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With prices at historic highs, Valentines Day is likely to cost you extra this year. But if youre up for a romantic night in, the bill may not be as bad as you think.

According to data from LPL Financial, despite decades-high inflation levels, the holiday remains relatively affordable, compared to inflation in the broader economy. The firms Valentines Day Index, which tracks the annual prices of four ways to celebrate jewelry, a night in, a night out, and a vacation getaway came in at 7%, near the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation of 7.5%.

But beneath the surface, certain components of the index cost much lower and may be better options this year, to avoid breaking the bank. The cost of a night in (a home-cooked meal, wine, flowers and candy) and a night out (dinner at a restaurant, a sitter, and theater tickets) were up 4.0% and 4.7%, respectively, below the broader inflation indexes.

Thankfully, inflation hasnt hit Valentines Day as hard as the broad economy, Ryan Detrick, LPLs chief market strategist, said in a note.

According to data from LPL Financial, despite decades-high inflation levels, the holiday remains relatively affordable compared to inflation in the broader economy.

While prices for candy, a home-cooked meal, and flowers were mostly in line with headline inflation, a glass of wine has seen next to no price increase at all. LPL Financial emphasized that the Bureau of Labor Statistics does specifically track the price of wine for home consumption.

Menu items for the home-cooked meal portion of a night in could run the bill a bit higher, however, with meat, poultry, fish, and eggs up about 12% in 2021. Fruit and vegetables were up 5% last year, while the increase in prices for dessert was slightly lower at 2%.

Valentine's Day: A heart-shaped decoration and a couple sitting at the table are seen in the restaurant in Krakow, Poland on February 13, 2022. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Celebrating with a vacation getaway may not be the most cost-efficient way to tell a significant other you love them this year. LPL indicated in its data that the component came in at 11.9% on an annualized basis, a notable jump above the broader inflation index. Meanwhile, jewelry saw a price gain in 2020 and 2021 combined, at 4.1% annualized, LPLs data reflected.

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Although certain components of Valentines Day remain lower than headline inflation, each component is still at a 10-year high, Detrick points out. The Labor Departments Consumer Price Index (CPI), which notched a steeper-than-expected 7.5% increase over the year ended January, marked the largest annual jump since 1982.

To add to that, the CPI posted an unexpected 0.6% increase on a month-over-month basis, while economists had anticipated the print to decelerate.

The National Retail Federation estimated that Valentines Day spending is expected to reach $23.9 billion this year, up from $21.8 billion in 2021 and the second-highest year on record, according to its annual survey.

And based on the metrics, that money could be getting a lot less amid elevated inflation.

In the big picture, Valentines Day is the ultimate budget holiday since time spent together is really what its all about, Detrick said. Inflation cant touch that.

Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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How inflation impacts the cost of Valentine's Day celebrations - Yahoo Finance

As concerns around inflation soar, American consumers outlook on the trajectory of the U.S. economy has deteriorated, worrying some experts that negative attitudes could dampen expenditure and put a dent in economic growth.

The University of Michigans closely-watched consumer sentiment index fell to 61.7 in early February, hitting the lowest level since October 2011. January saw a reading of 67.2.

Recent declines in the measure have been driven by weakening personal financial prospects amid rising inflation, less confidence in the government's economic policies, and the least favorable long-term economic outlook in a decade, the University of Michigan said in its latest report Friday.

The reading follows fresh CPI data out Thursday that showed U.S. inflation accelerated last month in the fastest rise since 1982, with prices across a wide range of goods and services soaring further amid lingering shortages and supply chain disruptions.

Incredibly, the consumer is polling negatively on almost everything when it comes to the economy, and if their confidence doesnt improve, the economy could be headed towards the cliff of recession, FWDBONDS chief economist Christopher S. Rupkey said in a note. We almost have to recheck our figures because the consumer is clearly in a deep funk and if they decide to call it quits then the economic growth we have seen is going to fade fast.

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: An air traveler uses a credit card to pay for items January 28, 2022 at a retail shop in John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)

Notably, the February decline was spurred by a decline in households with incomes of $100,000 or more. Among this cohort, their Sentiment Index fell by 16.1% from last month, and 27.5% from last year, the report said, also indicating the Sentiment Index reflects the onset of a sustained downturn in consumer spending.

