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    Ford boosts production of electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck

    Ford Motor has added a third production shift to its Michigan plant that produces the electric F-150 Lightning as it looks to boost output.
    The addition of the third shift comes as the automaker is expanding the newly built facility to hit a top capacity of 150,000 units by next fall.

    Corey Williams, plant manager at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant and Rouge electric vehicle center, outlines the automaker’s production plans for the F-150 Lightning electric pickup during a facility tour on Dec. 13, 2022.
    Michael Wayland | CNBC

    DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor has added a third production shift to its Michigan plant that produces the electric F-150 Lightning as it looks to boost output.
    The addition of the third shift comes as the automaker is expanding the newly built facility to hit a top capacity of 150,000 units by next fall.

    Ford is on track to hit that previously announced production milestone, Corey Williams, plant manager of the Dearborn Truck Plant and Rouge electric vehicle center, said during a tour of the facility Tuesday.
    The third shift was added in November, bumping up the electric truck plant’s employment from 500 to roughly 750 people.

    Ford workers produce the electric F-150 Lightning pickup on Dec. 13, 2022 at the automaker’s Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC).
    Michael Wayland | CNBC

    The plant is now running three rotating crews of workers on 10-hour shifts seven days a week, Williams said, maintaining a high level of production even as construction workers scramble to complete an expansion of the facility.
    “That’s how we’re doing this fast. We’re building product while building” out the factory, Williams said.
    Ford had originally planned to build about 40,000 Lightnings per year, in a new facility adjacent to its longtime pickup factory in Dearborn. But it decided to expand the factory to boost production after early demand for the electric truck exceeded its expectations.

    Earlier on Tuesday, MotorTrend magazine named the F-150 Lightning is its 2023 truck of the year. The magazine’s editors said the truck received unanimous support for the award, citing its overall performance and appeal to traditional pickup-truck buyers.
    Through the end of November, Ford has sold 13,258 F-150 Lightnings.

    Ford workers produce the electric F-150 Lightning pickup on Dec. 13, 2022 at the automaker’s Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC).
    Michael Wayland | CNBC

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    Hotel prices and airfare decline as travel demand cools after summer surge

    The price index for hotels and other lodging away from home fell nearly 5% in November from October, according to the latest consumer inflation report.
    The cooldown follows a surge in summer travel demand.
    JetBlue lowered its outlook to adjust for demand that did not reach its expectations.

    The pool at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore.
    Amanda Macias | CNBC

    Consumer prices for hotels, motels and other lodging dropped nearly 5% in November from October, according to the latest government inflation report, a sign that soaring travel demand has lost some momentum from the summer.
    Airfares also fell month to month, by 0.6%. Still, the price index for hotels, motels and lodging was 3% higher than it was a year ago, while airfares were 36% higher.

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    The cooldown comes in a year where the travel industry enjoyed major tailwinds after a turbulent couple of years due to Covid. Pent-up travel demand even began to encroach on retail’s momentum as pandemic shoppers turned into post-pandemic travelers.
    But with a possible recession on the horizon, the price declines for travel in November could be a harbinger of a further drop in demand.
    The travel industry has seen demand taper since a summer surge. JetBlue said Tuesday in a regulatory filing that the strong last-minute demand it anticipated for December in its previous financial outlook “has materialized below expectations.” The airline’s updated outlook, which also includes the impact from Hurricane Nicole in November, sets its fourth-quarter unit revenue growth “at the low-end of its prior guidance” with a 15% to 19% over 2019.
    United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, however, said that travel demand and revenue remains strong while business travel has “plateaued.”
    Even as travel demand cools, revenues in the industry have remained stable due to higher prices. Flight bookings over Thanksgiving were down 7% compared to 2019, but higher fares allowed revenue to increase by 3%, according to Adobe data.

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    Boeing airplane deliveries picked up in November

    Boeing delivered 48 planes last month, up from 35 in October.
    The manufacturer logged orders for 21 planes.
    The orders do not include United Airlines’ massive order for new 787 Dreamliners.

    Boeing’s last 747 aircraft, #1574, at its factory in Everett, Washington.
    Leslie Josephs | CNBC

    Boeing’s aircraft deliveries picked up last month with airlines getting more 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner planes.
    The manufacturer handed over 48 planes last month, up from 35 in October, with carriers United, American and Qatar Airways each getting two 787s apiece. Boeing also delivered 32 of its 737 Max planes to carriers including United and Southwest.

