Today’s lesson: What the critical back-to-school season tells us about the state of the consumer, and in turn the economy.

Spending on K-12 and back-to-college combined is expected to hit a record of nearly $147 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. But in what may be a sign of the strains shoppers are under, they’re searching for cheaper goods and supplies. We’re still early in the season but we found this week that two of the nation’s biggest retailers, Walmart and Target, are racing to accommodate them.

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Gold prices surged to a near three-month high on Friday, extending gains for a third straight week as a weaker US dollar and the US Treasury’s decision to increase bond buybacks supported demand for the yellow metal. Spot gold rose 2% to $4,603, taking its weekly gain to 5%, after earlier touching its highest level since May 29.

What drove gold higher this week?

Weaker dollar

The rally was supported by a softer US dollar and efforts by the US Treasury Department to keep longer-term yields under control. The dollar was headed for a weekly decline, making dollar-priced commodities more affordable for holders of other currencies.

US Treasury’s bond buyback move

The US Treasury has announced that it will double the size of buybacks of longer-dated Treasury securities over the next quarter to at least $4 billion per operation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also said the government could increase the repurchases further.

The move is aimed at helping keep longer-term Treasury yields under control. This is supportive for gold as lower bond yields reduce the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset. Gold can also benefit if the move puts pressure on the US dollar, as a weaker dollar makes the metal cheaper for buyers holding other currencies.

Hopes of the US Fed holding rates

Traders are now pricing in a 67% chance that the Fed will keep rates unchanged next month, while the probability of a hike stands at 33%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

While gold is typically seen as a hedge against inflation, higher interest rates tend to reduce bullion’s appeal because it is a non-yielding asset.

Can gold hit record high again?

The recent pullback may have created an opportunity for investors to gradually start accumulating gold, according to Jefferies’ Global Head of Equity Strategy Christopher Wood and billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson. Both suggest that the precious metal could be at the beginning of a long-term bull run.”As people lose faith in paper currencies, gold as an alternative will continue to grow,” Paulson said in an interview with CNBC. Paulson, whose bet against subprime mortgages became one of the most profitable trades in Wall Street history, turned his attention to gold in 2009.

He argued that fiscal and monetary stimulus following the financial crisis would eventually weaken the US dollar. Since then, gold prices have roughly quadrupled, crossing the $5,000 threshold before pulling back.

Paulson said demand for bullion is continuing to broaden, led by central banks adding to their reserves alongside rising interest from the private sector.

“Gold is becoming the most apt reserve currency in the world, replacing fiat currencies,” Paulson said in an interview with CNBC. “The demand from central banks, for instance, has continued to grow, as has the private sector.”

However, Paulson believes investors could benefit more from owning gold mining companies than bullion itself, particularly companies with large undeveloped reserves. “I think the greatest way to invest is to invest in early-stage gold stocks,” he said.

Christopher Wood, in his Greed and Fear report, said investors should once again begin accumulating gold and gold mining stocks after an extended pause.

Wood draws a parallel with the dot-com bust, arguing that when the Nasdaq-led technology sector drove the market lower, the bear market had by late 2000 spread beyond technology to other sectors as it became clear that the unwinding of the dot-com boom would affect the broader economy.

He believes a similar scenario could unfold if the AI capex boom implodes, which he says would happen if credit issues come to the fore.

This comes despite the broadening of the US equity market since the AI capex boom and the related increase in wealth effect in the US stock market, which have been among the main drivers of US economic growth over the past three years, along with easy fiscal policy.

The World Gold Council echoes this view. At current levels, gold prices are broadly aligned with a global backdrop of moderate growth, cooling but still elevated inflation, and expectations of further, but limited, central bank tightening. Under these conditions, gold is likely to remain relatively rangebound, within a range of ±5%.

However, the stage could be set for a possible breakout. On the upside, clear catalysts such as a worsening economy, a renewed geopolitical shock, a shift towards lower interest-rate expectations or a wave of dip buying could reignite gold’s momentum and push prices back towards US$4,500/oz or above. If the signals are strong, gold could move even higher.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Taxi fares could go up by 8% in order to help drivers combat a rise in fuel prices and the cost of living.

The North Tyneside Hackney Carriage Association (NTHCA) has urged North Tyneside Council to approve an increase in fares, resulting in an average cost per mile of £5.52 for a three-mile journey.

The proposed rises apply to hackney carriages, which can be hailed on the street or at a taxi rank and not vehicles that can be pre-booked.

However Labour councillor John O’Shea said he wanted to look at a more “balanced arrangement, not the 8% that has been suggested” as residents in North Tyneside were “suffering as well with the cost of living”.