Typically, increasing consumer sentiment is predictive of increased consumer spending, while if consumers become less certain about their financial prospects, they could be likely to spend less money.

A downbeat consumer in retreat risks sending the economy over the cliff if they dont start spending more at the shops and malls, Rupkey also wrote.

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A measure in the survey of future expectations declined to a read of 57.4, also marking the lowest figure in more than 10 years. To add to the glum, consumers now expect inflation at a rate of 5% over the next year, compared to the 4.9% reported last month.

The big drop in consumer sentiment through February is concerning, Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank, said in a note, pointing out the indicator is down 26.6 points from its recovery-to-date high in April 2021 through the February preliminary release.

The decline compares to a 21.7 point drop between February and August 2011, a period in which inflation surged and the economy narrowly dodged a double-dip recession, with real GDP contracting in both the first and third quarters of 2011, he said.

All else equal, the recent drop in consumer sentiment could signal serious trouble ahead, but all else is hugely different, thank goodness, Adams added, elaborating that household wealth has surged since the start of the pandemic on stimulus payments, growing savings and rising wages.

Although average hourly earnings are lagging inflation, continued growth of real consumer spending power is expected with aggregate earned income still outpacing inflation due to the combination of rapid job growth and wage gains, according to Adams.

With case counts falling rapidly and household balance sheets much better positioned to absorb inflation than in the dark days of 2011, early 2022s drop in consumer sentiment is unlikely to signal an outright contraction of economic activity, Adams said. Perceptions of the economy will likely improve in coming months as the Omicron wave and supply chain problems fade and inflation begins to moderate.

Morgan Stanley chief economist Seth Carpenter told Yahoo Finance Live that the data shows as long as job gains continue, consumer spending tends to hold up.

Consumer sentiment numbers are a bit of a cautionary tale but fundamentals still look pretty good, said Carpenter.

Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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US consumers are 'in a deep funk': What that means for the economy - Yahoo Finance

The hottest car in America isnt a car, its a truck.

In its latest sales report, Ford revealed it sold over 8,000 Ford (F) Broncos in January. But try getting your hands on the all-new, full-size Ford Bronco SUV at retail prices its basically impossible.

People are paying huge dealer markups to get their hands on the Bronco, or flipping them on eBay if theyre able to get a good deal for one. Ford CEO Jim Farley even addressed the situation, warning he would crack down on those dealers implementing huge markups.

A lot of this has to do with chip and component shortages hurting supply, along with production problems Ford had with the hard top versions of the Bronco that held up output. But the biggest problem of all could be that the hot new off-road SUV, with oodles of brand cred, is too popular. In fact, Ford stopped taking Bronco reservations when its official tally topped 125,000 back in August.

But thats neither here nor there, or a problem for me at the moment. Ford kindly dropped off a Bronco in its Cyber Orange launch color for Yahoo Finance to review.

Ford Bronco (Credit: Pras Subramanian)

For those unfamiliar with the Bronco, the original truck debuted in 1966 as a compact type of two-door off-road vehicle, that later grew in size to compete with full-size competitors like the Chevy Blazer. Ford discontinued the Bronco in 1996 due to lack of consumer interest in two-door, full-size SUVs.

But as SUV popularity grew, and Jeeps (STLA) Wrangler basically carved out an entire market for itself for the off-road focused, sand-dune set, Ford saw an opportunity. After years of teasing it, Ford finally showed off the Bronco in June of 2020 as a 2021 model.

The sixth-generation Bronco as we have it today is a full size, body-on-frame SUV that comes in two- and four-door models, offers two engines (a turbo I-4 cylinder or a twin-turbo V6), and comes in several trims based on what kind of activities a buyer envisions doing with the truck. It also can come with a manual transmission (!) with the base I-4, and can be optioned with the off-road focused "Sasquatch" package that can be added to any trim level.

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Ford Bronco (Credit: Pras Subramanian)

The two-door Bronco we tested came in Black Diamond trim (a more off-road oriented version), along with the 10-speed automatic transmission and V6 engine. Added to our Bronco was that aforementioned Sasquatch package, which adds a front-locking differential to our Black Diamonds rear-locking differential, 35-inch tires with 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, a 4.7 final drive ratio, high-clearance suspension, and high-clearance fender flares. In short, this Bronco really looked the part.

