AGP Executive Report
Last update: 11 hours agoCost-of-living Pressure: Grocery shoppers are cutting back as prices stay high and gas costs bite, with USDA projecting food-at-home prices up 3.2% in 2026 and more increases expected across major categories. Healthcare Costs: ACA Marketplace insurers are seeking a median 14% premium jump for 2027, the second straight year of double-digit hikes, as enhanced subsidies expire and costs rise. RI Business Climate: CNBC ranks Rhode Island No. 48 for business-friendliness, citing weak infrastructure and affordability concerns despite a relatively strong quality-of-life score. Local Policy: Rhode Island is moving to limit self-checkout lanes—requiring at least one staffed register per three machines—starting Jan. 1, 2027. Environment & Access: CRMC and DEM designated extra Westerly parcels for conservation and coastal public access, funded by NOAA grants. Public Transit: RIPTA marks 60 years with a yearlong push on service improvements and mobility pilots. Tech/Finance: Multistate attorneys general announced a $45M settlement with Block over Cash App practices, including misleading consumers about protections. Science/RI: Brown researchers report special relativity reshaping chemical bonds in a bismuth-carbon molecule.
Note: AI summary from news headlines; neutral sources weighted more to help reduce bias in the result. Feedback is welcome. Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions about the AGP Executive Report.