The NTHCA’s main reason for the request, alongside the cost of living, was due to high fuel prices and vehicle parts soaring in costs.

Extra charges, including fines for car theft, have been proposed to rise from £125 to £130, and charges for dogs and other animals, except service dogs, to rise from £3 to £4, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillors have voiced concerns about the proposed hike, particularly regarding North Tyneside’s elderly residents.

O’Shea said: “I just don’t think we have got the right balance.

“I notice that the taxi trade has had significant uplifts in fuel and insurance and things like that, so they’ve been suffering for a little while.”

He added there were “residents in North Tyneside who have been suffering as well with the cost of living”.

“My suggestion to the director of public health is to look at a balanced arrangement, not the 8% that has been suggested.”

The taxi fare proposals, pending approval from the director of public health, would be made public for at least 14 days and would open to objections.

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Hua Hin, a historically royal retreat in Thailand, is being repositioned as a world-class destination emphasizing tranquility, royal heritage, and quality tourism, with improved international air connectivity and strategic branding initiatives.

Discovering Hua Hin: Thailand’s Silent Beach Pioneer

Nestled south of Bangkok, alongside a stretch of sandy shoreline meeting the Gulf of Thailand, lies Hua Hin. This town quietly crafted the concept of a modern Thai beach holiday, not seeking the attention sought by Phuket or Pattaya. Hua Hin’s allure dates back nearly a century to its founding. Today, the Thai government is eager to share this hidden gem with the global audience, hoping to elevate its status as a premier destination.

Evolution from Royal Retreat to Global Icon

Hua Hin’s story began in 1834 when farmers, fleeing drought, settled along its coast, naming it Samo Riang. The coalescence of Hua Hin’s rise as a royal retreat began with the Southern Railway’s completion in 1911, linking the area to Siam’s aristocracy. With the encouragement of Prince Purachatra Jayakara, it transformed into a cherished escape. King Rama VII’s summer palace, Klai Kangwon, was finalized by 1929, cementing its place as a royal retreat. Today, the historic Railway Hotel survives as the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, a nod to its prestigious past.

Embracing Hua Hin’s Future: Activities and Ambitions

Hua Hin is launching a significant initiative to redefine itself as a prestigious global hub. The government’s strategy emphasizes its serene ambiance, distinguished royal legacy, and appeal among discerning visitors. Key to this transformation is improving air connectivity, including expanding Hua Hin Airport and forging new international routes. Complementing the government’s efforts, tourism authorities focus on high-value visitors, marketing the locale’s balance of night markets, beachfront jazz festivals, and cultural landmarks like Wat Huay Mongkol. Hua Hin blends leisure and cultural richness, aspiring to welcome all explorers into its evolving narrative.

Source : Hua Hin is Where Royal Legacy Meets the Gulf of Thailand

Wordle players tackling Saturday’s puzzle have a five-letter word to solve for Aug. 22, 2026, marking game number 1,890 in the New York Times’ daily word-guessing franchise. Below are hints for those hoping to solve the puzzle themselves, followed by the full answer for anyone ready to check their work or simply looking to keep a winning streak intact.

Wordle challenges players to guess a five-letter word within six attempts, with the game providing color-coded feedback after each guess: green tiles indicate a correct letter in the correct position, yellow tiles indicate a correct letter in the wrong position, and gray tiles indicate a letter that does not appear in the word at all. The game has remained a fixture of daily online routines since its viral rise in early 2022, prized by fans for its simplicity, its once-a-day format, and the shareable emoji grids players post to compare results without spoiling the actual answer for others.

For those seeking hints before the full reveal, here is what today’s puzzle offers. Today’s Wordle answer contains just one of the five vowels, meaning players should expect a word built primarily around consonants. There are no repeated letters anywhere in the word, ruling out any double-letter combinations. The word begins with the letter “P,” a starting consonant that narrows the field considerably compared with more commonly used opening letters.

For players still working through the puzzle, one additional descriptive hint: today’s word refers to a small shellfish with ten legs and a long tail, commonly eaten as seafood and often confused with a similar, larger crustacean that shares a similar body shape.

Spoiler warning: The full answer to today’s Wordle follows below.

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, puzzle number 1,890, is PRAWN.

