News
Hard Numbers: Russia off ransomware Zoom, Venezuela burns cash, Chinese soy sauce inflation, Americans resign
Gabriella Turrisi
30: Russia was not invited to a 30-country virtual meeting led by the US on fighting ransomware. Washington maintains that while the Kremlin doesn't necessarily oversee the activities of Russia-based hackers directly, it turns a blind eye to their activities so long as they don't attack Russian interests.
40 million: Venezuela's central bank is spending $40 million per week to shore up the recently-minted new bolivar, which lopped six zeros off the denomination of the old one as a result of hyperinflation. The new bolivar's exchange rate with the US dollar has dropped from 5.2 to 4.1 since the October 1 launch.
7: The maker of the top-selling brand of soy sauce in China, which by far consumes the most of the condiment in the world, says it'll increase the prices of all its products by seven percent later this month. The company's margins have taken a hit from the rising cost of almost everything these days, especially power.
4.3 million: About 4.3 million Americans — nearly 3 percent of the US workforce — quit their jobs in August, the highest monthly number in over 20 years. Researchers aren't sure what prompted the mass drop-off, but workers' greater bargaining power amid a resurgent economy, persistent shortages of child care, and potential fears about the delta wave all seem to be part of the equation.
100 million: The number of people expected to watch the Super Bowl halftime performance with Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar and newly minted Album of the Year winner at the Grammys.
Think you know what's going on around the world? Here's your chance to prove it.
An imminent US airstrike on iran is not only possible, it's probable.
Americans are moving less — and renting more. Cooling migration and rising vacancy rates, especially across the Sunbelt, have flattened rent growth and given renters new leverage. For many lower-income households, that relief is beginning to show up in discretionary spending. Explore what's changing in US housing by subscribing to Bank of America Institute.