After a 2024 spike, California’s average auto premium fell about 8% in 2025 to roughly $2,309, though big city gaps mean not everyone saw savings.

A securities law firm has opened an inquiry into Instacart’s officers after FTC enforcement and reports about AI price tests. The move raises fresh corporate‑oversight questions for the San Francisco company.

Amazon will eliminate about 16,000 corporate roles and give most U.S. staff 90 days to seek internal positions. The cuts follow October layoffs and could touch Bay Area teams.

Oakland’s It’s All Good Bakery — in the building that once housed the Black Panther Party’s first HQ — quietly shut in mid‑January after roughly 30 years. The future of the historic storefront is uncertain.

Moxy Uptown has stopped taking reservations and appears set to close, adding to a string of hotel troubles in downtown Oakland.

H Mart will open a 100,000-square-foot, two-story flagship at Pacific Commons in Fremont with a food hall, restaurants and a bar. Construction is expected later this year.

Chick-fil-A will open next Thursday at 2290 Oak Grove Road, a 5,363‑sq‑ft location the city cleared in 2024. The council approved the store without a drive‑thru and attached traffic mitigation conditions.

Boston Scientific is set to acquire Penumbra Inc. for roughly $14.5 billion to expand its vascular therapy products, with the transaction involving cash and stock.

Dave & Buster’s will occupy 55 Harrison in Jack London Square this spring, bringing games, big‑screen sports and new jobs as a new state law loosens waterfront rules.

November brought modest job gains to the Bay Area and California, but year‑to‑date totals through November still show net losses. The rebound is tentative.

Despite a 4.1% dip in trade volume, the Port of Oakland views the decline as stable, with a rise in exports and efficient operations despite fewer vessel calls.

Sprinkles Cupcakes abruptly closed its bakeries on Wednesday. Founder Candace Nelson confirmed the move on Instagram; employees say many got little notice.

Tokyo Central is opening a new store in Emeryville, offering a range of Japanese products and embodying the philosophy of Omotenashi hospitality. The grand opening includes a $10 gift certificate giveaway and other festivities.