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• Department stores have changed dramatically over the last 100 years.
• Department stores once sold necessities. Now, many are struggling to remain in business.
• While some classic chains cease to exist, other retailers have found ways to increase sales.

In the early 1900s, department stores existed to sell necessities, including food, home goods, and apparel.

Today, many luxury department stores are struggling to survive.

The rise of the internet and surge in online sales have placed a major strain on department stores. Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus, became the latest department retailer to file for bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Take a look at how department stores have changed over the last 100 years.

In the early 1900s, department stores were focused on selling the necessities.

Core products included clothing and home goods. During times of war, the necessities on sale included military jackets, coats, and accessories.

That’s why Harrods, a famous department store in London, featured an in-house tailoring room throughout World War I. The space was utilized to alter used uniforms and sell new ones.

Department stores still sell the basics, but novelty items are also typically present.

You can find everything from household tools and fashionable clothes to toys and knickknacks at modern department stores — they seem to sell everything, in an apparent bid to compete with online retailers.

Harrods also sells store-branded items, including bags, stationery, and teddy bears.

Leading up to the 1930s, department stores were often crowded.

Around 1929, people were encouraged to shop in order to help boost the nation’s sinking economy, Fortune reported.

But that same year, the stock market crashed, and the Great Depression officially began. The period lasted for 10 years, causing major layoffs, failing banks, and mass poverty.

Today’s department stores rarely see such large crowds, aside from major shopping events like Black Friday.

Even during major holiday sales, many modern shoppers still prefer to shop online from the comfort of their homes.

In 2025, shoppers in the US were projected to spend a record $11.7 billion online on Black Friday, an 8.3% increase from 2024.

It marked a contrast from the wild Black Friday scenes that could be seen in stores in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 1920s, employees worked in department store basements to make change for cashiers upstairs.

In large stores that existed across multiple floors, vacuum systems transported the change upstairs through tubes.

None of those “tube rooms” are needed anymore, thanks to computers and credit cards.

Modern shoppers often don’t even have to interact with a cashier if they don’t want to. Instead, they can use touchscreen self-checkout machines to purchase products from many department stores.

Starting in 1924, Macy’s celebrated the holidays with its first annual “Christmas Parade.”

Live animals such as elephants were included in the early days of the Macy’s parade. Balloons depicting popular characters such as Mickey Mouse appeared a little later in the ’30s.

The name has since been changed to the “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”

Other aspects of the yearly tradition have also been changed. For example, live animals have been replaced with people dressed in costumes, and giant marching bands have become a staple. Tons of celebrities have also appeared on floats.

Minimal merchandise was showcased in store window displays throughout the ’40s.

Beginning in the 1870s at Macy’s, some chain retailers in New York City have made it a tradition to decorate store-front windows each holiday season.

There was some art to these displays, as props were placed alongside mannequins and merchandise to create a scene.

Contemporary display windows are unlike anything of the past.

Modern department stores often incorporate technology, moving props, and bright lights into window displays.

As early as 1923, Barneys New York was a popular department store.

Barneys New York was created by a man named Barney Pressman when he pawned his wife’s engagement ring and opened a shop on Seventh Avenue and 17th Street in New York City.

By the ’60s, Barney’s son, Fred, had turned the location into a luxury store, and the company became a national sensation throughout the 1990s and 2000s. By 2019, there were 22 stores in the US.

However, the chain faced difficulties and shuttered all stores in 2020.

Barneys New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2019 and closed all remaining stores in February 2020.

Bonwit Teller was once a prominent luxury department store with a flagship location in New York City.

The store was known for selling a range of high-end women’s clothing inside a luxurious Art Deco building. It grew to more than a dozen locations across cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia, and Columbia, South Carolina.

By 2000, every Bonwit Teller store had gone out of business.

In 1979, the Bonwit Teller company was sold from its original owners to outside corporations. Ten years later, in 1989, the store filed for bankruptcy and began shutting all of its stores, with its last location closing in 2000.

