American companies in China are reporting record-low new investment plans for this year and declining confidence in profits, while uncertainty in U.S.-China relations and President Donald Trump’s tariffs have become their top concerns, according to a business survey released Wednesday.
The companies are also challenged by China’s slowing economy, where weak domestic demand and overcapacity in local industries are eroding profitability for the Americans.
“Businesses in China are less profitable now than they were years ago, but risks, including reputational risk, regulatory risk, and political risk, are increasing,” said Sean Stein, the president of the U.S.-China Business Council, a Washington-based group that represents American companies doing business in China.
The survey, conducted between March and May and drawing from 130 member companies, came after the two countries clashed over tariffs and nontariff measures, including export controls on critical products such as rare-earth magnets and advanced computer chips.
Wholesale inflation cools
U.S. wholesale inflation cooled last month, despite worries that President Donald Trump’s tariffs would push prices higher.
The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its producer price index — which tracks inflation before it hits consumers — was unchanged in June from May and up 2..3% from a year earlier. Both measures came in below economists’ forecasts. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so called core producer prices were also unchanged from May and up 2.6% from June 2024.
The report on wholesale inflation arrived a day after the Labor Department reported that consumer prices last month rose 2.7% from June 2024, the biggest year-over-year gain since February.
On Wednesday, the National Urban League kicked off its annual conference at the Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland.
The National Urban Leagues President and CEO, Marc Morial, said, We come not just to talk. Not just to party. But we come with purpose, during an opening news conference. “We’re in a moment we haven’t seen in America.”
Morial called Cleveland a star performer among Urban League affiliates.
We want to showcase so that other cities can see what Cleveland is doing to fight back, to fight for its future, Morial said.
He said the conference would be a celebration and also a time to examine the tough work that lies ahead.
Let the record clearly reflect that we are not a talk tank. Not a think tank. We’re a do tank, Morial said. I am proud to say that in 2024 The Urban League movement served six million people plus.
Morial said that number includes more than 100,000 young people who participated in after-school programs, individuals who avoided foreclosure or eviction, first-time homebuyers, and those who were helped to register to vote.
State of emergency
While acknowledging the organizations successes, Morial also delivered a warning.
We will release our State of Black America Report, and it says that this is a state of emergency. It falls in line with the conferences theme: ‘State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack.’
Morial criticized what he sees as harmful federal policies, from the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to tax changes and healthcare cuts in President Donald Trumps recently signed spending bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.
We’ve got to replace it with policies that make more sense. Policies that say, Let’s make America great for all Americans, not just some, Morial said.
When I asked, What do you say to people who say, you know, we voted for President Donald Trump we voted Republicans into office, and this was part of that equation?
Morial responded, It’s not part of the equation when two-thirds of the American people say, No, I don’t want the big, ugly bill.
Conference events
Work sessions, networking events, and other gatherings this week for the conference will focus on a variety of topics, including voting rights, education, entrepreneurship, health care, and housing.
Founded in 1910, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization advocates for civil rights and economic empowerment for African Americans and other underserved and underrepresented communities. It has 92 affiliates across the country, including the Urban League of Greater Cleveland.
Marsha Mockabee is the Cleveland chapters president and CEO. She said the last 18 months of planning the convention have been exciting.
We set in motion a plan to engage every part of our community to enter this conference, Mockabee said.
She stressed the importance of the local chapters efforts to help Clevelanders thrive.
Where individuals can make a living wage in order to take care of their families, Mockabee said. And we know that’s under attack.
Highlights of events open to the public:
Wednesday, July 16:
Opening press conference at the Huntington Convention Center, Ballroom Common Space. Morial, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and Marsha Mockabee, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, are scheduled to speak
Career and Networking Fair at Huntington Convention Center, Hall B from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those attending will have access to resume assistance, sit down with career coaches, practice interviewing and meet with companies face-to-face.
State of the Urban League Address at Huntington Convention Center, Ballroom A from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Morial will deliver the keynote address.
Saturday, July 19: Community & Family Expo Day at the Huntington Convention Center, Expo Hall C from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event will feature free backpacks and school supplies, free health screenings, a free expungement legal clinic and a free Project Ready College Fair featuring more than 60 colleges and universities.