The word refers to a shellfish that can be eaten, characterized by ten legs and a long tail, and commonly found on menus worldwide, particularly in dishes originating from coastal and Southeast Asian cuisines. The word’s single vowel, “A,” combined with the relatively distinctive consonant cluster of “P,” “R,” “W” and “N,” likely made the puzzle a moderate challenge for players who opened with guesses heavily weighted toward the game’s most frequently appearing letters, such as “E,” “A,” “R,” “O” and “T,” given that several of those common letters, including “E,” “O” and “T,” do not appear in today’s answer at all.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, for puzzle number 1,889 on Aug. 21, was TRACE. That word shares three letters, “R,” “A” and “T,” with today’s answer, though arranged in a different configuration, offering an interesting point of overlap for players tracking recent trends in the game’s letter patterns across consecutive days.

For players looking to improve their overall Wordle strategy going forward, puzzle experts commonly recommend starting with words that contain a strong mix of frequently used vowels and consonants, since doing so maximizes the amount of information gained from the very first guess, regardless of what the day’s specific answer turns out to be. Commonly recommended opening words include ABOUT, ADIEU and IDEAL, each of which is frequently cited among puzzle solvers for its efficient coverage of common vowels and consonants across the English language.

Wordle has continued to draw a dedicated daily audience despite now being several years removed from its initial 2022 viral breakout, when the game rapidly spread across social media as players shared their daily results using the now-familiar green, yellow and gray emoji grid format. The New York Times acquired the game from its original creator, software engineer Josh Wardle, shortly after it first gained widespread popularity, and has continued operating it as a free daily puzzle within its broader suite of games, which also includes Connections, the Mini Crossword and other daily word and logic puzzles.

For players who missed today’s puzzle or are looking to track their performance over time, Wordle resets at midnight local time each day, meaning the same puzzle and answer apply to all players regardless of time zone, though the exact moment a new puzzle becomes available will vary depending on where a given player is located relative to their own local midnight.

Players hoping to avoid spoilers for future puzzles are generally advised to be cautious when browsing daily hint and answer coverage, since many outlets, including this one, structure their coverage with hints presented first and the full answer revealed only after an explicit spoiler warning, allowing readers to stop reading at whatever point suits their own preference for either solving independently or checking their work against the confirmed daily solution.

Article 2: NYT Connections

NYT Connections Answers and Hints for August 22, 2026: Solving Puzzle Number 1,168 Without Spoilers Now

Fans of the New York Times’ popular word-grouping game Connections have a fresh puzzle to work through for Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, marking game number 1,168 in the daily franchise. Below are hints organized by difficulty level, followed by the complete answer set for anyone ready to check their work.

Connections challenges players to sort 16 words into four groups of four, with each group sharing a hidden theme or connection. The puzzle assigns a color-coded difficulty level to each category: yellow represents the most straightforward group, followed by green, then blue, with purple reserved for the trickiest and most conceptually deceptive category of the day. Players are allowed up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends and the full solution is revealed automatically. The game, created by New York Times puzzle editor Wyna Liu, launched in beta in June 2023 and has since grown into the second-most-played puzzle in the Times’ games lineup, trailing only Wordle itself in overall popularity.

According to Tom’s Guide, which rates each day’s puzzle difficulty on a five-point scale using its own Connections Companion tool, Saturday’s puzzle scored a relatively low 1.3 out of 5, indicating an easier-than-average solve compared with earlier in the week.

Here are hints for each of today’s four categories, presented from easiest to hardest.

The yellow group, the most straightforward of the day, centers on a set of common workshop tools used for cutting and shaping wood. One hint offered by puzzle solvers described it simply as “handy,” a nod to tools used to drive nails, carve wood and smooth surfaces.

The green group focuses on a specific category of fruit, distinguished by compound names that each begin with a different descriptive word attached to the same base term. One clue offered for this category noted that “summer makes them sweeter,” pointing toward warm-weather produce.

The blue group centers on settings commonly found on an adjustable garden hose nozzle, the kind used to water plants or wash a car, with each answer representing a different spray pattern. A hint circulating among puzzle solvers specifically noted, “Don’t forget to water the plants.”

The purple group, traditionally the most conceptually challenging category each day, links four well-known cultural references that all share a common trailing word. According to hints shared by solvers, the connection draws from entertainment and pop culture more broadly, spanning references from television, film and music. One clue pointed players toward well-known “Girls” references, comparing the category to groups like Destiny’s Child or the ensemble cast of the sitcom “Living Single.”

Spoiler warning: The full answer set for today’s Connections puzzle follows below.