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    November deliveries also included the second-to-last Boeing 747, which went to Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. The final 747, #1574, rolled out of Boeing’s Everett, Washington, factory last week. It is scheduled to be delivered to a cargo and charter airline in the first quarter.
    Boeing logged orders for 21 planes in November, which did not include United’s massive order for at least 100 Dreamliners, announced earlier Tuesday.
    So far this year, Boeing has delivered 411 planes and logged net orders for 571 planes.

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    As inflation runs hot, Dollar General’s new Popshelf stores chase wealthier, suburban shoppers

    Dollar General has ambitious plans to grow its Popshelf store banner.
    With inflation surging, more affluent customers are looking for bargains.
    Popshelf aims to attract shoppers who make between $50,000 and $125,000.

    HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee — Dollar General’s next big strategy for growth is tucked in a strip mall in suburban Nashville, and it is coming to other cities soon.
    It’s a new store called Popshelf. Over the past two years, the Tennessee-based discounter has tested the store concept, which caters to suburban shoppers with higher incomes, but sells most items for $5 or less.

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    A wide range of merchandise fills the shelves, including holiday-themed platters, party and crafting supplies, novelty foods such as gourmet chocolates and Portobello mushroom jerky, and gifts like dangly earrings, lip gloss and toys. It’s designed to be a treasure hunt that keeps shoppers coming back.
    Now, as inflation surges, Dollar General is ramping up its plans for Popshelf. It aims to double the banner’s locations to approximately 300 stores next year. Over the next three years, it plans to grow to about 1,000 locations across the country. Eventually, it sees an opportunity to reach about 3,000 total locations. It is also testing mini Popshelf shops inside of some of its Dollar General stores. So far, it has about 40 of those shops.
    But Popshelf will have to prove it can hold up in a tougher economy. Walmart, Best Buy, Costco and others have warned of weaker sales of discretionary items as consumers spend more on necessities. Target recently cut its holiday quarter forecast, and Kohl’s pulled its outlook, citing middle-income consumers who feel stretched.
    On Dollar General’s recent earnings call, CEO Jeff Owen said even customers who make $100,000 a year have been shopping at its stores.
    Chief Merchandising Officer Emily Taylor said Popshelf can draw spending-conscious shoppers by offering items that don’t cause guilt.

    “The fact that we have such great value across a lot of these categories gives our customers at Popshelf an opportunity to really treat themselves at a time where they may have a difficult time doing that in other locations,” she said.

    Higher incomes, higher profits

    Popshelf is designed to drive higher sales and higher profits than the Dollar General store banner. It has more general merchandise, which typically has higher margins than food. Each Popshelf store is projected to hit between $1.7 million and $2 million in sales annually with an average gross margin rate that exceeds 40%.
    In the third quarter, Dollar General’s gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 30.5%. That includes all of its stores, but the vast majority are under the namesake banner. It does not disclose annual or quarterly sales on a store level.

    By the numbers

    POPSHELF

    About 100 stores in nine states
    Carries mix of home goods, seasonal decor, party supplies, crafts and toys
    Most items for $5 or less
    Suburban locations
    Draws shoppers with a household annual income from $50,000 to $125,000

    DOLLAR GENERAL

    About 18,800 stores in 47 states
    Carries many everyday items, such as food, cleaning supplies and paper products
    A mix of price points, with about 20% of items for $1 or less
    About 75% of stores are in small towns or rural areas with 20,000 people or less
    Core customers have an annual household income of $40,000 or less