Driving the Bronco around the streets of NYC where I live was hair-raising at times and a lot of fun. This truck is wide, with those big 35-inch tires and fender flares, so squeezing though narrow streets and darting through traffic can be challenge. But, you sit high up in the Bronco, and those big tires mean potholes, cracks, and ruts in the road mean nothing. Visibility is good (though blind spots are not great), and the truck's controls and touchscreen interface (Fords tried-and-true SYNC 4.0) are easy to use.

At highway speeds, the Bronco in Black Diamond trim can be a little rough. Theres not as much sound-deadening material and such to keep the sound out, so you hear a lot of wind noise, creaks, and the like. Though the truck itself was a little squirrelly at high speeds, it was surprisingly quiet riding on those big 35-inch off-round tires and raised suspension.

Ford Bronco (Credit: Pras Subramanian)

But it's off-road where the Bronco excels, and it was where I learned to really fall in love with the beast. My friends at Four Wheel Drive New York, led by the adventurous Shmuel Avital took me to some sand dunes by a lake in southern New Jersey. There we took some Wranglers, FJ Cruisers, and a couple Land Rovers through the brush and some deep mud ruts to the sandy dunes.

The Bronco is equipped with G.O.A.T. mode, or Goes Over Any Terrain mode, which gives you preset tailored driving settings like Sand, Slippery, Sport, Eco, and Normal, for whatever terrain you encounter. I selected Sand mode for the dunes, which engages four-wheel drive lock.

Though this was fine, my off-road buddies suggested just putting the Bronco in 4H (4 high) and locking the rear differential. Now we were in action driving at a higher speeds over and through the dunes, with immense traction and speed coming from that locked rear axle. I felt like we were dune racing out in Baja, and it was an incredible amount of fun.

It was wet where we were too, with lots of mud and loose, wet gravel. Here is where the Slippery mode helped a lot, where the terrain is loose, wet, and uneven, the advantage of having a two-speed transfer case with the 4-low setting was necessary.

Pushing the Bronco near its limits gave me an appreciation for the trucks capability and the sheer amount of fun you can have off-roading. It gave me a clearer understanding of why many enthusiasts do enjoy off-roading and why they devote so much time and resources to pursue these adventures. Similar to auto racing and track driving, off-roading gives you a deeper connection with the machine, where you are almost one with the machine. But in this case going slower is where the connection lies.

Ford Bronco (Credit: Pras Subramanian)

At the end of the day, taking the Bronco off-road is really where it shines. Its a shame that most buyers wont take this capable machine off paved roads, but they should.

The Bronco, just like its rival the Jeep Wrangler, is an adventure truck, capable on almost any terrain on Earth. Its raison d'etre is to take you anywhere, and it makes no apologies for its brawny and utilitarian looks as it takes you to your destination. And the buyers waiting months (and even years) to get their own Broncos wouldnt have it any other way.

The Ford Bronco Black Diamond edition starts at $36,845. Our test vehicle with options and delivery came in at $47,990.

Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.

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Ford Bronco review: Why its the hottest vehicle in America - Yahoo Finance

Philadelphia 76ers fans are going to have to wait a while longer to see James Harden make his Sixers debut.

The team announced Monday that Harden, who was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline last week, is out through the All-Star break as he rehabs his left hamstring.

As a result, Harden will not play in the 76ers two games this week at home versus the Boston Celtics on Tuesday and at the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. He will be reevaluated after the break, the team said. That means the earliest Harden can make his debut in a 76ers uniform is Feb. 25 on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Additionally, Harden will not play in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. NBA commissioner Adam Silver chose Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen as his replacement, the league announced Monday.

Harden, a 10-time All-Star and former MVP, last played on Feb. 2 before missing the Nets next three games with left hamstring tightness. Just hours ahead of the trade deadline, Harden was traded along with Paul Millsap to Philadelphia in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks.

Harden arrived in Philadelphia on Saturday and took part in his first practice with the team earlier Monday.

