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NEW YORK (AP) — More shoppers than ever are on track to use ‘buy now, pay later’ plans this holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago. The company forecasts shoppers will purchase $18.5 billion worth of goods using the third-party services for the period Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, with $993 million worth of purchases on Cyber Monday alone. Buy now, pay later can be particularly appealing to consumers who have low credit scores or no credit history, such as younger shoppers, because most of the companies providing the service run only soft credit checks and don’t report the loans and payment histories to the credit bureaus, unlike credit card companies. This holiday season, buy now, pay later users can also feel more confident if a transaction goes awry. In May, the CFPB said buy now, pay later company must adhere to other regulations that govern traditional credit, such as providing ways to demand refunds and dispute transactions. To use a buy now, pay later plan, consumers typically sign up with bank account information or a debit or credit card, and agree to pay for purchases in monthly installments, typically over eight weeks or more. The loans are marketed as requiring no or low interest, or only conditional fees, such as for late payment. Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm are three of the biggest buy now, pay later companies. But consumer advocates warn that shoppers who sign up for the payment plans using a credit card can be hit with more interest and fees. That's because individuals open themselves up to interest on the credit card payment, if it's carried month to month, on top of any late fees, interest, or penalties from the buy now, pay later loan itself. Experts advise against using a credit card to pay for these plans for this reason. Consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves because, for example, not paying full price up front leaves, in the shopper’s mind at least, more money for smaller purchases . They also caution consumers to keep careful track of using multiple buy now, pay later services, as the automatic payments can add up, and there is no central reporting, such as with a credit card statement. “Buy now, pay later can be an innovative tool for purchases you’re going to make anyway,” said Mark Elliott, chief customer officer at financial services company LendingClub. “The challenge is that it does fuel overspending.” For merchants, that’s part of the appeal. Retailers have found that customers are more likely to have bigger cart sizes or to convert from browsing to checking out when buy now, pay later is offered. One report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York cited research that found customers spend 20% more when buy now, pay later is available. “The reality is that the increased cost-of-living and inflation have put more people in a situation where they’re already relying on revolving credit,” Elliott said. “The psychographics of ‘buy now, pay later’ may be different — people don’t think of it as debt — but it is.” If a consumer misses a payment, they can face fees, interest, or the possibility of being locked out of using the services in the future. Emily Childers, consumer financial expert for personal-finance technology company Credit Karma, said that internal data shows member credit card balances are up more than 50% for Gen Z and millennial members since March 2022, when the Fed started raising interest rates. “Young people are entering this holiday season already in the red,” she said. “And, based on what we’re seeing in the data, they’re continuing to bury their heads in the sand and spend.” The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’

In a significant development in Maharashtra's political landscape, candidates who switched parties before the recent assembly elections faced notable defeats across the state, suggesting public disapproval of political opportunism. Former state minister Harshvardhan Patil experienced a decisive loss in Indapur. Running under Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) banner, Patil was defeated by sitting Congress MLA Dattatray Bharne, who had the backing of Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Bharne secured 1,17,236 votes against Patil's 97,826 votes. Similarly, in Kagal and Tasgaon, other political figures who shifted allegiances also met with losses. Samarjeet Ghatge, previously of the BJP, lost to NCP minister Hasan Mushrif, and former BJP MP Sanjaykaka Patil, now with NCP, was defeated by Rohit Patil in Tasgaon, as voters largely favored continuity and party loyalty. (With inputs from agencies.)Jayden Daniels and the offense stalling have the Commanders on a three-game losing streakBROOKFIELD, Conn., Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Photronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLAB), a worldwide leader in photomask technologies and solutions, announced today the appointment of David Garcia to the company's Board of Directors on December 12, 2024. This election expands Board membership to nine members, seven of whom are independent. Mr. Garcia is currently a strategic advisor and previously spent approximately 30 years practicing law, most