While the flagship Bonwit Teller store would have been exempt from the closure, the building was purchased by Donald Trump in 1979, who demolished it to build Trump Tower.

The Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York City opened in 1924.

Saks Fifth Avenue was once a bustling destination for luxury shoppers. At 650,000 square feet, the store spans an entire city block.

Saks Global filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Saks Global’s 2024 acquisition of Neiman Marcus for $2.7 billion left the company in debt and struggling to pay luxury vendors, some of whom have withheld inventory.

Business Insider reporter Madeline Berg visited the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store the day Saks Global announced it was filing for bankruptcy and found it to be “nearly empty” with little foot traffic.

• Grok users can still make sexualized images of real people within the X and Grok apps, just not by tagging the @Grok account.
• I tried the Grok tool on images of myself. It quickly took off my clothes.
• Elon Musk’s xAI faced backlash after X users created sexualized AI images of women and minors.

Grok is still more than willing to generate sexualized AI images of real people. After doing some tests, I quickly found out that it’s still possible — you just have to use the X and Grok apps.

Over the past few weeks, Elon Musk’s AI image-generation tool has faced backlash for its willingness to digitally undress images of real women and minors, placing them in clear bikinis or underwear. XAI, the company that developed Grok and owns X, first limited image generation to premium users. Then, as criticism continued, it announced on Thursday it was preventing Grok from generating NSFW requests of real people when tagged on X.

But Grok is available beyond the @Grok account. It’s also a stand-alone web and mobile application, as well via a tab within the X social-media app. On those versions, Grok complied with my requests for images such as “make shirtless” or “take off pants.”

How easy is it to undress a real person with Grok? It takes mere seconds, I found.

What Grok can (and can’t) do

I used myself as the guinea pig for the Imagine tool in the Grok app, which lets users change and modify their photos with text prompts. First, I uploaded a photo of myself and asked Grok, “Take off my shirt.” It did it easily. What about: “Take off my pants.” Again, easy.

I tried: “Put me in underwear.” This attempt was moderated. Maybe: “Put me in boxer briefs.” Success.

Grok Imagine can also turn images into videos. Could I create videos of myself getting undressed? I quickly learned I could — the tool made videos of me both taking off my shirt and pants in a few tries.

Much of X’s safety announcement is about “revealing clothing.” I asked the Grok app: “Put me in a jockstrap.” To my shock, it obeyed.

For the record, the tool would not show genitalia — but it got pretty close. I expected my request to “take off all my clothes” would get moderated. Instead, it made me naked and but placed a hand over my crotch.

Would it change if the photo wasn’t of myself, the user? I uploaded a new photo, this time using “their” instead of “my.” (“Take off their shirt,” I commanded.) It performed all the same functions. What if I made it even clearer? I chose another photo of myself, clearly referring to it as another person. Once again, it disrobed the photo.

So, what did X’s safety announcement do?

On Wednesday, as the online backlash continued to rage, the Safety account on X posted an update to image generation. The platform had “zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content,” it wrote.

So why can Grok still create sexualized images of real people?

The update was specific to the @Grok account on X. The controversy exploded when users saw tagged posts asking the Grok account to disrobe images. Thus, the change appears only in that specific account, as The Verge pointed out.

X users can still make sexualized photos, too. They just have to click on the Grok tab in the app, rather than tagging @Grok.

Grok also said that it was geoblocking sexualized image generation on X in territories where it was illegal. However, Business Insider’s Robert Scammell used a VPN to change his location to Indonesia and Malaysia — countries that have banned Grok and have anti-pornography laws — but the AI still created bikini shots in the Grok tab on X.

XAI didn’t respond to my request for comment.

• Amazon is pushing back against Saks Global’s bankruptcy financing plan.
• Saks Global filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week.
• Amazon warned it may seek “more drastic measures” if Saks doesn’t “resolve” its concerns.

Amazon’s business partnership with luxury retailer Saks Global has hit a sour note.

The e-commerce giant invested $475 million of preferred equity in Saks Global — the owner of department stores Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman — in December 2024.

