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Inflation Drops Big in June; But Don’t Pop the Champagne Cork Just Yet

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Chart shows categories that contribute to inflation

Chalk this up to good economic news! Yesterday, the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) reading for the year through June shows that inflation continues to moderate, coming in at a reading of just 3% growth. That is well off the reading of 4% through May and much better than economists had anticipated.

But it is not yet time to open the champagne just yet, as we are likely to have another interest rate increase from the Federal Reserve Board (the Fed) later this month, and perhaps yet another one before the end of 2023 as they try to manhandle inflation down to their 2% target rate.

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Airzone HVAC Control Now Integrates with Lutron for Residential Installations

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Airzone HVAC control now integrates with Lutron Homeworks

Airzone, a maker of smart HVAC control solutions, announced today that it has launched a new integration with Lutron – a leading brand of lighting and shading solutions supported by many residential integrators. This integration brings precise temperature control and empowers HVAC energy efficiency via Lutron’s Homeworks home automation system.

Learn more about the Airzone integration with Lutron

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Voxx Intl 1st Qtr Fiscal ’24 Results Hit Hard; Premium Audio Sales Drop -32%

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Voxx International website

VOXX International Corporation (Voxx) (Nasdaq: VOXX) reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 and the numbers were not pretty. The first quarter is the period ending on May 31, 2023, and overall net sales n the quarter dropped by -13.1%, with a net loss increase of 65%. The hardest hit segment was the company’s Premium Audio Company division – home of brands like Onkyo, Pioneer, Integra, Elite, and more – which saw sales collapse by -32%.

Learn more about Voxx Intl’s rough first quarter of fiscal 2024

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Masimo Consumer Partners with Oasys Residential Technology Group

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Masimo Consumer, part of Masimo Corp (Nasdaq: MASI), announced today that it has formed a partnership with Oasys Residential Technology Group, a buying group of residential technology integrators that is part of the Nationwide Marketing Group. Formerly known as HTSN, the rebranded and rechartered Oasys Residential Technology Group recently held its inaugural launch event in May in Nashville with Strata-gee in attendance.

Learn more about Masimo Consumer at Oasys

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Jan Tulloch Co Acquired by Redwood Marketing

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Redwood Marketing logo

Redwood Marketing, Inc. continues an ambitious growth strategy by acquiring another Northern California manufacturers sales representative group, the Jan Tulloch Company. Both groups are based in Northern California, and the deal is expected to close by July 1, 2023.

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B&W Announces Two New ‘Signature’ Models in Its Vaunted 800 Series Line

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New B&W 801 D4 Signature

Can your very best products get even better? Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), part of Masimo Consumer Audio (formerly Sound United), have shown consistently over the years that by applying technological refinements and special custom finishes, their models carrying the “Signature” designation deliver both performance upgrades and dramatically unique visual design. Signature models exist in a few B&W series, but it is especially noteworthy when the designation is applied to their vaunted 800 Series – as the company just announced today.

See more on new B&W 800 Series Signature models

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Masimo Shareholders Elect Politan Nominees to Board; Sound United Future is Cloudy

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Politan director nominees who won their seat on the board

Masimo Corp. [NASDAQ: MASI] shareholders voted to elect two new independent board candidates nominated by activist investor Politan Capital Management, including Politan’s Chief Investment Officer Quentin Koffey, as reported by Reuters. The election took place on Monday, June 26th at the annual stockholder’s meeting, and it was announced late in the day that the Politan candidates prevailed.

The news is a shocking repudiation of the existing Masimo Board and CEO Joe Kiani – and it puts Sound United’s future with the company in serious doubt.

Learn more about Masimo stockholders voting with Politan

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Nationwide Launches Ellipsys, A New Commercial Integrator Buying Group

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Ellipsys commercial technology group, part of Nationwide

Nationwide Marketing Group announced on Wednesday the launch of a new buying group targeted at the commercial integration channel called Ellipsys. Part of its strategy to build its overall membership organization to 1,000 members, Ellipsys actually made its debut, sort of a soft launch, last week at InfoComm in Orlando.

Learn more about Ellipsys commercial integration group

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Audio Research Corp Begins Its Next Chapter as AR Tube Audio Corporation

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Minnesota Judicial Branch logo

The Minnesota District Court for the Fourth Judicial District in the County of Hennepin held a hearing on Tuesday to determine the final disposition of the insolvent Audio Research Corporation which is operating under Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (ABC) – a form of receivership. The assignee in this case, Patrick Finn of Lighthouse Management Group had executed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with Acora Acoustics and was seeking an order from the judge to approve the APA and the transfer of the assets free and clear of any and all liens to Acora Acoustics.

See more on this end of one era of Audio Research…and the beginning of the next

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Big AI Backer Google Quietly Warns Its Staff About Chatbots, Even Bard

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Google's Bard screen

Are Your Employees Opening Your Company Up to Liability?

Alphabet, Inc. (Google) seems to find itself caught up in an unusual paradox. On the one hand, it is outwardly and aggressively marketing Bard, its own generative AI chatbot – while on the other hand, it is inwardly…but quietly…warning its own employees about the dangers of AI chatbots. This is according to a report by Reuters based on independent information from four different sources, each in a position to know.

See more on Google’s AI chatbot paradox

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