Fool me twice

If insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, Charlie Brown must’ve been crazy. And maybe we all are. Why? Because who didn’t hold out hope that just once, Lucy might let poor old Chuck kick that ball 😂

If it’s been a while since you got out there and tossed around the old pigskin, now might be a good time—the first week of June is National Flag Football Week! Who knows, maybe you’ll even get a nice kick in. As for Charlie Brown?

We’ve got three words ;)

(Love nostalgia? Play today’s trivia below for a chance to win a $25 Amazon eGift Card!)

IN THE NEWS

Trade volatility continues in April

The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau published trade data for the month of April the other day, revealing a 46% contraction in America’s trade gap after businesses raced in March to import goods before President Donald Trump’s tariffs kicked in.

The value of all goods imported in April fell by $68.4 billion to $276.1 billion, while exports increased by $6.3 billion to $188.5 billion, leaving the trade deficit at $87.6 billion for the month.

The contraction may seem more monumental than it actually is. As noted above, imports were abnormally high for the month of March, meaning they would ultimately end up coming back down either in April or May, and possibly both.

For example, a great many countries in the president’s trade war crosshairs have had their tariffs postponed in some way. The U.S. and China are in the middle of a 90-day pause on the most extreme tariff rates, including the 145% rate President Trump imposed several weeks ago. If this is to be taken seriously, businesses will without a doubt frontload their inventory from China again as that deadline approaches.

MONEY MONDAYS

Buy now, don’t pay

Klarna is among the biggest players in the “buy now, pay later” space (BNPL), and the company may be a canary in the coal mine when it comes to the future of this nifty trick businesses have been employing to get consumers to “buy” more online.

It’s pretty tempting to be able to get something without paying up front, and though it may seem like a walk in the park to pay it down over time in multiple instalments, the reality is it’s quite difficult—at least that’s what Klarna’s financials are showing.

According to the company’s most recent quarterly earnings report, its net losses doubled in Q1, with consumer credit losses specifically rising 17% to $136 million.

BNPL is becoming increasingly risky for companies. 41% of consumers paid an instalment late at least once in the last year, according to a report published by LendingTree. That’s up from 34% last year, as a growing number of consumers have taken on BNPL debt just to buy groceries.

Consumer debt in general is on the rise this year, jumping $167 billion in Q1 alone, bringing the overall total in the United States to a staggering $18.2 trillion. A good chunk of the increase this year has been driven by student loan delinquencies, which went from under 1% to nearly 8% in Q1 as a result of a more aggressive federal government cracking down on unpaid student debt.

WELLNESS

How much protein do we actually need?

Protein is one of three macronutrients the body depends on, next to carbohydrates and fats. Protein, however, isn’t naturally stored in the body, despite the fact that so many parts of the body rely on it.

Conventional wisdom says women need roughly 5 to 6.5 ounces of protein every day, and men need 5.5 to 7. However, that’s based on the minimum to avoid deficiency, rather than the optimal amount people should consume in order to extract its benefits and foster muscle growth, bone density, healthy organs, and blood.

“Most experts agree that a higher intake—around 1.2 to 2 grams per kilogram of body weight (that's 82-136 grams for a 150-pound woman)—may be better for maintaining muscle mass, managing weight and supporting healthy aging,” says Samantha Cassetty, M.S., R.D., a nutrition and wellness expert, the founder of Sam’s Plate and co-author of Sugar Shock. Cassetty.

“Your exact needs depend on things like your age, activity level and goals, but most people would benefit from getting a bit more than the bare minimum.”

There’s a maximum as well, though, particularly for those who aren’t regularly active or who live with certain acute or chronic conditions. Overdoing it can cause kidney damage, among other maladies, and experts advise consulting a physician to know the exact range one should target, as there’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation.

CONSUMER

Non-alcoholic beer continues meteoric rise

According to global data firm IWSR, non-alcoholic beer will pass ale as the second-largest beer category sometime this year.

Overall beer sales by volume fell 1% last year, while non-alcoholic sales jumped 9%, indicating a growing trend of consumers who like beer but may not like alcohol.

Despite the trend, there’s no contest when it comes to the globally dominant number one category of lager, which currently accounts for 92% of beer sales around the world.

Still, the battle for number two is expected to heavily favor non-alcoholic, as its ascendency continues for at least the next five years. IWSR is forecasting an annual growth in sales of 8% until 2029, while ale sales are expected to fall 2% annually over the same timeframe.

Non-alcoholic growth is mostly being driven—perhaps shockingly—by younger generations. Gen Z is known for being “sober curious” or living a “damp lifestyle,” drinking alcoholic beverages at a far lower rate than their predecessors.

On top of that, celebrity-backed non-alcoholic brands have been popping up to help advance the trend, including Budweiser Zero (co-founded by Dwayne Wade), Tom Holland’s Bero, and Dax Shepherd’s Ted Segers.

MUSIC

Jason Bonham extends Physical Graffiti tour

Earlier this year, Jason Bonham announced he’d be taking his band on the road to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of Led Zeppelin’s greatest masterpieces, Physical Graffiti.

The 21-date tour’s initial dates have just a few map dots left to cover, but the son of the late great John Bonham decided 21 wasn’t enough, and announced last week that 22 new dates have been added.

“This is my favorite Led Zeppelin album of all time," Bonham said in a press release announcing the initial dates, while also promising at the time to add more. "Being able to celebrate it the way we are planning on this tour is something I am extremely excited about. I can’t wait for people to come out and see these shows and celebrate this extraordinary record with us. And don’t worry there will be plenty of other songs that you also love played that night."

Tickets for the next leg went on sale on Friday, which begins in Omaha, NE on Aug. 1. Bonham and co. will make their way around and up the American west coast before heading north of the border to Vancouver for the final show on Aug. 31.

STAKE TRIVIA

All grown up

From American Graffiti to Breaking Away and beyond, there’s nothing like a coming-of-age movie 😍 

If you’re a fan of the genre, then you’ll be happy to know that that’s the subject of today’s trivia! Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 Amazon eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified tomorrow afternoon—keep an eye on your inbox!*

Have a great day ahead Staker!

Today’s issue written by Michael Cowan, Joey Cowan, and Maureen Norman.


*SEE FULL STAKE TRIVIA CONTEST RULES HERE.