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Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett will preside over the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, nicknamed the “Woodstock for Capitalists.” The Omaha, Nebraska, event gives shareholders a chance to hear from the legendary investor on investing, his economic outlook and life. https://lnkd.in/gqTEtjsf

Days after President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on imports from China, Denise Buzy-Pucheu sat on the couch in her bridal boutique and fired up the shop's iPhone. In a video later posted on Instagram, the founder of The Persnickety Bride in Newtown, Conn. spoke directly to brides and prospective customers and outlined how the 145% tariff on Chinese imports would roil the bridal business, in particular. Almost all bridal gowns are made in China or other parts of Asia — and so are many of the fabrics, buttons, zippers and other materials they use. Skilled seamstresses are hard to find and often come from older generations in the U.S. And manufacturing in other countries, where labor generally costs less, has put the prices of high-quality bridal gowns within reach for many American families.

America, at the start of 2025, is a tale of two consumers. Lower-income earners are reining in their transactions to focus on essentials, while the wealthy continue to spend freely on perks including dining out and luxury travel, according to first-quarter results from U.S. credit card lenders. As anxiety from the opening salvos of President Donald Trump’s trade policies rippled through the country in recent months, investors and economists have wondered whether declines in consumer sentiment would spill into the real economy. There are some early signs of stress among those who are already more economically vulnerable.

Beyoncé and Solange are two icons in their own right, and the creative sisters have a strong relationship with each other that exudes love and care. This dynamic has a lot to do with how their mother, Tina Knowles, raised them. When Beyoncé and Solange were around the ages of 12 and 7 respectively, Knowles took them to counseling together. It was a taboo decision to make at the time, but Knowles felt it would strengthen her daughters’ relationship and help them grow as individuals.

Eric Trump has a warning for banks: change the way you operate, or go extinct. “The modern financial system is broken, it’s slow, it’s expensive,” the executive vice president of the Trump Organization told CNBC’s Dan Murphy in Dubai while discussing the United Arab Emirates’ development as a cryptocurrency hub. cnb.cx/44Lk0OP

More people are living at American malls as real estate developers knock down department stores and construct apartment buildings in their place. At least 192 U.S. malls planned to add housing to their footprint as of January 2022, and at least 33 had constructed apartments since the pandemic began. Dozens more apartment projects are currently underway in California, Florida, Arizona and Texas. Watch the full video: cnb.cx/3D2MeZE

President Trump’s campaign to increase tariff rates on imports targets China in particular. In response, China’s leaders have levied higher duties on imports of U.S.-sourced products. China also identified U.S. companies to blacklist and limited access to rare earth elements, which enable many modern technologies. Find the full report: cnb.cx/4cXyr4p

A six-figure household income doesn't necessarily make you rich — in many cases, it just means you're middle class. The upper bound of what's considered middle class for households exceeds $100,000 in every U.S. state, according to a SmartAsset analysis of 2023 income data, the most recent available from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report, which crunched the numbers for all 50 states, is based on Pew Research's definition of middle class: two-thirds to double the median household income.

OMAHA, Nebraska — Berkshire Hathaway shareholders are getting more bang for their buck at this year's meeting with the annual shopping event more interactive than ever. The conglomerate's yearly convention kicked off Friday with a shareholder-only shopping event, called the "Berkshire Bazaar of Bargains." With over 20,000 square feet of showroom space at the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha, the exhibit hall is offering goods from a myriad of the conglomerate's holdings, including Warren Buffett-themed apparel from Brooks Sports and Berkshire chocolate coins from See's Candies. Buffett will take the stage 9am ET Saturday to address the most pressing issues investors face, including tariffs, the market volatility as well as the state of the economy. The 94-year-old investment legend will answer shareholder questions along with his designated successor, Greg Abel, and Berkshire's insurance chief, Ajit Jain. The Q&A session will be broadcast exclusively on CNBC.

Annuities can offer guaranteed lifetime income but it's important to know how they work. Our editor, James Ellis is breaking that down in just 30 seconds. Learn more: cnb.cx/430IrXf