Sherwood News

Amazon delivered 9 billion items on the same or next day in 2024

Most American adults have a Prime membership. Jeffrey Bezos — congratulations, you did it!

2/5/25 9:43AM

Box clever

Ahead of its Q4 earnings on Thursday, Amazon has already been delivering some blockbuster figures this week, revealing on Tuesday that it shipped a staggering 9 billion items the same or next day last year.

Bezos’ big box giant also announced that Prime members around the world saved almost $95 billion on free delivery last year, while US subscribers saved $500 on average — almost 4x the annual price of Prime, the retailer was keen to point out.

Amazon Prime, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has grown and morphed in the years since its inception. In 2011, the company let paying users access 5,000 films and TV shows, kickstarting what we know today as Prime Video; it launched Prime Music in 2014; teamed up with GrubHub to offer subscribers free food delivery in 2022; and obviously still provides its all-important same- and next-day delivery service. For better or worse, it’s become a subscription that many Americans choose not to live without.

Prime numbers

According to estimates from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the number of US shoppers who use Prime — not paid subscribers, just those who access a membership — hit a record 194 million by the end of 2024. The stat’s made even more impressive by the fact that just two years ago, the same firm declared that subscribers to Amazon’s flagship service were plateauing, a charge that Amazon publicly disputed at the time.

Amazon hasn’t commented on this latest release from CIRP, but then, why would it? The 194 million figure would mean that over 75% of US adults were using Prime in 2024, per Census Bureau data — a pretty healthy market share by anyone’s standards.

Max Knoblauch10/16/25

Uber launches “digital tasks” in the US, paying some drivers to train AI

Beginning later this fall, US Uber drivers will be able to earn money by completing short “digital tasks” like uploading restaurant menus or recording audio samples.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi teased the new gig income stream back in June at the Bloomberg Tech conference.

At that time, Khosrowshahi said drivers and couriers were “labeling maps, translating language, looking at AI answers, and grading AI answers.” According to Thursday’s announcement, the tasks won’t be so focused on Uber’s business, but instead on connecting workers with “companies that need real people to help improve their technology.”

Per Uber, digital tasks can be done when drivers aren’t on a trip, be it at home or when not driving, and will take only “a few minutes” each.

Uber’s having drivers train its AI while partnering with robotaxi companies that could replace them

Per Uber, digital tasks can be done when drivers aren’t on a trip, be it at home or when not driving, and will take only “a few minutes” each.

Max Knoblauch

10/15/25

United Airlines posts stronger-than-expected profit but weaker sales in its third quarter

United’s full-year profit outlook falls somewhere in between the dual forecasts it issued back in April.

United Airlines Airplanes at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey

Hyunsoo Rim, David Crowther

HEAD OF MACROS

10/15/25

Pop-Tarts, Doritos, and Uncrustables have joined the protein craze taking over America’s snack aisle

Food giants are catching up with the latest diet obsession.

Apple TV dropped the “plus” as streamers keep pulling back on originals

After the spray-and-pray approach led to a wave of cancellations, Hollywood is settling into an era of just making fewer shows.

Hyunsoo Rim10/15/25

Max Knoblauch10/14/25

The average price of a new vehicle in the US passed $50,000 for the first time ever in September

The average price of a new vehicle in the US surpassed $50,000 in September, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book.

At $50,080, that’s the highest industry average ever, reflecting the price hikes faced by new car buyers in recent years amid pandemic supply shortages, tariff-induced increases, and the high cost of EV production. The figure marks a 3.6% jump from the same month last year.

“Tariffs have introduced new cost pressure to the business, but the pricing story in September was mostly driven by the healthy mix of EVs and higher-end vehicles pushing the new-vehicle ATP into uncharted territory,” Cox executive analyst Erin Keating said. Passing the $50,000 mark was inevitable, Keating said, especially considering that the country’s bestseller is a Ford truck that “routinely costs north of $65,000.”

Year over year, new vehicle prices rose nearly 6% for GM, while Ford’s climbed 2.5%. Volkswagen new prices were up 12.5%.

As prices climb, so do delinquencies on loans to borrowers with lower credit scores. Recent data from Fitch Ratings shows the portion of subprime US auto loans 60 days or more overdue reached 6.43% in August.