Tuesday’s business headlines
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Here’s a look at Tuesday’s business headlines.
IRS
The IRS urged Americans to file their taxes electronically this year as the agency deals with a backlog of nearly 7 million unprocessed paper returns from last year.
The IRS announced that it was delaying the start of the 2021 tax season, which usually begins at the end of January to Feb. 12 to prevents further backlogs.
Gas prices
Gas prices are rapidly rising across the country, according to AAA.
AAA says in central Indiana the average price is $2.34 a gallon.
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by five cents to $2.36, which is eight cents more than a week ago, 20 cents more than a month ago.
Restaurants
Restaurants are buying less food than before the pandemic as they struggle to stay afloat.
Restaurant operators were spending more on carryout boxes and bags as the demand for takeout and delivery increased.
Around 40,000 restaurants nationwide spent 24.5% less on food and other items per quarter in 2020 than they did prior to the pandemic, according to a report by Buyer’s Edge Platform.
Carnival
Carnival says it already has more bookings for 2022 than it had in 2019.
Executives say they are seeing good demand in all of the cruise markets, whether it be Caribbean itineraries, Europe itineraries. There is good demand for Australia and world cruises.
Carnival says it may have some of the ships sailing in April.