    Source: Dollar General

    The new store concept also courts a wealthier customer who lives in the suburbs — like a busy mom who is juggling a couple of kids, said Tracey Herrmann, senior vice president of channel innovation. That customer may need to buy toothpaste and cleaning supplies, but she wants to go a place where she can browse and toss fun items into her basket as well, Herrmann said.
    Inside of Popshelf stores, the brands and items on shelves reflect that customer. For example, stores sell food and household brands often carried by higher-end grocers, such as Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap, Amy’s frozen meals and Tillamook cheese. It has a selection of global snacks, such as Pocky and Hello Panda. And it has specialty kitchen and baking items, such as inexpensive spices and unique condiments.
    It also has exclusive brands, such as its own line of low-priced candles, room sprays and diffusers — including a signature scent, Citron Berry, which fills up its store. It carries some private brands sold by Dollar General, such as Believe Beauty, a makeup brand that’s been touted by influencers, including Bethenny Frankel of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City.”
    It has rotating seasonal items, depending on the time of year, such as Christmas decor, pumpkin-themed items, bright colors for Easter and beach towels in the summer.
    Herrmann said the store’s name was inspired by that mix of merchandise, which constantly gets refreshed.
    “We believe the product pops off the shelf and really brings itself to life without us really even having to do much with it,” she said.

    Discounters’ time to shine

    Discounters and off-price brands have led the way with store expansion in recent years. Dollar General is the fastest-growing retailer in the country by store count, according to Coresight Research, a retail-focused advisory firm. Its namesake banner has grown at a rapid clip, too. The company plans to open about 1,050 new stores in the U.S. in the coming fiscal year — including the Popshelf locations.
    Eight other discounters and off-price brands round out the top ten, including Popshelf’s competitors Dollar Tree, Five Below and Home Goods, which is part of TJX Companies.

    Over the past several years, John Mercer, Coresight’s head of global research, said those value-conscious retailers have benefited from millennials buying homes and starting families as they juggle expenses such as college debt. Plus, he said, members of the second-largest generation — baby boomers — are looking for value as they retire and live on a fixed income.
    Inflation has become an additional tailwind for the off-price and discounter sector this year and into 2023, he said.
    Dollar General has historically performed well in economic downturns. It posted same-store sales gains during every quarter of the Great Recession in the late 2000s. On the other hand, Target, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Kohl’s were among the retailers with seven or eight quarters of negative same-store sales in that period.
    Investors have been bullish about Dollar General. Shares of Dollar General have risen about 4% so far this year, as the S&P 500 Index has fallen by about 16% in the same period.
    Corey Tarlowe, a retail analyst for Jefferies, said Popshelf may face some pressure in the near term as consumers think more carefully about purchases. Yet he said the tight labor market means most shoppers are still employed. Plus, he added, Popshelf’s middle- or upper-income consumer likely has a larger budget and bigger bank account.
    Tarlowe said the store’s wide mix means it can steal away share from many different retailers, including crafting stores like Joann, Michaels and Hobby Lobby, pet stores like Petco, drugstores like CVS and Walgreens and dollar stores like Five Below and Dollar Tree.
    “At the end of the day, it’s all about the value messaging,” he said. “That’s the core of it. It’s Dollar General pricing wrapped in a pretty bow.”
    –CNBC’s Nick Wells contributed to this report.

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    United Airlines is buying at least 100 Boeing Dreamliners to replace aging wide-body jets

    United Airlines is buying 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with the option to purchase 100 more.
    The massive order is a big boost for Boeing from one of its largest customers.
    The Dreamliners are expected to be delivered between 2024 and 2032, United said.

    A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by United Airlines takes off from Los Angeles International Airport.
    Getty Images

    United Airlines is buying 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with the option to purchase 100 more new jets that will fly its longest routes and replace less fuel-efficient, decades-old planes.
    The massive order is a big boost for Boeing from one of its largest customers and comes as United has returned to profitability after the pandemic’s travel slump. The carrier has lately added more international flights thanks to a rebound in demand.

    United said its order was the largest wide-body sale to a U.S. carrier.
    About 100 of the Dreamliners in the order will replace Boeing 767s and some of its Boeing 777s. Chicago-based United’s entire wide-body fleet is made up of Boeing planes. The Dreamliners are expected to be delivered between 2024 and 2032, United said.
    United’s CEO Scott Kirby said it was easier to buy more Boeing 787s over rival Airbus’s competing A350 wide-body plane.
    “In this world where we’re trying to bring on 2,500 pilots a year and grow the airline, introducing a new fleet type slows that down dramatically,” he said on a call with reporters. “And the truth is the 787 is a better replacement for the [767] because it’s smaller.”
    United had 63 Dreamliners in its fleet as of the end of last year, according to a security filing, and is scheduled to get to nearly 70 before 2023. Like other carriers, United was left without new jets for months when manufacturing flaws forced Boeing to pause deliveries until this past summer.

