News From the Control Tower - 7/08/2021

News from the Control Tower: Our weekly curated list of news stories affecting you and your finances.

This week’s reads include:

1.       Beware Of 'Shrinkflation,' Inflation's Devious Cousin

Downsizing and shrinkflation both refer to the same thing: companies reducing the size or quantity of their products while charging the same price or even more.

2.       You're not the only one who's had enough — 95 percent of workers are considering quitting, report says

Corporate leaders are starting to learn that giving employees a break is a better alternative than having them walk out the door for good.

3.       ‘Our Menu Is Very Darwinian.’ Leading McDonald’s in 2021.

Chris Kempczinski faces pressure to raise wages, offer healthier choices and make McDonald’s more vocal politically. Meanwhile, business is booming.

4.       Great Jones Cookware and the Illusion of the Millennial Aesthetic

Can a company that loses all of its staff still manufacture a sense of community? So long as the Instagram posts keep coming, the answer seems to be yes.

5.       When a 59% Annual Return Just Isn’t Enough

Investors appear to be growing more and more optimistic about how their portfolios will perform in the years to come. Disappointment is bound to follow.

Bonus: A Brief History of the American Cookout

With origins dating back to the 1500s, cookouts—both grilling and barbecuing—are a huge part of American life, thanks to war, politics, and pop culture.