recently at Holland & Hart after starting his career at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Venture Law Group. His extensive experience spans mergers & acquisitions, venture capital financing transactions and securities offerings. He has counseled both publicly and privately held companies in their corporate and governance affairs and has additional experience in structuring corporate partnering transactions and technology development, distribution and licensing arrangements. "We welcome David to the Photronics Board of Directors,” said Constantine ("Deno”) Macricostas, chairman. "His extensive experience in financings, M&A, and other securities transactions will be valuable as the company evaluates a variety of business development opportunities.” Mr. Garcia received an A.B. in Sociology with a concentration in organizational behavior from Stanford University in 1989, and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1992. About Photronics Photronics is a leading worldwide manufacturer of integrated circuit (IC) and flat panel display (FPD) photomasks. High precision quartz plates that contain microscopic images of electronic circuits, photomasks are a key element in the IC and FPD manufacturing process. Founded in 1969, Photronics has been a trusted photomask supplier for over 50 years. The company operates 11 strategically located manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. Additional information on the company can be accessed at www.photronics.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements” regarding our industry, our strategic position, and our financial and operating results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially. Please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents contain and identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results. For Further Information: Ted Moreau VP, Investor Relations 469.395.8175 [email protected]

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Max Verstappen has completed the 'work of public interest' ordered by the FIA after swearing in a televised press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix . The Red Bull star and reigning world champion was penalised by the motorsports governing body after describing his car as 'f***ed' in an arena which restricts drivers from using foul language. FIA boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem decided to tie the community work in with the FIA Awards Ceremony 2024 in Rwanda tonight (Friday). Before heading to the gathering in Kigali, Verstappen attended the grassroots development program of the Rwandan Automobile Club (RAC) - an organisation which seeks to create opportunities for youngsters to enter the world of motorsports. Footage posted to social media shows Verstappen, standing alongside Ben Sulayem, addressing a crowd of people at an outdoor track after watching an activity involving an 'FIA affordable cross car', which was built by the RAC using FIA blueprints. "In the whole world, everything is getting more and more expensive, so the more you can build [motorsports] in your own country, the more you make it affordable for kids," he said . "I think it's great to have that possibility, and I hope it stimulates all these kids so that they want to be a racing driver or an engineer in the future. "It has massive potential and that is what I think everyone is working on trying to make everyone very enthusiastic. It doesn't matter where in the world you come from, anything is possible. Max Verstappen in Rwanda today completing his community service for swearing ?????? (via fia.official/IG) pic.twitter.com/M124sasKCe "That's why I also think it's important that we're here. I'm very excited to see that hopefully, in five to ten years, there are more people coming through [into motorsports]." Verstappen's kind words came two months after he described his unusual punishment - the specifics of which were undisclosed at the time - as 'ridiculous'. The Grand Prix Drivers' Association also wrote an open letter to the FIA asking to be treated like adults. The trip to Rwanda is a celebratory one for Verstappen, who mathematically sealed his fourth consecutive Drivers' Championship two races before the end of the 2024 season. Lando Norris - his nearest challenger - ended up 63 points adrift. A fourth crown catapults Verstappen even further into the upper echelons of F1 greatness. Now level with Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost, only Juan Manuel Fangio, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have enjoyed more world title success than the Dutchman.Jay Leno grabs a burger at In-N-Out after brutal fall left him black-eyed and badly bruised