    A shortfall of planes due to supply chain issues and labor shortages has contributed to higher airfare this year.
    United first outlined the order to pilots this fall, according to people familiar with the matter.
    In a securities filing early Tuesday, the airline estimated its adjusted capital expenditures at around $9 billion next year and $11 billion in 2024 following the order. Executives didn’t say exactly how the airline will pay for the planes.
    “We will have the luxury of actually using our own cash flow to pay for these aircraft or finance them to the extent that we find capital markets financing attractive,” United’s CFO Gerry Laderman said on the media call.
    The carrier is also purchasing 56 additional Boeing 737 Max narrow-body planes and exercising options for 44 more, adding to an order for close to 300 new Boeing and Airbus single aisle planes United made last year.

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    Workers and consumers say they’re likely to favor pro-LGBTQ businesses, new study says

    U.S. employees and consumers are likely to favor pro-LGBTQ brands, a new study by Edelman and GLAAD finds.
    Corporate support for the LGBTQ community had a rocky 2022, as in the case of Disney, which initially stayed silent on Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.
    “If you put the LGBTQ community on hold, it will affect your bottom line,” says GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellils.

    Shoppers carry bags across a Pride-themed, rainbow-coloured pedestrian crossing.
    David Cliff | Nurphoto | Getty Images

    American workers and consumers are more likely to prefer brands that publicly align with LGBTQ causes, according to a new analysis.
    More than 51% of U.S. employees who responded to a global survey conducted by public relations firm Edelman from July to August said they were more likely to work for a pro-LGBTQ company, compared to 11% who said they were less likely.

    In a separate Edelman survey fielded in May, 34% of consumers said they were more likely to buy from a brand that expressed support for LGBTQ rights, versus 19% who said they were less likely.
    The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation partnered with Edelman to analyze the survey data to gather LGBTQ-specific insights. The survey responses came from 1,000 consumers and 1,000 workers in the U.S.
    The insights come in a year where anti-LGBTQ government policy and violence are on the rise. Over 300 anti-LGBTQ bills have been proposed in state legislatures in 2022 and derogatory misinformation about LGBTQ people has increased by 400% on social media, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
    In conversations with its corporate clients, Edelman found that the growing hostility toward LGBTQ people has made companies nervous to take a firm public stance with the LGBTQ community.
    “We often see companies ask whether they can afford to take a stand in support of LGBTQ issues, and this data shows that for many companies, they can’t afford not to,” said Edelman senior vice president Lauren Gray.

    In fact, more than half of Americans expect CEOs to help shape policy around LGBTQ rights, said the analysis. It found that young shoppers especially tend to find brands that pledge support to LGBTQ communities more “relevant” and “relatable.” A February Gallup poll reported that one in five members of Generation Z identifies as “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual.”
    Read more: Gen Z loves Minions, horror and The Rock
    As a potential recession weighs on executives’ minds, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis recognized that some companies might mistakenly deem supporting social causes “non-essential.”
    “But if you put the LGBTQ community on hold, it will affect your bottom line,” said Ellis. “It’s just the numbers. It’s too important to consumers and employees.”
    There are brands that want to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community but fear that they will not get LGBTQ inclusion “right.” A GLAAD survey of 200 advertisers from February found that 61% think that there would be larger backlash for representing LGBTQ people incorrectly than “not featuring them at all.”
    But 64% of non-LGBTQ people and 71% of LGBTQ people said they are more likely to purchase from companies that feature LGBTQ individuals in their ads, according to GLAAD surveys from 2022.
    GLAAD’s Visibility Project intends to show corporates how to speak out “properly and accurately,” said Ellis. “I think it’s important to discern between joining a movement and marketing to a moment.”
    Rather than just switching to rainbow packaging during Pride month, Ellis wants to see corporations using their economic and political clout to stand against anti-LGBTQ legislation year-round. She also wants companies to prioritize diversity and representation when hiring.
    Though this year has brought more corporate hesitation around LGBTQ support, some employees and customers have nonetheless succeeded in pressuring brands to enter the conversation in ways that go beyond rainbow logos.
    In March, Disney faced criticism from its own employees for the company’s initial silence on Florida legislation that banned elementary school education on sexual orientation and gender identity. Soon after, then-CEO Bob Chapek announced that the company would donate $5 million to LGBTQ support organizations and vowed to help repeal Florida’s anti-LGBTQ policies.
    Since his return as Disney CEO last month, Bob Iger has spoken out about the company’s commitment to supporting LGBTQ communities. The entertainment giant also released productions this year, including “Lightyear” and “Strange World,” which spotlight same-sex romance.
    “When you look at moments when there’s a clash over the LGBTQ community with companies, the companies that stand up for LGBTQ folks are the ones who win,” said Ellis. “I don’t think you can be a consumer-facing product in the 21st century and not have this as your priority.”