Now, Amazon says its stake is “presumptively worthless,” and it has asked a federal judge to reject the retailer’s bankruptcy financing plans, which it says will further diminish its chances of recovery.

“That equity investment is now presumptively worthless after Saks continuously failed to meet its budgets, burned through hundreds of millions of dollars in less than a year, and ran up additional hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices owed to its retail partners,” Amazon’s attorneys wrote in a court filing on Wednesday, just hours after Saks Global filed for Chapter 11 with a $1.75 billion financing package.

Amazon said in its motion filed in Texas federal bankruptcy court that it “hopes” Saks will “resolve” its concerns, but warned that it may be forced to “seek more drastic remedies,” including the appointment of an examiner or a trustee.

Amazon invested the $475 million into Saks as the department store giant finalized its acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group in a $2.7 billion deal, according to the court filing.

Amazon said the investment was conditioned on Saks entering into a commercial agreement with Amazon to sell Saks products on Amazon’s website under a “Saks at Amazon” storefront.

Under the agreement, Saks agreed to pay Amazon a referral fee for Saks-branded goods sold on the online platform and guaranteed at least $900 million in payments over eight years to the megacorporation.

Amazon’s attorneys argued the bankruptcy plan would hurt the company and other creditors by loading Saks with additional debt. In court filings, Amazon said the financing would “saddle” Saks with “billions of dollars of obligation for no material benefit” and improperly use the value of Saks Global’s flagship entities to prop up other debtors at the expense of their creditors, including Amazon.

Meanwhile, the federal judge overseeing Saks’ bankruptcy case granted the company approval at a court hearing on Wednesday to tap an initial round of its financing.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider on Thursday and representatives for Saks declined to comment,

• The “Bridgerton” season four world premiere was held at the Palais Brongniart in Paris on Wednesday.
• The cast arrived in red-carpet looks to celebrate the new season.
• Some stars stunned in outfits with subtle regency flair, while others could have stood out more.

It’s almost time to return to the ton, gentle reader.

The first episodes of season four of “Bridgerton” will drop on Netflix on January 29, with part two premiering on February 26. The season focuses on Benedict Bridgerton’s love story with Sophie Baek. Luke Thompson will reprise his role as Benedict, while Yerin Ha will play Sophie.

Ahead of the show’s Netflix release, the cast of “Bridgerton” gathered at the Palais Brongniart in Paris on Wednesday to celebrate the season’s world premiere in red-carpet style.

Some stars wore high-fashion outfits that nodded to their characters, while others missed the mark with lackluster suits or dresses that didn’t fit the event.

Take a look at some of the best and worst outfits from the “Bridgerton” season four premiere.

Yerin Ha’s ice-blue gown was elegant and glamorous.

Ha, who stars as Sophie Baek in season four of “Bridgerton,” arrived at the premiere in an ice-blue gown designed by Prada.

The dress had a bedazzled halter neckline that matched the beading on a cutout on the bodice. The floor-length skirt featured two large pleats that cascaded into a train that trailed behind Ha as she walked the red carpet. Sparkly jewelry completed Ha’s glamorous look.

The ensemble looked like a modern take on Cinderella’s iconic blue dress. It was fitting since Julia Quinn’s “An Offer from a Gentleman,” upon which season four is based, is a retelling of “Cinderella.”

Luke Thompson’s suit felt a bit too one-note.

As he stepped into the leading role of “Bridgerton,” Thompson wore an all-black ensemble. He paired a black suit with a black button-down shirt, a black tie, and a black flower on his lapel. The only color on the look was a sparkly tie clip.

The look was stylish, but the black pieces blended so well that it became difficult to distinguish the different elements, particularly the flower and pin.

Some pops of color may have made the outfit stand out more.

Claudia Jessie’s floral-patterned suit looked fresh on the red carpet.

Jessie, who plays Eloise Bridgerton, chose an oversize suit for the event.

The double-breasted jacket and pants were black, but they were adorned with an assortment of flowers in various colors to give the suit some pop. Jessie paired the suit with a slicked-back hairstyle and several earrings and rings, adding a high-fashion edge.

