Local Business
Saturday, May 9, 2026 · Winter Garden
Kroger Closing Groveland Fulfillment Center, Ending Florida Delivery
Kroger is shutting down its automated fulfillment center at 7925 American Way in Groveland this month, eliminating hundreds of local jobs and ending grocery delivery service across Florida on Feb. 1. The city of Groveland is demanding over $1.4 million in refunds from incentives provided to the company. Lake County officials are assisting displaced workers amid the economic fallout.
Bank Stocks Surge on Record Trading, Double-Digit Loan Growth
Major U.S. banks kicked off 2026 with blockbuster first-quarter earnings, fueled by record trading revenue and robust loan expansion. Wall Street rallied as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and peers crushed estimates amid resilient fundamentals. The results signal a healthy sector poised for the year's second half.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Oil Boom Lifts Energy Sector Past Earnings Forecasts
As crude prices surge above $100 per barrel following geopolitical tensions, major energy companies are posting earnings that shatter analyst expectations. The sector's earnings forecast for full-year 2026 has nearly doubled since January, signaling a dramatic reversal in investor outlook.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
US-China Trade Talks Restart as Tariff Clouds Loom
Fresh negotiations between the U.S. and China aim to avert a new tariff escalation amid probes into unfair practices by Beijing and allies. After a bruising 2025 trade war slashed U.S. imports from China by half, both sides seek stability—but a Supreme Court ruling has forced Trump to pivot. The stakes: billions in trade and global supply chains hanging in the balance.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
CRE Rebounds: Office Transactions Surge 20% in 2025
The U.S. commercial real estate market ended 2025 with robust momentum, as transaction volumes hit $560.2 billion, up 14.4% from 2024. Office properties, long plagued by hybrid work woes, posted a surprising 20.2% year-over-year volume increase. With institutional buyers returning, the sector signals a tentative recovery amid persistent challenges.
Saturday, May 9, 2026