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    Antibiotics prices surge in UK amid Strep A outbreak, leaving drugstores ‘footing the bill’

    Drugstores are warning of shortages of key antibiotics used to treat Strep A, as cases rise in the U.K.
    Where supplies do exist, some pharmacists are dispensing treatments at a loss due to soaring wholesale prices.
    The government and wholesalers have insisted that the country is adequately equipped to deal with the outbreak.

    Drugstores are warning of major shortages of key antibiotics used to treat Strep A, as cases rise in the U.K.
    Marko Geber | Digitalvision | Getty Images

    LONDON — Drugstores in Britain are warning of shortages of key antibiotics used to treat Strep A, as cases rise and the number of child fatalities reaches 15.
    A surge in Group A Streptococcus, especially among schoolchildren, has increased demand for amoxicillin and penicillin, the main antibiotic treatments, over the past week.

    Where supplies do exist, they are “flying off the shelves,” according to drugstores, with some saying they are now dispensing medication at a loss due to soaring wholesale prices.
    In some cases, pharmacists say wholesale prices for the drugs have spiked as much as 850%. These increased costs must be absorbed either by the U.K.’s National Health Service or drugstores, rather than parents, who typically receive children’s prescriptions for free.
    At least 15 children have died in the U.K. from severe cases of Strep A this winter season, according to health agencies across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A further death from suspected infection was reported Saturday but has not yet been confirmed.
    While most cases of Strep A are mild and often go unnoticed, it can also lead to more serious illness and complications, such as scarlet fever. The bacteria can also get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A strep (iGAS). 
    These severe infections can be deadly, and are thought to be the cause of the recent spate of deaths. It has led to an increase in clinicians prescribing antibiotics for children.

    Cases have been on the rise in Britain this year, with the U.K. Health Security Agency reporting 6,602 cases of scarlet fever from Sept. 12 to Dec. 4, well above the 2,538 reported during the last peak in 2017-2018.

    Fears of a national shortage

    The government and wholesalers have insisted that the country is adequately equipped to deal with the outbreak. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week dismissed fears of a “national shortage” of antibiotics.
    “There are no current shortages of drugs available to treat this and there are well-established procedures in place to ensure that that remains the case,” he told the House of Commons on Wednesday.
    However, a letter to pharmacists from NHS England, seen by Sky News, acknowledged that local drugstores may be experiencing a “temporary interruption of supply of some relevant antibiotics due to increased demand.”
    Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMP), which represents drugstore owners nationwide, told CNBC the reality on the ground was becoming desperate.

    This just shows the incompetence of those in charge. This is not the first time this has happened.

    Dr Leyla Hannbeck
    CEO, Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies

    “Quite clearly there isn’t (enough supply), because it’s not finding its way to pharmacies,” she said. “And where there are patchy supplies, they are flying off the shelves.”
    “This is very concerning for us, especially when we have parents coming into pharmacies, and unfortunately they haven’t got the stock,” she added.
    Parents have been advised to call ahead to drugstores to check prescription availability after Hannbeck noted reports of families traveling for miles between stores.
    She said the government shouldn’t be surprised by the shortages given similar shortfalls in medication for other outbreaks, such as monkeypox, earlier this year.
    “This just shows the incompetence of those in charge,” she said. “This is not the first time this has happened. Since the beginning of this year, I have been discussing with community pharmacies that there is something the matter with the U.K.’s drug supply chains.”
    The U.K. health department did not comment on allegations of incompetence when contacted by CNBC.