The demand for flexible and personalised living spaces is rising, catering to 2024 homebuyers who seek practicality and long-term value in their homes. In recent years, Australians’ lifestyles have changed, with people spending more time at home on average. According to ABS data, 37% of people are now working at least partly from home, compared to just 13% before the pandemic. Additionally, a whopping 88% of people would like to work from home at least one day a week. This shift is present across various demographics, including professionals, but is particularly noticeable among young families and those over 55. Amid Australia’s ongoing affordability crisis, many buyers recognise that apartments are a more budget-friendly option compared to traditional houses. Homes that meet the needs to owners over a longer period are in demand, according to data. However, due to their smaller floorplans, apartments have often been seen as temporary solutions for growing families before upgrading to a house. Indeed, with the average home in a multi-dwelling development being around 65 sqm with two bedrooms, families don’t have much space to spread out. Larger apartments are increasingly rare, as the average size has shrunk compared to a decade ago according to Buildi.com.au data . As they gradually reduce their work commitments, many buyers in this bracket are looking to downsize from larger houses and find homes are optimised for improved both health and lifestyle. Despite moving to smaller spaces, however, many still want areas where they can be productive—whether that means a space for hobbies, looking after grandchildren, or having an additional living area. This is why an apartment that offers increased space and flexibility is so appealing, as buyers can maximise their lifestyles without sacrificing comfort or functionality. Award-winning developer Sekisui House has responded to this evolution in buyer preference with their nearly completed Lumia Apartments at ‘The Orchards’, offering maximum space apartments. These feature large customisable rooms that allow residents to easily adapt for work, hobbies, or family time as their needs change. Here are 5 reasons why customisable homes like Lumia Max Space Apartments are setting a new benchmark for Aussie homes: Customisable homes like Max Space Apartments offer flexibility, allowing residents to create spaces for work, relaxation, or play. Whether converting a workspace into a gym or a playroom for children, these apartments meet diverse needs. David Lee, Apartment and Mixed-Use Developments Sales Manager at Sekisui House Australia, notes, “With more people working from home, the extra space is often used as a home office. “We see purchasers prefer flexible living arrangements reducing travel times to work. “We’ve also seen spaces used as libraries, kids’ playrooms, or guest bedrooms.” Right sizing is all about optimising your lifestyle without giving up space for the things you love. Despite the widespread popularity of open-plan layouts in the '90s and 2000s, which encouraged perpetual togetherness, families have started to rethink this design choice in recent years. As our homes increasingly serve multiple focused activities—such as working at a desk, listening to music, or kids spreading out with their toys—there’s been a growing preference for spaces that offer some separation, improved functionality, and the chance for quiet enjoyment. Responding to these evolving needs, architectural firm Turner has designed apartments that blend a more modern floorplan with stylish, contemporary elements with premium finishes. These residences feature stone benchtops in the kitchens, sophisticated light fixtures, expansive windows, and open-plan layouts that retain a sense of spaciousness without feeling crowded. Meanwhile, the use of soft fabrics, sleek metals, and natural wood adds warmth and depth, creating a harmonious balance between modern aesthetics and practical living. Compared to traditional homes that require costly extensions for extra space, 'Max' apartments offer an affordable alternative with additional practical space already included. This eliminates the need for owners to invest in extending an existing home or paying for shared space elsewhere, whether it be a coworking space, exercise zone or workshop. Additionally, quality construction and durable materials reduce maintenance costs, while sustainable design elements—such as double-glazed windows, energy-efficient appliances, and smart home systems—help lower utility bills. Max spaces’ customisable rooms have been thoughtfully integrated from the start, enhancing the floorplan and improving liveability over the long term. In existing homes, however, additional spaces are often far removed from the main living areas and not part of the original floorplan, leading to a sense of disconnection and disrupted flow. Max residences at The Orchards offer utility and connectivity that’s seamlessly connected into the central living areas, allowing residents to transition smoothly between various activities throughout the day. Extra rooms offer flexible usage options, ensuring a floorplan that remains both functional and cohesive. These homes provide access to the amenities that improve health, wellbeing and lifestyle. Customisable spaces provide long-term value for buyers because by adapting to changing circumstances it means they simply don’t have to move as often. “Having the extra space increases the time of ownership, meaning residents do not outgrow their arrangements sooner,” explains Mr Lee. “The high cost of purchasing another property and relocating is avoided, making it a money-saving option.” The ‘Max’ apartments cater to growing families, remote work needs, and downsizers transitioning from houses to apartments.ArcBest director Philip Craig sells $428,649 in stock

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