Scholarships and financial aid information will also be available. The National Association of Real Estate Brokers will also have a one-stop shop for guidance on homeownership, generational wealth, and careers in real estate.
Those wishing to attend are encouraged to register online.
First-time conference attendee
Trey Barnes is attending the conference for the first time. The data engineer from Philadelphia said the Urban Leagues housing counseling programs helped him become a first-time homebuyer.
He was asked what made him want to be a part of the conference in Cleveland.
I want to just go out there and explore out my comfort zone, Barnes said. Meet new people. Network.
Hes eager to take back home what he learns while in Cleveland.
A lot of my friends and colleagues have been going through different hardships with like the job market for example, Barnes said. So, I’m just hoping to be able to be that resource for them. Going back to Philadelphia and then also my surrounding communities to just help them in any way that I can.
Morial said, This conference has something in it for everyone.
Meat prices are on the rise, but a local Cleveland butcher says there are still smart ways to save.
Hank Kornblut runs a butcher and sandwich shop, Mister Brisket, in Cleveland Heights. He says rising costs for water, grain, and cattle are driving up prices at the meat counter, but buying smarter can help.
His top tips:
Buy in bulk: Purchasing an entire tenderloin and having it cut into filets (and trimmings ground) can lower your cost per meal. Work with your butcher: Local shops offer custom cuts you wont always get at big chains. Look for value cuts: A chuck steak, for example, can be cubed for stewssome grocery stores like Giant Eagle will even cut it for free. Dont sacrifice quality: Bad meat spoils quickly. If it doesnt smell right or looks off, skip iteven if its cheap.
If you buy something thats inexpensive and you end up throwing it away because you dont use it right away then youre wasting money, Kornblut said.
Grocery prices continue to strain household budgets, and that’s exactly why we have launched a weekly price tracker to help you save before you shop.
Each week, well visit Meijer, Giant Eagle, Aldi, Walmart, Heinen’s and Dave’s Market, checking prices on everyday essentials.
Those include: 2% milk, a loaf of wheat bread, chicken price per pound, ground beef tray or patty per pound (80% lean 20% fat), 12 dozen white eggs, and toasted oats cereal.
If you’re willing to shop around, you can snag even deeper discounts on meat, dairy, and pantry goods.
Were also giving you a chance to see how your favorite stores stack up week to week. Well compare how grocery prices change at each store on a weekly basis.
Here’s how prices compare across stores this week:
From buy-one-get-one-free meat deals to cereal under $2, our Dont Waste Your Money team will be keeping an eye on store shelves and sharing what we find.
Find a better deal? We want to hear from you! Submit your finds through the form below. If you beat our prices, well feature them.
And if youre a savvy shopper, always chasing the best deals, we may even join you on your next grocery run.
Cannabis recall alert: NY dispensaries pull products over pesticide concerns. Portrait of Emily Barnes Emily Barnes. New York Connect Team. 0:00. 1:50.
Curacao, the Southwestern retailer known for serving Hispanic communities for 45 years, has inaugurated the Essential Assistance Program to provide free household items like microwaves, compact refrigerators, TVs and small appliances to help vulnerable families stay safe, informed and comfortable in their homes. The new program also includes limited grocery assistance, with free delivery for families unable to access food.
The retailer is leveraging its logistics network to deliver support directly to customers’ homes, and relief will be granted on a case-by-case basis after careful review to ensure assistance reaches those with the most urgent need. Individuals can apply here; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with products and grocery items delivered to recipients’ homes when they are approved.
“Many families in Curacao’s communities are navigating unexpected challenges, including economic instability, fear and limited mobility,” according to a company statement. “This new program reaffirms Curacao’s pledge to stand by its customers not only as a retailer, but as a neighbor, providing hope, dignity and real help when it matters most.”
Curacao has long been known for efforts to meet the specific needs of the Hispanic consumers that make up much of its customer base, including offering credit cards to a population that is often underbanked. The retailer operates 13 stores in California, Arizona and Nevada.
