pandemic

The younger generations received larger stimulus checks during the pandemic — and put them to work.

The somewhat awkward gesture that took hold amid the pandemic isn't disappearing anytime soon.

Major retailers like Whole Foods, Uniqlo, Gap, and Nordstrom Rack have closed their downtown San Francisco locations. Other city centers are facing similar challenges in a post-pandemic environment.

When the lockdown subsided and businesses opened up again, so did wallets -- causing a surge in "revenge spending." Now, that pattern of consumer spending is cooling, which may help inflation but could put a dent in some of the "revenge categories" (like hospitality) that have rebounded since the pandemic.