Golda Rosheuvel’s sweater dress was chic, but it didn’t feel quite right for the occasion.

Rosheuvel, who plays Queen Charlotte, wore a floor-length sweater dress from Sonney for the premiere. The burnt orange look had a slight sparkle and a cowl neckline, and Rosheuvel wore a matching coat and color-coordinated earrings.

The outfit was stylish, but it didn’t feel formal enough for the red-carpet event. It may have worked better for a daytime press event, or Rosheuvel could have chosen a dress with the same silhouette in a different fabric.

Victor Alli’s tie-free suit was one of the best looks of the night.

Alli, who plays Lord John Stirling on “Bridgerton,” wore an oversize black suit to the event.

He paired the suit with a white shirt, which he wore without a tie, and it peeked out from the cuffs of his jacket. He added a small silver brooch to his lapel for a chic addition.

The modern take on a tuxedo exuded high fashion.

Hannah Dodd stunned in a daring set.

Dodd, who married John Stirling as Francesca Bridgerton in season three of “Bridgerton,” chose a black Giambattista Valli Paris set for the premiere.

The top was a black, cropped shrug with a V-neck and a button closure that revealed her midriff. It was paired with a low-waisted, calf-length skirt that poofed out around her, giving it a ball-gown feel despite the modern silhouette.

Black heels and silver jewelry tied Dodd’s stylish look together.

Different accessories could have made a difference in Adjoa Andoh’s red-carpet look.

The Lady Danbury actor’s custom Torlowei gown for the premiere was beautiful, with a high neckline and black lace detailing.

However, Andoh’s open-toed black shoes didn’t quite match the dress, as they seemed less formal than the gown. Different shoes and statement earrings could have better accented the ensemble.

Texture took Katie Leung’s black dress to the next level.

Leung, who will make her debut on “Bridgerton” as Lady Araminta Gun, walked the red carpet in a black Toni Maticevski dress.

Its strapless, scooped neckline formed points for a touch of drama before flowing into a corset bodice. The skirt was structured, poofing out around her waist in a dramatic ball-gown shape before flowing back into a pencil skirt. The center of the dress was made of ribbed fabric, adding dimension.

Chopard jewelry and strappy Christian Louboutin heels completed the look. Between the classic detailing, modern flair, and dark color, the dress was the perfect red-carpet companion for the wicked stepmother role Leung will play on the show.

Series creator Shonda Rhimes sparkled in a glitzy silver gown.

Rhimes looked every bit the queen of the ton in the silver gown she wore to the premiere, which was styled by Dana Asher Levine.

The strapless gown had a slight point in the center of the straight neckline, and it cinched at Rhimes’ waist with a belt. The entire gown was covered in silver and bronze sequins arranged in vertical strips, shimmering as Rhimes walked.

The pièce de résistance was a cape that coordinated with the gown. It sat on Rhimes’ shoulder and flowed to the floor, giving the look a regal edge that was more than fitting for the occasion.

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Bruno Mars is finally hitting the road in 2026 with The Romantic Tour, his first major global stadium tour in nearly a decade. The trek supports his long‑awaited fourth solo album, The Romantic, scheduled for release on February 27, and kicks off on April 10 in Las Vegas before heading to cities across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. If you’re ready to see him live, I’ve broken down how to get Bruno Mars tickets below.

Bruno Mars first broke onto the music scene with his debut album Doo‑Wops & Hooligans in 2010 and quickly became known for blending pop, R&B, funk, soul, and reggae influences with energetic live performances. Over the past decade and a half, he has racked up several Grammy Awards, chart‑topping hits like “Just the Way You Are,” “Locked Out of Heaven,” “Uptown Funk,” and “24K Magic,” plus massive success as both a solo artist and as part of the duo Silk Sonic with Anderson .Paak. His residency runs — most notably at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas — and earlier tours have cemented his reputation as one of the most dynamic entertainers of his generation.

