Some of Friday’s top business news stories:
Associated Press
Holiday season moves into high gear but challenges remain, by Anne D’Innocenzio
Americans are spending but inflation casts pall over economy, by Martin Crutsinger
CNN
This could finally be Sears’ and Kmart’s last holiday shopping season, by Chris Isidore
Jobless claims hit lowest level since 1969, by Anneken Tappe
The Wall Street Journal
FDA to Disclose Staff Review of Merck Covid-19 Pill, by Jared S. Hopkins, Betsy McKay
Black Friday Shopping Is Back but the Door-Busters Aren’t, by Suzanne Kapner
CNBC
New Covid variant roils global markets with oil sinking 5%, by Elliott Smith
Sitting out the season: A record number of Americans say they won’t be buying holiday gifts this year, by Lauren Thomas, Melissa Repko
Reuters
Carmakers get inventive as global chip crisis bites, by Christina Amann
Italy’s antitrust regulator fines Google, Apple over data use
News about business journalism
Insider hires Chowdhury to cover venture capital
Bloomberg’s Syed hired by Teneo for German office
Unsted becomes team leader for EMEA equities at Bloomberg
Miami Herald hires Butler to cover real estate
STAT staff grows 60 percent in 2021
NY Times hires WSJ’s Forbes as social editor
What’s behind the strike at Wirecutter
Senior BBC biz journalist Deol to exit after 36 years
Albany Biz Review hires Raudins to cover restaurants