Thursday, August 21, 2025

Hey Nutters 🌞 — If Target’s struggling to hit the bullseye, dating apps are losing their spark, and the Fed is still clutching its pearls over inflation, you know it’s been a week. Let’s get cracking.

Shoppers are spooked, and the middle market’s shrinking.

American consumers are pulling back even with steady paychecks, opting for bulk buys, store brands, and fewer impulse splurges. Translation: retailers are getting squeezed — and Target ($TGT) is feeling it the hardest.

Meanwhile, rivals are thriving:

👉 The “retail realignment” is clear: value-first chains are thriving, while mid-market giants like Target are stuck in no man’s land — not cheap enough for discount shoppers, not premium enough to justify higher prices.

Americans want a $100K partner but a $2 date.

Surveys show Americans expect six-figure earners as partners, while refusing to splurge on dating. That paradox is crushing dating apps, with Bumble ($BMBL) and Match ($MTCH) trimming staff and losing users.

But it’s not all heartbreak:

Even with “swipe fatigue,” people still want help finding love. The question is whether they’ll pay for it — or just settle for speed dating and social clubs.

Gold Can’t Stop Breaking Records

Gold has been on a hot streak lately, increasing by 40% from the start of the year (and it doesn’t look like it’ll slow down). Why? Gold has historically thrived in uncertain markets, and you may have noticed we’re living in pretty uncertain times. Luckily, experts say there’s still plenty of room to grow. If you want in on the gold rush, check out Gold IRAs – they’re a good way to own physical gold, with the added IRA tax benefits. Here’s how it works:

The Fed minutes show officials holding rates at 4.25–4.5%, with two dissenters itching for cuts. Inflation anxiety > job market worries — at least for now.

After its failed EV pivot, Hertz is now offloading used rentals through Amazon Autos. Yes, you can impulse-buy a 2022 Nissan Sentra while stocking up on paper towels.

CEO Ali Ghodsi wants a $100B valuation — putting Databricks in the league of SpaceX, ByteDance, and OpenAI. Critics warn of AI bubble risks, but investors might not care.

The coffee giant is testing Coco Matcha and Coco Cold Brew across 400+ U.S. stores. The drinks, first trialed in NYC, pair coconut water with foam toppers.

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek unveiled its upgraded V3 model, optimized for domestic chips. A sign Beijing’s chip-independence push is reshaping the AI landscape.

The Frontier Stable Token launches as the first state-backed U.S. stablecoin. Fully collateralized, it’s sparking debate about whether states should play central banker.

Science Links Mitochondria & Muscle Strength

As we age, our muscles naturally lose mass, strength, and functionality, which can lead to fatigue and weakness beginning as early as our 30s. Recent studies indicate that our mitochondria—the cellular powerhouses that generate 90% of our energy—play a crucial role in this decline, contributing to reduced muscle function as we age. A new way to support and improve muscle health as we age, Mitopure® by Timeline is clinically shown to meaningfully boost our mitochondrial health to improve muscle strength and endurance, without any change in exercise required. Ready to feel stronger, for longer with Mitopure? [NEWSLETTER] readers can take 30% off their first month with code 30NEWSLETTER for a limited time. While supplies last.

Disclaimer -*500mg Mitopure® have been shown to (1) induce gene expression related to mitochondria function and metabolism and (2)

Thanks for cracking open today’s Cash Nut 🥜.
See you tomorrow with more business bites — no dial-up required.