He will be introduced at a news conference Tuesday alongside Millsap, director of basketball operations Daryl Morey, head coach Doc Rivers and team owner Josh Harris.

James Harden won't be available to play in Sunday's All-Star Game. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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James Harden out through All-Star break to rehab his hamstring, 76ers say - Yahoo Sports

More than any other major sport, the NFL has its legacies defined by championships. So when a Super Bowl is finished, we immediately shift into the legacy mode. Eventually, well need to discuss what the Los Angeles Rams title means for Sean McVay, or Matthew Stafford, or Aaron Donald.

With due respect to those interesting conversations, theyll wait for another day.

This moment, on my clipboard anyway, belongs to Cooper Kupp.

Kupp was the MVP of Super Bowl LVI, catching the go-ahead touchdown with 1:29 left. His fourth-down rush earlier on the drive saved LAs season. Kupp finished the day with eight catches, 92 yards, two scores and that seven-yard run.

Kupps Super Bowl MVP came a few days after his Offensive Player of the Year Award. And if the leagues MVP trophy was more about Most Outstanding Player instead of a treatise on what the word valuable means, Kupp probably wins that too. Kupp bagged the wide receiver triple crown, throwing an absurd 145-1,947-16 line at the league.

Kupps playoff run matches with the best in history. He had 33 catches in the four playoff games, one better than Larry Fitzgeralds run after the 2008 season. Kupps 478 yards only trail the 546 yards Fitzy posted in 2008. The six receiving touchdowns are also one shy of Fitzgerald.

Fitzgeralds 2008 regular season wasnt quite as dominant as Kupps 2021, though Fitzgerald was the WR1 in fantasy that year. He led the league in touchdown catches, finished fourth in catches, ranked second in yards. Its on the shortlist of the greatest wide receiver seasons ever, along with a handful of Jerry Rice seasons.

I know we want to be careful with recency bias as we analyze anything. And Rice isnt just the best receiver Ive ever seen, hes the best football player Ive ever seen.

But Cooper Kupp just had the best season regular-season and playoff performance both considered of all time.

For fantasy, of course, we need to look forward. To follow the Wayne Gretzky maxim, we skate to where the puck is headed, not where its been. Obviously, Kupp has to be projected for some regression in 2022, perhaps a big chunk of it. Hes also a little older than you might realize he turns 29 in June.

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That said, Stafford is still in LA, and I assume McVay is coming back, and the support pieces should be strong. If you want to pick Kupp first overall in your next draft, I wont tell you its wrong. Jonathan Taylor also merits consideration for that spot. Theres no one else Id consider at the top right now. Of course, we have months to change our minds and debate this thing out.

We watched all year and wondered how Kupp could consistently get so wide open. A lot of it speaks to McVays scheming, a lot of it ties to Kupps chemistry with Stafford. And we also have to nod to Kupps route-running skill, improvisation, understanding of space and leverage. And hes also dynamic after the catch, turning short and intermediate gains into game-breaking plays and end-zone visits on a regular basis.

Cooper Kupp showed off his elite talents in the Super Bowl. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

If the league had a way to solve Kupp, it would have shown up at some point in the last five months. No one found an answer key. Good luck in 2022, defensive coordinators and defensive backs.

Well go speed round with the rest of my Super Bowl quick-hitters and observations:

It was frustrating to see so much referee interference in the final two minutes of Sundays game, after three hours of appreciated hands-off officiating. Not that the Rams winning feels like an artificial result, of course. And you can argue that Tee Higgins got away with multiple fouls on his second touchdown, the long score that opened the second half.

You have to feel for Odell Beckham Jr., who suffered the dreaded non-contact injury in the middle of the second quarter. He already had a touchdown in the bag and perhaps he was headed for the days MVP (he also was likely to smash all of his primary Super Bowl props). Beckhams injury is feared to be a torn ACL; lousy timing entering free agency. Heres hoping he lands on another fun offense (or stays with the Rams, if thats even possible). This tank is far from empty.

[So many reasons to play Yahoo DFS: Learn more now and get in on the fun]

Cam Akers looked sluggish for most of the playoffs, but merely returning to football was a win for the second-year back, given that he tore his Achilles tendon in the summer. Expectations were probably too high for Akers in the playoff season, but as a result, they might be too low when the 2022 draft session opens. The Rams still view him as a featured back, perhaps a true bell cow.