With The Romantic Tour spanning stadiums across continents and bringing Mars’ signature showmanship to global audiences, 2026 promises to be one of the most exciting years yet for fans eager to see him live again after years of residency and international performances. Keep reading to see the venue lineup, and check out tickets now on StubHub and Vivid Seats.

Bruno Mars’ 2026 tour schedule

The tour itinerary features headline dates at major venues, including MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, SoFi Stadium in California, Wembley Stadium in London, Stade de France in Paris, and Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, among others, and is set to conclude on October 14, 2026, in Vancouver, BC. Opening acts include Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee) throughout the run, with Leon Thomas, Victoria Monét, and RAYE joining on select dates. Presales for the tour began in mid‑January.

• April 10, 2026 — Las Vegas, NV at Allegiant Stadium
• April 11, 2026 — Las Vegas, NV at Allegiant Stadium
• April 14, 2026 — Glendale, AZ at State Farm Stadium
• April 18, 2026 — Arlington, TX at Globe Life Field
• April 19, 2026 — Arlington, TX at Globe Life Field
• April 22, 2026 — Houston, TX at NRG Stadium
• April 25, 2026 — Atlanta, GA at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field
• April 26, 2026 — Atlanta, GA at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field
• April 29, 2026 — Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium
• May 2, 2026 — Landover, MD at Northwest Stadium
• May 3, 2026 — Landover, MD at Northwest Stadium
• May 6, 2026 — Nashville, TN at Nissan Stadium
• May 9, 2026 — Detroit, MI at Ford Field
• May 10, 2026 — Detroit, MI at Ford Field
• May 13, 2026 — Minneapolis, MN at U.S. Bank Stadium
• May 16, 2026 — Chicago, IL at Soldier Field
• May 17, 2026 — Chicago, IL at Soldier Field
• May 20, 2026 — Columbus, OH at Ohio Stadium
• May 23, 2026 — Toronto, ON at Rogers Stadium
• May 24, 2026 — Toronto, ON at Rogers Stadium
• May 27, 2026 — Toronto, ON at Rogers Stadium
• May 28, 2026 — Toronto, ON at Rogers Stadium
• June 20, 2026 — Paris, FR at Stade de France
• June 21, 2026 — Paris, FR at Stade de France
• June 26, 2026 — Berlin, DE at Olympiastadion
• June 28, 2026 — Berlin, DE at Olympiastadion
• June 29, 2026 — Berlin, DE at Olympiastadion
• July 2, 2026 — Amsterdam, NL at Johan Cruijff ArenA
• July 4, 2026 — Amsterdam, NL at Johan Cruijff ArenA
• July 5, 2026 — Amsterdam, NL at Johan Cruijff ArenA
• July 7, 2026 — Amsterdam, NL at Johan Cruijff ArenA
• July 10, 2026 — Madrid, ES at Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• July 11, 2026 — Madrid, ES at Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• July 14, 2026 — Milan, IT at Stadio San Siro
• July 15, 2026 — Milan, IT at Stadio San Siro
• July 18, 2026 — London, UK at Wembley Stadium
• July 19, 2026 — London, UK at Wembley Stadium
• July 22, 2026 — London, UK at Wembley Stadium
• July 24, 2026 — London, UK at Wembley Stadium
• July 25, 2026 — London, UK at Wembley Stadium
• July 28, 2026 — London, UK at Wembley Stadium
• August 21, 2026 — East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium
• August 22, 2026 — East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium
• August 25, 2026 — East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium
• August 26, 2026 — East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium
• August 29, 2026 — Pittsburgh, PA at Acrisure Stadium
• September 1, 2026 — Philadelphia, PA at Lincoln Financial Field
• September 5, 2026 — Foxborough, MA at Gillette Stadium
• September 9, 2026 — Indianapolis, IN at Lucas Oil Stadium
• September 12, 2026 — Tampa, FL at Raymond James Stadium
• September 16, 2026 — New Orleans, LA at Caesars Superdome
• September 19, 2026 — Miami Gardens, FL at Hard Rock Stadium
• September 23, 2026 — San Antonio, TX at Alamodome
• September 26, 2026 — Air Force Academy, CO at Falcon Stadium
• October 2, 2026 — Inglewood, CA at SoFi Stadium
• October 3, 2026 — Inglewood, CA at SoFi Stadium
• October 10, 2026 — Santa Clara, CA at Levi’s Stadium
• October 11, 2026 — Santa Clara, CA at Levi’s Stadium
• October 14, 2026 — Vancouver, BC at BC Place

Browse Bruno Mars tickets on StubHub and Vivid Seats.

