 locations marked permanently closed, followed by Texas at 34 and Ohio at 18, with California and Texas combined accounting for a quarter of the national total. The closures, averaging roughly six restaurants weekly, reflect broader challenges facing quick-service restaurants as consumers reduce discretionary dining and demand better value, quality, and relevance from restaurant brands.

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How the beach boardwalk exemplifies three key retail trends

The beach boardwalk exemplifies three critical retail trends that landlocked and traditional retailers can apply year-round: proximity and convenience, multi-amenity clustering, and experiential entertainment.

First, boardwalks demonstrate the success of convenience-based retail models with proximity-driven pricing, as customers are willing to pay premium prices for quick access to items without leaving their beach location, a strategy successfully replicated by convenience retailers like 7-Eleven and Domino's through mobile delivery.

Second, boardwalks showcase the power of mixed-use, multi-amenity destinations by concentrating diverse offerings—sit-down and quick-service restaurants, convenience and grocery stores, apparel shops, souvenir stands, entertainment venues, and service providers—all in one general area to maximize customer time and spending.

Third, boardwalks emphasize experiential retail through games and entertainment such as skeeball, arcade games, and interactive activities that transform shopping into an entertainment destination, encouraging longer visits and deeper customer engagement beyond transactional purchases.

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