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Starbucks has seen nearly $12 billion erased from its market value during the past month as sales reportedly have slowed amid tighter consumer wallets and growing labor strife — with some even speculating the chain has been hit by boycotts over the Israel-Gaza war.

Investors have grown wary that consumers will splash out on a pricey cup of joe during the holiday season when budgets get tighter, according to Bloomberg, citing sales data from JPMorgan analysts that signaled a material slowing at Starbucks in November.

Despite delivering better-than-expected sales growth of 8% in its fiscal fourth quarter, the coffeehouse’s share price has decelerated on a week-over-week basis, following trends in the snack and coffee industry.

When the markets opened on Monday, Starbucks’ stock dropped 1.6%, declining for a 11th consecutive session in what is the longest losing streak since Starbucks public debut in 1992. 

The rout erased 9.4% of Starbucks market value, a decline of nearly $12 billion.

As of early trading hours Thursday, the Seattle-based company’s share price was down roughly 6.5%, to $96.90, on a monthly basis.

When the coffeehouse chain’s share price started to decline, it was putting on its annual Red Cup Day.

The promotional event saw baristas handing out free red-colored, reusable, holiday-themed cups to customers on their coffee purchases on Nov. 16, though the festivities were overshadowed by a walkout.

Hundreds of workers represented by the Workers United union walked off the job on the notoriously busy day — demanding improved staffing and schedules — while non-unionized staffers endured one of the most infamously hard, understaffed days, as drink orders pile up and employees end up on the receiving end of abuse from frustrated customers over long wait times.

The protest was just the latest in Starbucks’ deep-rooted disagreements with the union.

Last month, the two entities filed warring lawsuits over the union’s social media post declaring “Solidarity with Palestine!” in the wake of Hamas deadly attacks.

After Workers United published the controversial statement in a since-deleted post on X last month — where it boasts nearly 100,000 followers — Starbucks swiftly moved to distance itself from the organization.

We unequivocally condemn acts of terrorism, hate and violence, and disagree with the statements and views expressed by Workers United and its members. Workers Uniteds words and actions belong to them, and them alone,” Starbucks said at the time.

The response was interpreted as a display of support for Israel over Palestine, prompting calls for a boycott. Despite Starbucks’ efforts to quell boycott calls, the hashtag #boycottstarbucks is still trending on social media.

According to TikTok’s Creative Center, a database that details user insights, the hashtag has been used in some 16,000 times over the past 30 days, generating a combined 167 million views.

On X, other social media users appear to be cheering Starbucks’ decline.

“I haven’t gone to Starbucks in months due to the boycotts and I am so happy to see less people there too,” a user who goes by Kate wrote.

“WE WON,” another chimed in while a slew of commenters said the slash in market cap was “deserved.”

When The Post reached out to Starbucks for comment, a company spokesperson pointed to a message from its chief partner officer, Sara Kelly, posted on Starbucks’ website last month.

“Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of hate, terrorism and violence,” Kelly wrote. “As a leadership team, we want to again express our deepest sympathy for those who have been killed, wounded, displaced and impacted following the heinous acts of terror, escalating violence and hate against the innocent in Israel and Gaza.”

Though Starbucks’ total value was down, its store sales at its 35,000-plus locations worldwide rose 8% for its 2023 fiscal year that ended in November.

Earlier this month, Starbucks said it would raise hourly pay for its US retail workers by at least 3% from 2024 after Workers United’s repeated pleas to give baristas an increased hourly base wage.

Staffers affiliated with Workers United which represents Starbucks staffers at 340 Starbucks locations across the US criticized the increase, calling it tone deaf given Starbucks recently-reported increases in revenue and the recent wage hikes won by auto workers.

Meanwhile, one of union’s founding organizers, Jaz Brisack, has previously voiced support for Palestinian terrorist Rasmea Odeh, who was involved in bombings in Jerusalem in 1969 and 1970.

Brisack penned an op-ed in the Daily Mississippian in 2017 that referred to Odeh as a political prisoner.

Odeh was freed by Israel as part of a prisoner exchange in 1980 but arrested in the US in 2013 after illegally entering the country in the 1990s.

She was deported to Jordan in 2017.

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Entertainment

Sexual assault civil trials against Kevin Spacey set for next year

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Sexual assault civil trials against Kevin Spacey set for next year

Kevin Spacey is set to face civil trials at the High Court later next year, over separate lawsuits filed by three men who have accused him of sexual assault.

A man called Ruari Cannon, who has waived his right to anonymity, and two other claimants who have not, alleged they were abused by the Hollywood actor at times between 2000 and 2015.

They are taking legal action at the High Court against Spacey, while Mr Cannon is also bringing action against London’s Old Vic theatre. The actor was artistic director there between 2004 and 2015.

Spacey, 66, has denied allegations of wrongdoing. He has formally denied two of the claims and is yet to file a defence to the court in the third, which was submitted in September.

In 2023, Spacey was acquitted of nine sex offences relating to four men in a criminal trial.

At a preliminary hearing for the civil cases at the High Court on Wednesday, Mrs Justice Lambert set a provisional three-week window for all three to be heard there in October 2026.

She said it is still to be determined whether the claims are heard in a single trial, or in three consecutive trials.

Lawyers had made arguments for and against hearing the cases together.

Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC, representing Mr Cannon and the other two claimants, known as LNP and GHI, said in written submissions that hearing the cases together would prevent Spacey and witnesses from having to give evidence more than once.

William McCormick KC, representing Spacey, said the case brought by the man known as LNP should be heard in the county court, separate from that of Mr Cannon and the third man.

Kevin Spacey pictured in Venice in August 2025. Pic: Invision/AP
Image:
Kevin Spacey pictured in Venice in August 2025. Pic: Invision/AP

In written submissions, he said: “On a rational analysis, the only common feature is Kevin Spacey.

“The fact that he met, or in the case of Cannon, is said to have met, each claimant in the context of his work at the Old Vic takes matters no further.

“The circumstances of the alleged assaults are markedly different and occur many years apart.”

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Business

Budget 2025: Are you a winner or loser?

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Budget 2025: Are you a winner or loser?

👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈

Will you be better or worse off than you were before Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced her tax and spending plans in her long-awaited budget?

From the minimum wage and scrapping of the two-child benefit cap to ISA caps and tax threshold freezes, Niall looks at how the budget will impact you with personal finance expert Iona Bain.

Producers: Tom Gillespie and Araminta Parker
Editor: Wendy Parker

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Politics

Budget 2025: What Rachel Reeves didn’t say

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Budget 2025: What Rachel Reeves didn't say

👉Listen to Politics at Sam and Anne’s on your podcast app👈

Has the chancellor done enough to save the government after weeks of official and unofficial briefings of the “most trailed budget in history”?

We knew Rachel Reeves was taking taxes to an all-time high before she was even on her feet in the Commons – thanks to the full budget being published by mistake on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s website – but what else was announced, and what didn’t she say?

Sam and Anne break down the budget and talk about:

• The smorgasbord of tax rises – taking it to an all-time high

• Britain’s economic outlook and downgrading of growth

• The opposition’s response to “the worst chancellor in history”

• A potential rebellion from her own MPs

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