Excitement is at a fever pitch as Major League Baseball returns* for Opening Day with high-tech innovations. Some teams are using facial* recognition for seamless stadium entry, and “moneyball” is entering its artificial intelligence (AI) era* by modeling future player performance through historical data. This comes at a time when the admission price to sporting events is up 12% year-over-year, according to the Consumer Price Index.

The AI advantage is spreading far beyond sports. Empower research shows 47% of Americans are more comfortable using AI in their financial lives than a year ago. Some 56% would trust AI to recommend money moves, and 43% would use it to plan for retirement.

— The Editors 

🏎️ Full throttle: Formula 1 revved up $3.65 billion* in revenue last year and is shifting into the streaming fast lane. A new $129.99* premium service promises fans a front-row seat to every turn and checkered-flag moment, streamed in 4K Ultra HD for an immersive experience.

🍕 Piping hot play: Season 5 of “Stranger Things” is due to arrive later* this year, but Netflix is already getting fans fired up. Netflix Bites, a new Las Vegas restaurant,* is serving pizza inspired by the Upside Down. Americans have a big appetite for fast-casual dining, and eat about 350* slices of pizza a second.

🎩 Monopoly’s rule change: The 90-year-old board game is rewriting the playbook. Monopoly’s latest edition, dropping in August for $24.99,* ditches its iconic paper money for an electronic banking app. Outside the playing field, Empower research shows 41% of Gen Zers use digital payment platforms more often than cash.

🚙 RVs on deck: Half* of Americans are ready to step up to the plate for an RV adventure this year, with rentals averaging from $150 to $200 a night. The shift toward “slow travel” has vacationers opting for extended stays over fast-moving itineraries. 

Tax season score

Tax season is in full swing, with refunds reaching more than $145 billion* so far. The average direct deposit refund is $3,379 — around 5.3% more than the same time last year. About a third of Americans (34%) plan on using their refunds to pay off bills, according to Empower findings.

The IRS introduced a number of inflation adjustments for tax year 2024 to maximize refunds (or reduce payments), such as revised tax brackets, a higher standard deduction, and the Child Tax Credit. Read more on The Currency^TM. 

Broadway's big hit

A star-studded “Othello” adaptation featuring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal just knocked it out of the park. In its second week, the play raked in $2.8 million,* with ticket prices averaging $338.09 — nearly triple the average of $119.81* for Broadway shows overall.

Spending on experiences can have a positive return on investment: According to Empower research, a majority (88%) of Americans say experiences increase their happiness.

Walgreens strikes a deal

Walgreens, a public company since 1927, is going private, selling to Sycamore Partners for nearly $10 billion* (about $11.45 per share). The switch-up gives the company more flexibility to plan for the future as it looks to hit a growth stride. 

Private equity has been stepping up to the plate in industries from retail and beauty to sports and hospitality, bringing capital and restructuring plays to legacy brands.

A Pokémon Charizard-shaped Flamin’ Hot Cheeto just sold for $87,840,* but it’s not the only spicy snack making headlines. A Cheeto resembling Michael Jordan mid-dunk is also up for auction, with sellers hoping for a payday win. It's not the first time food-related collectibles have stolen the spotlight — in November a banana duct-taped to a wall sold for a cool $6.24 million.

These sky-high sales are particularly striking at a time when everyday snack prices are cooling off. Snack prices dropped 1.3% year-over-year, with banana prices also down 1.3%.