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- First Freedom Fuel gas station opens as Trump-backed discounts roll out
The first Freedom Fuel gas station has opened in Philadelphia as part of a broader initiative to offer drivers discounted gasoline, the White House announced.Motorists at the station can purchase gas for $3.47 per gallon, about 50 cents below Pennsylvania's statewide average."The FIRST Freedom Fuel Network gas station has LANDED in Philadelphia, lowering the price at the pump to $3.47 for our 47th President," the White House said in a post on X. "President Trump is leading the charge to lower gas prices this summer — putting more money in your pocket."TRUMP PROMISES PHILADELPHIA GAS DISCOUNTS AHEAD OF JULY 4, CLAIMS OIL PRICES ARE 'PLUMMETING'The White House also shared a video featuring customers praising the lower prices."Right now, we're in a difficult time in this world, but it's nice to see some stability that we can enjoy," one person said in the video. The launch comes after President Donald Trump pledged to lower gas prices through the Freedom Fuel Network, which includes 25 stations across the greater Philadelphia area, with most located in Pennsylvania and several in New Jersey.BESSENT WARNS GAS STATIONS 'WE'RE WATCHING' AS TRUMP DEMANDS IMMEDIATE PRICE CUTSThe White House indicated that the network is operated by a retailer that branded its stations as Freedom Fuel to align with Trump's push for lower energy costs."This Retailer is taking the lead, and others should follow," Trump previously said. A White House spokesperson said the company that owns the 25 stations is not affiliated with the Trump administration and is not receiving federal subsidies, according to CBS News. Instead, the stations are reportedly lowering prices by accepting smaller profit margins.FOX Business reached out to the White House for more information.TRUMP ALLEGES GAS PRICE GOUGING, CALLS FOR DOJ INVESTIGATIONAccording to the Freedom Fuel Network's website, the 25 stations are located in the following areas: New Jersey: Pennsylvania:BESSENT WARNS GAS STATIONS 'WE'RE WATCHING' AS TRUMP DEMANDS IMMEDIATE PRICE CUTSThe rollout follows Trump's call for gas retailers to immediately lower prices at the pump, arguing consumers should be paying less as crude oil futures retreated to levels seen before the recent U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.Although the national average hovered around $3 per gallon, Trump urged retailers to target prices closer to $2.50 per gallon. He also accused some companies of price gouging and warned that the federal government could investigate if prices remained elevated. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE [TheTopNews] Read More.32 mins ago - Costco makes payment change that could speed up checkout for membersCostco rolled out a new change to its payment system, allowing customers to use their phones to make checkout times faster.The warehouse club has expanded its digital wallet feature that now enables members to link any Visa card to the Costco app and use their phones during checkout."Costco is pleased to announce the latest enhancement to our Digital Membership Card — a fast and efficient form of payment! For your convenience, you can now add any Visa card to your Digital Membership Card for easy check out at Costco warehouses," Costco said on its website.COSTCO QUIETLY DISCONTINUES AWARD-WINNING KIRKLAND ITEM FANS CALL 'ONE OF THE BEST' IN THE MARKET"No more searching for your wallet, or wondering if you remembered to bring your credit card — simply pull up your card on your phone, and you’re ready to check out. It’s that easy!"According to Costco, benefits of a Digital Costco Visa Card include fast and efficient checkouts, eliminating the need to carry another form of payment, no longer having to search through a wallet or purse for a credit or debit card, being able to view and manage Visa Card information through the Digital Membership Card and enjoying cash rewards on purchases made with the Visa Card.The digital payment option can only be used by members for Costco warehouse purchases, excluding the food court, the company said.Earlier this year, Costco CEO Ron Vachris explained some of the changes the company has made to its app."The enhancements we have made include improvements to the mobile wallet, the introduction of a digital membership card with quick access on the Costco app and the rollout of our shopping cart prescan tool internationally," he said during an earnings call.These changes enable Costco members to use the Costco app for both membership verification and payment, making checkout faster and reducing the need to carry physical cards.SURPRISE RIVAL KNOCKS COSTCO'S FAMOUS ROTISSERIE CHICKEN OFF ITS PERCH AS BEST BIRDGET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREThe company already allows customers to link their Digital Costco Visa Card to their digital membership card in the app. This allows customers to let cashiers scan the QR code in the app once, which automatically links the membership ID and the credit card information for easy payment. [TheTopNews] Read More.35 mins ago
