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United Parks & Resorts experienced drops in theme park attendance and revenue in the third quarter of 2025, but SeaWorld Orlando numbers are up for the year so far, according to executives reacting to the company’s earnings report.

Overall, attractions attendance was 6.8 million for the July-September period, a decrease of 3.4% from a year earlier. Total revenue was $511.9 million, a decrease of 6.2% from 2024.

“We’re obviously not happy with the results we delivered in the quarter,” United CEO Mark Swanson said in a conference call Thursday. “Performance during the quarter was negatively impacted by an unfavorable calendar shift, poor weather during peak holiday periods, a decline in international visitation and less than optimal execution.”

Positives in the report, he said, were a 1.1% increase in per-capita spending inside the theme parks and that attendance at SeaWorld Orlando is up for the first nine months of 2025. The per-cap level has grown in 20 of the past 22 quarters, he said. read more

By MATT OTT, AP Business Writer

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage ticked up for the first time in five weeks after falling to its lowest level in more than a year last week.

The average long-term mortgage rate moved up to 6.22% from 6.17% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.79%.

Last week’s average rate the lowest since Oct. 3, 2024, when it was 6.12%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week. The average rate rose to 5.5% from 5.41% last week. A year ago, it was 6%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year yield was at 4.09% at midday Thursday, down from 4.16% Wednesday. read more

By FATIMA HUSSEIN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS Direct File, the electronic system for filing tax returns for free, will not be offered next year, the Trump administration has confirmed.

An email sent Monday from IRS official Cynthia Noe to state comptrollers that participate in the Direct File program said that “IRS Direct File will not be available in Filing Season 2026. No launch date has been set for the future.”

The program developed during Joe Biden’s presidency was credited by users with making tax filing easy, fast and economical. However, it faced criticism from Republican lawmakers, who called it a waste of taxpayer money because free filing programs already exist (though they are difficult to use), and from commercial tax preparation companies, which have made billions from charging people to use their software.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is also the current IRS commissioner, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that there are “better alternatives” to Direct File. “It wasn’t used very much,” he said. “And we think that the private sector can do a better job.” read more

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN

PARIS (AP) — France’s government said Wednesday it is moving toward suspending access to the Shein online marketplace until it proves its content conforms to French law, after authorities found illegal firearms and child-like sex dolls for sale on the fast-fashion giant’s website.

The Finance Ministry said the government made the decision after officials found “large quantities” of illegal weapons on Shein’s popular e-commerce platform Wednesday, following the discovery last week of illegal sex dolls with childlike characteristics.

The ministry said if the prohibited items remain, authorities may suspend the site in France.

The decision came on the same day that Shein opened its first permanent store in Paris inside one of the city’s most iconic department stores. The opening drew crowds of shoppers to the BHV Marais, but also a small group of protesters who briefly disrupted the opening by waving anti-Shein signs before they were escorted out by security.

The ministry did not say whether its decision would impact the physical store. It added that a first progress report would be provided within 48 hours. read more