The complete answers for NYT Connections puzzle number 1,168, published Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, are as follows:

Yellow Group — Carpentry Tools: CHISEL, HAMMER, PLANE, SAW

Green Group — Kinds of Melon: BITTER, MUSK, WATER, WINTER

Blue Group — Garden Hose Settings: CONE, JET, MIST, SHOWER

Purple Group — ___ Girls of Pop Culture: GILMORE, GOLDEN, MEAN, SPICE

The purple category proved to be the day’s trickiest grouping precisely because its connecting word, “Girls,” follows each answer rather than preceding it, and because two of the four words carried plausible alternative meanings that could easily mislead solvers. GOLDEN could reasonably be read as a descriptor tied to age or color, while MEAN might just as easily be interpreted as either “average” in a mathematical sense or “unkind” in a personal one, rather than immediately calling to mind the 2004 teen comedy film “Mean Girls.” GILMORE and SPICE, by contrast, tended to be recognized more quickly by solvers given their strong and specific associations with the television drama “Gilmore Girls” and the pop group Spice Girls, respectively.

Several of the puzzle’s other categories also included deliberate decoys designed to mislead solvers into premature groupings. The words PLANE and JET, for instance, could easily tempt players into forming an aviation-themed group together, when in fact PLANE belonged to the carpentry tools category and JET belonged to the garden hose settings group instead. Similarly, CONE might initially suggest an ice cream treat or a traffic cone to many solvers, rather than its actual role as a specific spray pattern setting found on garden hose nozzles.

For players hoping to preserve a winning streak or avoid accidentally spoiling the puzzle for themselves, Connections resets at midnight local time each day, consistent with the New York Times’ broader approach to its daily puzzle offerings, meaning today’s puzzle and its answers will remain the same for all players regardless of time zone, while a fresh puzzle becomes available starting at each individual player’s local midnight.

The newly-introduced closing auction session (CAS) led to weak participation in BSE, with Nuvama highlighting that the thin liquidity appears to be “feeding on itself”, discouraging further volumes and weighing on earnings.

However, the brokerage suggests this vicious cycle can only be broken by higher participation. In its weekly report, it noted that BSE’s index option premium volumes (ADPTV) stood at around Rs 15,600 crore during the week which ended this Friday. This marks a sharp 14% plunge from the previous week. Average daily contracts also declined more than 8% week-over-week to Rs 9.6 crore.

This overall resulted in a 6% WoW decline in premium per contract to Rs 1,631, according to calculations made by Nuvama Institutional Equities. This highlights investor worries around the newly introduced closing auction system.

What is CAS?

Indian stock exchanges introduced CAS on August 3, changing the way closing prices are calculated for stocks included in the futures and options (F&O) segment. Under CAS, continuous trading in stocks that also have F&O contracts ends at 3:15 pm. However, this does not mean these stocks are closed for the day 15 minutes before the broader market shuts.
From 3:15 pm onwards, these stocks move into the CAS, a 20-minute auction process that runs until 3:35 pm to determine their official closing prices. Meanwhile, stocks that are not part of the F&O segment continue to trade as usual until 3:30 pm.

During the 20-minute auction window, buy and sell orders for eligible stocks are collected and matched at a single equilibrium price. This mechanism is aimed at improving price discovery and reducing the impact of last-minute trades on closing prices.

CAS chaos unfolds

The introduction of CAS sparked confusion among market participants, resulting in lower participation. A sharp divergence was seen in the benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty, with several retail traders going on to the extent of declaring a boycott on August 12.While panic prevails on Dalal Street, some analysts pointed out that these are initial teething issues that will gradually fade away. Sebi officials during their meetings with market players said that the new system is just facing teething issues in its early days and that the regulator remains confident it will improve as participation rises.

Also read | CAS chaos: Retail traders call for boycott, declare ‘No Trade Day’

Manipulation of Sensex during CAS?

The CAS debate got amplified after Sebi has passed an ex-parte interim order against Copthall Mauritius Investment Limited and Mansi Share and Stock Broking Private Limited for alleged manipulative trades during the closing auction session on BSE’s Sensex weekly expiry day.

Sebi did not at this stage allege that Copthall and Mansi acted in concert. It said the two entities adopted opposite but aggressive price-impacting strategies during the same CAS session. Copthall’s orders pushed the index up while Mansi’s orders pushed it down temporarily until cancellation. The regulator calculated wrongful gains of Rs 2.96 crore for Copthall and Rs 71.64 lakh for Mansi, taking the total alleged wrongful gain to Rs 3.67 crore.

Also read | Explained: How a JP Morgan unit and a Mumbai-based stock broking firm allegedly manipulated Sensex during CAS

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is reportedly in discussions to return to acting with a role in Netflix’s crime comedy series “The Gentlemen,” according to multiple outlets, marking a potential return to the profession she stepped away from after marrying Prince Harry in 2018.