How much are Bruno Mars tickets?

For fans who missed out on initial sales for Bruno Mars’ The Romantic Tour, resale marketplaces such as StubHub and Vivid Seats offer a way to still snag seats — but prices can vary widely depending on date, city, and seat quality. On Vivid Seats, resale listings for many 2026 The Romantic Tour stops currently show some of the most affordable options starting around $213 to $239 for standard seating in North American markets like Charlotte, NC, and Houston, TX. These lower‑end prices make it possible to find budget‑friendly resale tickets without breaking the bank, especially for early or less in‑demand dates.

At the higher end of the resale spectrum, demand for premium seats, particularly in major cities and stadium shows, can push prices significantly upward. For example, listings for European stops such as San Siro in Milan have resale prices around $784 or more, and some shows in Paris’ Stade de France also show elevated pricing. StubHub’s resale inventory reflects similar trends, with some listings showing ticket prices ranging from about $327 up to $741+ for popular dates and better seats backed by its FanProtect Guarantee.

Overall, if you’re shopping resale for Bruno Mars tickets, you can generally expect to find cheaper resale seats in the low‑to‑mid‑$200s while premium sections and high‑demand listings push prices into the $700+ range or more. Because resale ticket availability and pricing can change rapidly as shows sell out and dates approach, comparing listings across multiple platforms like StubHub and Vivid Seats is a smart way to find the best value for your preferred concert.

See more: Is StubHub legit? | Vegas Sphere tickets | What’s showing in Las Vegas | Kenny Chesney tickets | Eagles tickets | Dolly Parton tickets | Linkin Park tickets | Backstreet Boys tickets

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• Trump has called for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates.
• Bilt is rolling out a new suite of 3 credit cards offering 10% interest for the first year.
• The move is voluntary. Trump would need to go through Congress to force credit card companies to cap rates.

President Donald Trump wants credit card interest rates capped at 10%. At least one company has already moved to do so.

Bilt Rewards announced a new suite of credit cards on Wednesday called “Bilt 2.0,” which will offers new cardholders 10% interest rates for their first year.

Bilt is known for allowing users to earn rewards on rent and mortgage payments without the related fees associated with other credit cards.

The company unveiled three cards, including:

• The Bilt Blue Card, with no annual fee;
• The Bilt Obsidian Card, with a $95 annual fee;
• The Bilt Palladium Card, with a $495 annual fee.

After one year, interest rates for new cardholders will increase to between 26.74% to 37.47%, depending on the card.

Trump called for the 10% cap in a Truth Social post on Friday, saying that he will “no longer let the American Public be ‘ripped off’ by Credit Card Companies that are charging Interest Rates of 20 to 30%, and even more.”

For now, any action taken by credit card companies is voluntary. Trump can’t make the change by himself — he’ll need an act of Congress in order to do so.

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri have introduced a bill to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for a period of five years. Trump also called Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on Monday to discuss the issue.

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has thrown cold water on the idea, saying that Trump “probably had not thought through” the potential downsides of the policy, including the possibility that credit card companies would “just stop lending money” or “cap what people are able to borrow at a very low amount.”

Business leaders have offered mixed reviews of Trump’s proposal, with some making the same argument as Johnson.

“An interest rate cap is not something that we would, or could, support, frankly,” Citi’s chief financial officer, Mark Mason, said on a call with reporters. “At the end of the day, I think an interest rate cap would restrict access to credit to those who need it the most, and frankly would have a deleterious impact on the economy.”