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By MATT OTT, AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American consumer’s confidence in the U.S. economy improved slightly in February after cratering a month earlier.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 91.2 in February from an upwardly revised 89 last month.

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A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market rose four points to 72, remaining well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. It’s the 13th consecutive month that reading has come in under 80. read more

Susan Dziubinski of Morningstar

Portfolio diversification might sound like a chore, but it’s worth the effort in 2026, given how dominant the artificial intelligence trade was last year. Without some smart diversification, your “just fine” investment portfolio from 2025 may be vulnerable in 2026.

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“Investors don’t have to think there’s an AI bubble to be concerned about the concentration risk that AI has wrought,”  says  Morningstar Indexes strategist  Dan Lefkovitz. “Concentration … leaves investors holding a market portfolio less diversified than in the past—by stock, sector, and theme.” read more

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN, AP Business Writer

Facebook owner Meta Platforms will buy artificial intelligence chips from Advanced Micro Devices in a deal that will also give it the opportunity to buy up to a 10% stake of the chip company.

News of the AMD deal comes just days after Meta announced a long-term partnership where it will use millions of chips and other equipment from Nvidia for its artificial-intelligence data centers.

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Meta will buy AMD’s latest chips, the MI450, to help power data centers. The 6-gigawatt agreement will see shipments supporting the first gigawatt deployment set to start during the second half of this year. The agreement could potentially be worth more than $100 billion. read more

Mr. Clean appears to be calling it quits.

The retirement of the bald, animated mascot used in Mr. Clean ads and on products since 1958 was announced in a social media ad posted Thursday.

That ad features Mr. Clean standing behind a podium with a “breaking news” chyron flashing across the screen.

“After a career with zero stains on the record, he’s ready for new adventures,” the narrator says.

That voice assures consumers the company bearing his name will continue to operate, then asks “What’s next for Mr. Clean?”

Among those wishing the smiling character well on Instagram were the social media teams behind Old Spice grooming products and Brawny paper towels.

“We’ll miss you, legend!” wrote the team at Old Spice.

Mr. Clean’s people responded by saying they too will miss their mascot.

“While our products will continue to battle your dirt and grime, Mr. Clean, well, first name Veritably, (yes, really), is off to new adventures. We know his journey will be fulfilling, and we support his decision,” the company wrote. read more