Daily business briefing

The White House tells federal agencies to prepare for possible shutdown, CDC gives final approval to Pfizer booster for millions, and more [Try 6 risk free issues of The Week magazine. Order now.]( [The Week Logo]( [Subscribe to The Week magazine]( [Subscribe to The Week magazine]( Daily business briefing 1. [Federal agencies told to prepare for possible shutdown]( The White House budget office on Thursday told federal agencies to prepare for a partial government shutdown in case negotiators in Congress fail to reach a funding deal. The request followed a tradition of getting ready to shut non-essential offices and services seven days before agencies run out of the money they need to stay open. Democrats and Republicans have said they plan to approve a stopgap spending measure before funding runs out on Sept. 30, but negotiators can't get past several sticking points. House Democrats this week approved a bill seeking to fund the government, suspend the debt ceiling, and expand disaster-relief funding, but Senate Republicans plan to oppose the effort to lift the debt ceiling. Democrats said they planned to take the House bill to the Senate so Republicans will have to go on record against it. [[The Washington Post]( [Share to Facebook]( [Share to Twitter]( [Send in email](mailto:?Subject=Federal+agencies+told+to+prepare+for+possible+shutdown&body=Read the story here: utm_campaign=business_briefing_newsletter_20210924&utm_source=business_briefing_newsletter) 2. [CDC clears Pfizer booster shots for seniors, vulnerable people]( The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Thursday endorsed the Food and Drug Administration authorization to give Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine boosters to people 65 and older and people facing an elevated risk of infection and illness due to their jobs or medical conditions. In a rare move, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky gave final approval to [broader eligibility recommended by the Food and Drug Administration]( overruling a narrower booster plan recommended by the CDC's own advisers, who voted unanimously to make the third shot of the vaccine available to the elderly and residents of long-term care facilities. The CDC panel also recommended giving Pfizer boosters to people with underlying medical conditions making them more vulnerable to severe COVID-19, but only those ages 50 and up. [[CNN]( [The New York Times]( [Share to Facebook]( [Share to Twitter]( [Send in email](mailto:?Subject=CDC+clears+Pfizer+booster+shots+for+seniors,+vulnerable+people&body=Read the story here: utm_campaign=business_briefing_newsletter_20210924&utm_source=business_briefing_newsletter) Sponsored content from Northern Trust [Are You Making the Most of Low Interest Rates?]( [Sponsored content from Northern Trust]( 3. [Stock futures struggle after two-day surge]( U.S. stock index futures turned negative early Friday after the major averages surged for two straight days, rebounding from losses earlier in the week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down by 0.2 percent several hours before the opening bell. Futures for the S&P 500 fell by 0.3 percent, and those of the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped by 0.5 percent. The Dow jumped by 1.5 percent on Thursday, its best day since July 20, after the Federal Reserve signaled that it was keeping its economy-boosting asset purchases in place for now, but could start tapering them soon if the recovery continues. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained 1.2 percent and 1 percent, respectively. The three main averages fell sharply earlier in the week on concerns about the debt crisis at China real estate giant Evergrande, but many analysts now believe an Evergrande failure would have limited impact outside China. [[CNBC]( [Share to Facebook]( [Share to Twitter]( [Send in email](mailto:?Subject=Stock+futures+struggle+after+two-day+surge&body=Read the story here: utm_campaign=business_briefing_newsletter_20210924&utm_source=business_briefing_newsletter) 4. [Boppy recalls 3.3 million 'loungers' after 8 infant deaths]( The Boppy Co. has recalled 3.3 million of its popular soft pillow "loungers" after eight babies died on them between 2015 and 2019, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday. The agency said infants can suffocate after moving into a position that obstructs their breathing. The products — Boppy Original Newborn Loungers, Boppy Preferred Newborn Loungers, and Pottery Barn Kids Boppy Newborn Loungers — are "simply too risky to remain on the market," Acting CPSC Chair Robert Adler said. The company noted that the lounger "was not marketed as an infant sleep product and includes warnings against unsupervised use." Boppy said it was "devastated to hear of these tragedies" and dedicated to "doing everything possible to safeguard babies," including educating parents about unsafe sleep practices for infants. [[CPSC]( [NPR]( [Share to Facebook]( [Share to Twitter]( [Send in email](mailto:?Subject=Boppy+recalls+3.3+million+'loungers'+after+8+infant+deaths&body=Read the story here: utm_campaign=business_briefing_newsletter_20210924&utm_source=business_briefing_newsletter) 5. [Volvo eliminating leather in its vehicles by end of decade]( Volvo announced Thursday that it would eliminate leather in its vehicles to make its entire fleet vegan-friendly by 2030. With that timing the Swedish automaker, which is owned by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, would be completely leather-free as it completes its shift to making only electric vehicles. The elimination of leather would mark another step toward fighting climate change by helping to reduce negative impacts from cattle farming, including deforestation, the company said. The change also will make a statement against animal cruelty, Volvo added. "We've got a new generation of customers coming through, they're far more interested in the products they buy and having an ethical story behind them," Volvo head of design Robin Page told Reuters. "They want to understand where the materials come from." [[Fox News]( [Share to Facebook]( [Share to Twitter]( [Send in email](mailto:?Subject=Volvo+eliminating+leather+in+its+vehicles+by+end+of+decade&body=Read the story here: utm_campaign=business_briefing_newsletter_20210924&utm_source=business_briefing_newsletter) [Read more business stories at theweek.com]( MOST POPULAR [Related image]( ['This is a dream find': Scientists' 'bombshell' discovery in the 'peopling' of America]( Brigid Kennedy [Related image]( [R. Kelly prosecutors urge jury to make him 'pay for his crimes' as trial nears close]( Brendan Morrow [Related image]( [Supermodel Linda Evangelista says she's 'brutally disfigured' after a cosmetic procedure]( Brendan Morrow [Related image]( [The viral photo of Haitian migrants taps into the dark echoes of American history]( Jeva Lange [Related image]( [Trump's attorney in his NYT lawsuit was previously general counsel for a parking-garage company]( Brigid Kennedy [Speed reads banner] [Article image]( [Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is running for re-election in 2022, when he'll be 89]( September 24, 2021 [Article image]( [Late night hosts mock some of the loopier vaccine misinformation, Trump's self-defeating niece lawsuit]( September 24, 2021 [Article image]( ['Distinctive navy-blue shoes' helped the FBI track down a Jan. 6 Capitol riot suspect]( September 24, 2021 [Article image]( [CDC clears COVID booster shots for seniors, at-risk, and — siding with FDA over advisory panel — frontline workers]( September 24, 2021 [Read more of today's best articles at theweek.com]( [Try 6 risk-free issues of The Week magazine]( [Unsubscribe from this list]( | [Privacy Policy]( © 2021 The Week Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. [The Week Logo]( [Follow The Week at Facebook.com]( [Follow The Week at Twitter.com]( [The Week magazine cover]( Try 6 Risk Free issues of The Week [Try it out]( [Try it out]( [Subscribe]( [Subscriber login]( [Give a gift]( [Classroom subscriptions]( [Newsletters]( [RSS]( [Ad info]( [Privacy policy]( [Terms & conditions]( [The Week UK]( [Customer service]( [Contact Us]( [Accessibility](