- Delta rolls out cheaper first-class, business fares with fewer perks: ‘Mor...Delta Air Lines is rolling out lower-cost fares for some of its premium cabins, but travelers will have to give up some perks.The Atlanta-based airline announced Wednesday the launch of three new "basic" fares, expanding its no-frills pricing model to higher-end cabins, including Delta First, Delta Premium Select and Delta One.The new fare options are Delta First Basic, Delta Premium Select Basic and Basic Business, which is the lower-cost fare for Delta One."This expansion gives customers more ways to choose the Delta experience that best fits their trip and a new way to access our premium tier products," Joe Esposito, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Delta, said in a statement. DELTA CEO ED BASTIAN REVEALS WHAT HE SAYS MUST HAPPEN FOR AIRLINE TICKET PRICES TO FALLThe new fares are now available for purchase. They include the same onboard experience as Delta’s higher premium fare tiers but come with restrictions.Customers who book the fares will have seats assigned after check-in, earn fewer miles, get a reduced checked bag allowance and will not be eligible for upgrades.Same-day travel changes also will not be allowed, and changes or cancellations will come with a fee, according to the airline.Travelers on basic tickets will also need another way to access Delta Sky Clubs, such as a Sky Club membership or eligible credit card.DELTA TO SCRAP SNACKS AND BEVERAGES FROM HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS, EXPAND OFFERINGS ON OTHERS STARTING THIS MONTHBasic Business customers will still receive the Delta One onboard experience, including Zone 1 boarding, lie-flat seats, premium meals, hot towel service, bedding and amenity kits, according to Delta.However, Basic Business tickets will not include Delta One check-in or Delta One Lounge access after Jan. 18, 2027, unless the traveler has another way to enter. Delta said customers flying Basic Business will continue to receive those benefits through that date as travelers adjust to the new fare rules.Delta First Basic is available now on certain Delta-operated domestic and Latin America routes.Delta Premium Select Basic and Basic Business are also available for purchase now, with travel beginning in September on select domestic and long-haul international routes.DELTA LANDING ATTEMPT RATTLED BY WRONG TOWER RADIO MIX-UP, SPARKING ALARM NEAR LAGUARDIAGET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREDelta previously signaled that it planned to bring more fare options to its premium cabins.Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s former president, said on an earnings call in July 2025 that the airline’s main cabin… [TheTopNews] Read More.2 hours ago
- Wealthy AI workers send San Francisco house prices soaring
The median cost of a home in the city is now $1.7m, a record high, according to the latest figures. [TheTopNews] Read More.3 hours ago - I run the UK’s biggest bank, here are five ways to manage your moneyThe CEO of Lloyds Bank talks about how to save, budget, avoid scams and manage money in a relationship. [TheTopNews] Read More.3 hours ago
- Taco Bell ramps up voice AI use across nearly 900 drive-thrusTaco Bell is expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at drive-thrus and announced a new strategic partnership with an AI voice provider.The fast food giant on Tuesday announced the expansion of a partnership with Omilia, a provider of a voice AI platform that the restaurant chain has deployed at hundreds of drive-thru locations around the country since 2023.Taco Bell has deployed the Omilia voice AI capabilities at over 890 restaurants across 38 states to date, according to the announcement.TACO BELL SHOWS OFF AI 'COACH' FOLLOWING MASSIVE DIGITAL TECH INVESTMENT"Omilia's Voice AI gives us the ability to ease team members' workloads and provides them the flexibility to engage with customers in more meaningful ways," said Dane Mathews, global chief digital and technology at Taco Bell. "Omilia's platform has proven itself at scale in select U.S. restaurants, and continuing this strategic partnership supports our long-term digital and tech strategy," Mathews added.YUM BRANDS SELLS PIZZA HUT FOR $2.7B, SHARPENS FOCUS ON TACO BELL AND KFCThe Omilia platform helps automate the ordering process when a customer pulls up to a drive-thru speaker and is capable of adapting to an individual location's menu, real-time stocking levels, as well as limited-time offers that are available, which can make the ordering process more consistent and efficient for customers.Dimitris Vassos, CEO and co-founder of Omilia, said that the "drive-thru environment is one of the most demanding – real-time, noisy, fast-paced, with menus that change by store and by day."The company said that general-purpose speech recognition platforms tend to struggle with various challenges fast food drive-thrus pose, ranging from road noise and regional accents, to potentially complicated order modifications and the fast pace of drive-thru service. THE STORY OF TACO BELL: HOW FORMER MARINE CREATED FAST-FOOD CHAIN WITH MEXICAN-INSPIRED MENUOmilia's features, including noise filtering and real-time menu adaptation, were designed to address those challenges, according to the company.The announcement said that Taco Bell's data found the transaction time in the drive-thru using voice AI is on par with, and in some cases faster than, traditional ordering methods.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREAdditionally, Taco Bell locations using voice AI reported higher employee retention compared with those where it hasn't been deployed, which the company said will help improve the guest experience. [TheTopNews] Read More.4 hours ago
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