Deadline was first to report Markle’s potential involvement in the series, created by British filmmaker Guy Ritchie and based on his 2019 film of the same name. According to the outlet, the talks remain in “very early stages” and are still considered “hypothetical,” in part because “The Gentlemen” has not yet been officially renewed for a third season by Netflix, citing unnamed sources familiar with the discussions.

The Hollywood Reporter offered additional detail on the state of negotiations, describing Markle as being in “advanced discussions” to join the series’ cast, according to TVLine’s coverage of that report. TVLine noted that the role currently being considered is still in the writing process, and that no specific details about the character have been released publicly. The outlet also reported that Markle met series creator Guy Ritchie “through mutual acquaintances,” according to The Hollywood Reporter’s sourcing.

A source close to the family offered a more cautious characterization of where things currently stand, telling HELLO! magazine that Markle’s return to acting remains under consideration rather than confirmed. “There have been inquiries in the entertainment space recently and things that she is considering but nothing is firm yet,” the source said.

“The Gentlemen” debuted on Netflix in March 2024 and stars Theo James as Eddie Horniman, a former army captain who unexpectedly inherits his late father’s estate, along with the sprawling criminal enterprise that comes attached to it. The series also features Kaya Scodelario as crime boss Susie and Ray Winstone as Susie’s imprisoned father, Bobby. The show’s second season is scheduled to premiere Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, with all eight episodes releasing simultaneously, according to TVLine.

The reported talks come as Markle and Harry prepare for a significant relocation. According to multiple outlets, the couple is planning an extended stay in the United Kingdom with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, who are expected to be enrolled in school in Britain this fall. E! News reported that the move is not intended to be permanent, and that the family is retaining both their Montecito, California, estate and a separate vacation property in Portugal even as they relocate temporarily to Britain.

Some reports have suggested a direct connection between Markle’s potential acting role and the family’s decision to return to the UK. According to TVLine, certain reports have characterized the possible role on “The Gentlemen,” which films in England, as “a key part of the puzzle” behind the couple’s broader relocation plans, though that characterization has not been formally confirmed by Markle, Harry or their representatives.

Markle’s best-known acting role remains Rachel Zane, a paralegal-turned-attorney she played across seven seasons of the USA Network legal drama “Suits.” She has not taken on an acting role since marrying Harry in 2018 in a ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. At the time, she told the BBC the marriage marked the beginning of a “new chapter” in her life. Beyond “Suits,” her earlier film credits included the comedy “Horrible Bosses,” the romantic drama “Remember Me,” and several Hallmark television movies.

Markle addressed the question of a potential return to acting directly in a 2022 interview with Variety, where she appeared to firmly rule out the possibility at the time. “I guess never say never,” Markle told Variety, “but my intention is to absolutely not.”

Despite stepping back from scripted acting, Markle has remained an active on-screen presence in other formats since leaving the industry. She and Harry launched a production company, Archewell Productions, and signed a content partnership with Netflix following their departure from royal duties. Through that partnership, Markle released the 2022 docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” and more recently produced and starred in “With Love, Meghan,” an eight-episode lifestyle and cooking series that premiered on Netflix in January 2025. In the trailer for that series, Markle described her creative approach to the show. “I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it,” she said. Netflix described the series as one that “reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old,” featuring guest appearances from figures including chef Roy Choi, actress and comedian Mindy Kaling, and chef Alice Waters.

Markle’s continued visibility in the entertainment industry was further underscored earlier this summer when “With Love, Meghan” earned her first-ever Daytime Emmy nomination, in the Outstanding Lifestyle Program category, announced July 14 ahead of the 2026 award show.

Neither Guy Ritchie nor a representative for Netflix has publicly confirmed Markle’s involvement in “The Gentlemen,” and multiple outlets covering the story, including ComingSoon, cautioned readers to treat the reports as speculative given the early and unconfirmed nature of the discussions. As of this report, “The Gentlemen” also has not been officially renewed by Netflix for a third season, meaning any role for Markle would remain contingent on that broader renewal decision being finalized.

The reported talks arrive roughly a month after Harry, Markle and their children met privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, in what Buckingham Palace described as a private family visit. Harry has also made additional visits to London in recent months, including one tied to ongoing legal proceedings. As the couple prepares for their broader return to the UK in the coming weeks, further details regarding both the family’s relocation and any potential formal announcement regarding Markle’s involvement in “The Gentlemen” are expected to emerge as negotiations, if they continue, move beyond their current early stage.