Employers are planning to dole out pay raises in 2025 similar to those they awarded in 2024, despite having fewer concerns about attracting and retaining talent. Salary-increase budgets at U.S. companies in 2025 are projected to remain consistent with 2024, according to a recent report from Mercer. Employers expect to increase total salary budgets for…
AI Spending Expected to Surge 52% Beyond IT Budgets: Study
A new global study from the IBM Institute for Business Value found that surveyed retail and consumer product executives are dramatically shifting their focus toward artificial intelligence (AI), with responses indicating that participants project spending outside of traditional IT operations could surge by 52% in the next year. The report, titled “Embedding AI in Your…
Call of Duty Reveals Massive Development Budgets
Summary Call of Duty games set new records with budgets reaching up to $700 million. Black Ops Cold War’s $700 million budget surpasses even Star Citizen. Rising AAA game budgets highlight the escalating costs in the video game industry. Activision has disclosed the budgets of three Call of Duty games, with some reaching impressively high…
Financial wellness: Budgeting & saving tips
When beginning an exercise program, you might consult with a doctor first because everyone’s health is unique. A financial wellness plan can have a similar approach. The tips that follow this month are general in nature – because the best advice is to have a trusted financial professional you can talk with about your specific…
Fix Your Budget By Going Old School
Sad man looking at his wallet with money dollar banknotes flying out away getty Modern technology makes it very easy to spend. Have you ever decided to use a new site or app to order food or buy a product? Is it just me or are you overjoyed when you see the PayPal or Apple…
Strategic AI Budgeting for Pharmacies in 2025
In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) will be central to the strategic plans of pharmacies, with significant investments expected, especially in drug development, supply chain management, and patient care optimization. Over time, AI will help reduce the time and cost of bringing new drugs to market, thus lowering the cost per drug approved. One report predicts…
How getting paid once a month and shirking credit cards helped me manage my family finances.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. When my husband was offered an amazing job last summer working on an animated film in Paris, our family happily decided to tag along. I envisioned long strolls along the Seine, discovering some of…
10 Movie Sequels With Massive Budgets Coming In 2025
2025 is finally here. For movie lovers everywhere, that means a couple of different things. For one, it means that awards season is officially in full swing, with speculation continuing to grow regarding which movies from the past year will emerge triumphant. On the other hand, the start of the new year also means that…
Clashes over budgets, abortion and energy facing Va. General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly returns Jan. 8 for a pivotal legislative season testing the balance of power between a GOP governor and a Democratic-controlled legislature. This article was reprinted with permission from Virginia Mercury. The Virginia General Assembly is set to return on Jan. 8, kicking off a pivotal legislative season that will test the…
After years of record budgets, state revenue growth slows
As state leaders prepare to kickoff the legislative session next month and work on the state’s 2026 budgets, they’re watching and preparing for continued revenue growth slowdowns. Tax revenues in the Alabama Education Trust Fund have increased by .08% to $2.4 billion in the first three months of fiscal 2025, according to state data. That…