🧬 Buying youth
Hey Snackers,
Companies including Dunkin’ and Red Robin are axing birthday perks like free coffee as they push customers to sign up for loyalty programs. In this economy, there’s no such thing as a free latte.
Stocks closed higher yesterday as investors awaited this morning’s June inflation report, which analysts expect will show cooling inflation. The consumer price #s could affect the Fed’s July rate-hike decision.
Longevity clinics promising to lengthen lifespans are attracting venture millions
160 years young… and still kickin’. Clinics promising to lengthen life for a growing number of wealthy clients are popping up across America. Some charge up to $100K/year to provide customers with out-of-(deep)-pocket treatments, like testosterone injections, plasma transfusions, hair rejuvenation, and stem-cell therapies.
Guinea-pigging: Medical experts warn that the market for these “life-enhancing” treatments is unregulated. Some lack scientific backing, aren’t FDA-approved, and could even introduce health risks.
Rich in health: One study of people age 50+ suggested that the most important factor in predicting lifespan is wealth. The affluent live longer and have eight to nine more healthy years than the poorest people.
The fountain of youth… is turning into a lake of longevity. Venture-capital investments in longevity clinics more than doubled last year to $57M. In the US — which accounts for 70% of global investment in these clinics — the rich are dipping their toes into the forever-young lifestyle. OpenAI's Sam Altman invested $180M in a biotech startup whose goal is to add a decade to the human lifespan (he also paid a startup to freeze and digitally backup his brain #UploadToCloud).
- Other tech titans who’ve invested in antiaging companies include Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and software entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who spends millions a year on de-aging himself (his experiments have included a plasma transfusion from his teen son).
Sci-fi goals can lead to real-sci discoveries… According to Bank of America analysts, the immortality and longevity industry could be worth $600B by 2025. Cash infusions from the ultrawealthy could lead to scientific breakthroughs including new cures and innovative methods for spotting diseases earlier — all of which could benefit more than just the 1%.
Amazon teams up with Priceline on Prime deals to get a piece of the hot travel pie
Loading up the wish list… with discounted hotel rooms. Amazon teamed up with travel-booking site Priceline in its first-ever Prime Day partnership with an online travel agency. The move comes as consumers are increasingly choosing experiences over material splurges like air fryers, and it’s a (small) way for Amazon to get in on the travel-palooza.
Ring up room service: During Prime Day(s) — yesterday and today — Amazon’s US members can get 20% off Priceline’s Hotel Express deals, which offer discounts of up to 60%.
Mystery book: With Express deals you don’t know which hotel you’ve booked until after you pay (and it’s non-refundable). But you’ll know details like star rating and location.
Fewer Dyson Airwraps, more airports… Amazon’s sales growth has cooled from pandemic highs as retail spending has slowed. But consumers have kept shelling out for travel, which Amazon doesn’t offer (it shuttered the hotel-booking site it launched in 2015 after just two months). The ecomm giant is expecting to set fresh records this Prime Day (which runs through today), but analysts expect economic jitters will slim down online carts. Even hotel demand fell below pre-pandemic levels in May, as consumers looked for cheaper getaway options.
Prime Day is like Groundhog Day… for retailers eager to see a long spending spring. Stubbornly high inflation and rising interest rates have made discounts more important than ever, with consumers starting to rein in spending and seek bargains for everything from groceries to plane tickets. Prime Day should be a temp check for demand, especially as competitors like Walmart and Target run their own sales events.
Heard on the Block: “Halving”
🧾 When your paycheck takes a hit but your monthly bills stay the same…
About every four years, the amount of bitcoin that miners get for mining a block is cut in half. This reward reduction, dubbed “the Halving,” steadily decreases the rate at which new BTC is born, to ease inflationary pressure (FYI: total max BTC supply = 21M). The next Halving is expected in April, and barring gains in BTC price or mining efficiency, it could drive some miners into unprofitability.
What else we’re Snackin’
Replay: A US judge ruled that Microsoft can complete its $75B acquisition of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard (the UK’s decision is still TBD). The two companies have been fighting for approval for over two years.
Swiped: Bank of America must pay customers $100M+ after regulators said the bank illegally charged its clients fines, withheld credit-card sign-up rewards, and secretly opened accounts.
Barbenheimer: AMC's premium members have booked 20K+ same-day tickets to see “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” The new flicks — and “Mission Impossible” — could break the summer box office out of its slump.
Surged: Rivian snapped its nine-day rally yesterday, which followed better-than-expected EV delivery #s and the rollout of electric vans for its Amazon partnership in Europe. Rivian is still down over 60% from its IPO.
FollowUp: A Yale study accused Heineken, Unilever, and others of continuing to operate in Russia despite promises to back out. Some companies absorbed their rivals’ lost market share.
Wednesday
June inflation report released
Deadline for SAG-AFTRA to reach deal with Hollywood studios
Earnings expected from MillerKnoll
Authors of this Snacks own bitcoin and shares of: Amazon, Microsoft, and Walmart