    Drugstores ‘footing the bill’

    Drug supply chains have been heavily disrupted this year due to a combination of factors including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inflation, Covid-19 and Brexit.
    It has left drugstores spending more time — and money — sourcing medications.
    Under the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) drug tariff scheme, drugstores receive set compensation for medication. There is also a concession list of medications for which higher prices can be paid.
    Despite this, when wholesale prices jump, drugstores can end up making a loss.
    The government’s Department of Health and Social Care has warned that, while prices may fluctuate, “no company should use this as an opportunity to exploit the NHS.”

    Streptococcus A — or Group A Strep (GAS) — is a bacterial infection of the throat or skin, which typically arises during the winter months.
    Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images

    However, over the past week, wholesale prices for amoxicillin and penicillin liquid solutions — which provide an alternative to tablets for children and are in particularly short supply — have risen in some places from around £2 to between £15 and £19, according to AIMP’s Hannbeck.
    London-based drug wholesaler Sigma Pharmaceuticals reportedly hiked the price of its amoxicillin liquid solution by more than 10 times to £19 on Thursday, but later told CNBC the surge was due to an “IT glitch.”
    Martin Sawer, executive director at the Healthcare Distribution Association, which represents drug wholesalers, said higher prices “directly reflect” the increased costs charged by manufacturers. He rejected claims of supply shortfalls, pointing instead to a “huge demand surge.”
    “Right now there is too much demand for products and not enough competitive products being made available to buy from the manufacturers,” Sawer said.

    If Government doesn’t intervene soon to protect pharmacies, patients can expect to see ever more problems with receiving their medicines.

    Janet Morrison
    chief executive, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

    Drugstore owners are now calling for the government to update its concessionary price for amoxicillin and penicillin, to ensure they are fairly reimbursed even if prices rise further.
    Janet Morrison, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, which negotiates the concessions list with the health department, said pricing assistance was “urgently” needed.
    “Pharmacy teams are at breaking point,” she said. “They are helpless against market forces that are working against them, and urgently need Government assurance that all medicines will be available, and not at wildly inflated prices.”
    A total of 158 drugs were on the NHS’s November concessions list, compared to 135 in October. Morrison said she expects to see a “record number” of medicines added to the list in December as supply constraints exacerbate shortages and push drug prices even higher.
    “For months on end, pharmacies have been footing the bill for NHS medicines themselves when these should be covered by Government,” said Morrison.
    “This can’t continue,” she added. “If Government doesn’t intervene soon to protect pharmacies, patients can expect to see ever more problems with receiving their medicines. Government and the NHS must fix this, and fast.”

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    Electric Ford F-150 Lightning named MotorTrend’s truck of the year

    The electric Ford F-150 Lightning was named MotorTrend’s 2023 truck of the year – topping traditional pickups from General Motors, Stellantis and Toyota Motor.
    The prestigious title and accompanying “Golden Caliper” award are highly sought by automakers globally every year.
    This is the second-consecutive year an all-electric truck has won the award, following the Rivian R1T a year ago.

    2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

    DETROIT – The electric Ford F-150 Lightning on Tuesday was named MotorTrend’s 2023 truck of the year – topping traditional pickups with internal combustion engines from General Motors, Stellantis and Toyota Motor.
    The prestigious title and accompanying “Golden Caliper” award are highly sought by automakers globally every year. They are used to promote vehicles in advertising and are viewed as third-party validation of a new vehicle.

    The F-150 Lightning is a pivotal product for both Ford Motor and the U.S. automotive industry. It’s the first mass-market electric pickup truck for mainstream buyers and widely viewed as a test of widespread EV adoption. The F-Series, which includes the electric and traditional versions of the truck, has also been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for decades.
    MotorTrend noted the Lightning’s overall performance, safety and importance to appealing to traditional pickup buyers among the reasons for the recognition.
    “While some vehicles change the world by being radically different, others, like the Ford F-150 Lightning, change it by being different where it counts and familiar where it helps,” MotorTrend said in a press release.
    This is the second-consecutive year an all-electric truck has won the award, following the Rivian R1T a year ago. But it’s the first electric vehicle to receive unanimous support from the judges, MotorTrend said.
    Other finalists for MotorTrend’s truck of the year were the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2022 GMC Sierra 1500, 2023 Ram 2500 and 2022 Toyota Tundra.
    MotorTrend’s truck of the year follows the publication naming the Genesis G90 its 2023 car of the year and the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 as its 2023 SUV of the year.

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