Maybe I missed an injury to Joe Mixon, but I didnt understand why the Bengals looked to Samaje Perine with so many of their critical touches. Let your best players be your best players.

Joe Burrow absorbed nine sacks in the win at Tennessee, and seven more in the Super Bowl, but youd never know by the expression on his face. Hes as unflappable as it gets. The Bengals have the cap resources to fix their offensive line in the offseason, and thats the only thing this offense is missing. Burrows arrow is clearly pointed up; he finished QB8 in his second season, but Ill rank him higher than that next year.

JaMarr Chase had seven rushing attempts in the regular season, then six more in the playoffs. A few of those, of course, were horizontal passes. Id like to see the Bengals get more creative with Chases touches next year; if he doesnt have at least 125 rushing yards in the regular season, somethings gone wrong. Open up the playbook.

Tee Higgins is probably destined to be Robin to Chases Batman for the foreseeable future, but he likely was Sundays MVP had the Bengals won the game. Higgins is still just 23, celebrating a birthday in January. Its unfair to have this kind of WR talent in your No. 2 chair.

If healthy, I could see C.J. Uzomah stepping into the top 12 at tight end next year. Hes got enough receiving and YAC chops to threaten a 680-yard, seven-touchdown kind of season. And Burrow loves throwing quickly and between the numbers on plays when the pass blocking falls apart quickly.

Yes, Id keep kickers in fantasy football. Because its really fun when you stumble onto an Adam Vinatieri, or a Justin Tucker, or an Evan McPherson. Some guys have range out to the parking lot.

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Super Bowl Debrief: The year belonged to Cooper Kupp - Yahoo Sports

Kyler Murray raised more than a few eyebrows last week when he scrubbed all mention of the Arizona Cardinals, the team he quarterbacks, from his social media accounts.

On Monday, five days after he removed the Cards from his social media, he posted a statement.

I play this game for the love of it, my teammates, everyone who has helped me get to this position that believed in me & to win championships," the statement says. "All of this nonsense is not what Im about, never has been, never will be. Anyone who has ever stepped between those lines with me knows how hard I go.

Love me or hate me but Im going to continue to grow and get better.

Like a stone thrown into a pond, Murray's scrubbing of the Cardinals from his social media created ripples. Most consequentially, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that the relationship between Murray and the franchise is strained and both parties are "at odds" with each other following the Cardinals' disappointing 34-11 wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

According to Mortensen, Murray was "embarrassed" by the loss to the Rams and believes he's been made the "scapegoat." The Cardinals also reportedly have issues with Murray.

Via ESPN:

The Cardinals have their own concerns about Murray, with sources describing the 2019 No. 1 overall pick as self-centered, immature and someone who points fingers.

Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury is said to be self-scouting where he can provide better alternatives to help Murray, according to sources. Meanwhile, select veterans on the team hope to reach out to Murray on how the 24-year-old can better handle adversity, sources said.

Kyler Murray released a statement on Monday, five days after scrubbing the Arizona Cardinals from his social media accounts. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Yikes. While the Cardinals reportedly believe Murray will be their "quarterback of the present and future," these reports are definitely concerning, especially since they're about the team's franchise quarterback. The Cards subsequently released a statement about Murray.

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Nothing has changed regarding our opinion and high regard for Kyler Murray, the statement said via Pro Football Talk. We as a team and Kyler individually have improved each year hes been in the league. We are excited to continue that improvement in 2022 and are excited that Kyler Murray is the quarterback leading us.

Of course, if you trace "all this nonsense" back to its source, you'll find Murray. He's who started all this by scrubbing any mention of the team from his social media. That action fueled a lot of speculation, and spurred Mortensen's report of discord between the two parties.

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Cardinals QB Kyler Murray breaks silence: 'All of this nonsense is not what I'm about' - Yahoo Sports

The Green Bay Packers are hoping to avoid drama this offseason. The team is reportedly willing to go all in to retain All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a long-term deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Packers are reportedly considering a contract situation similar to what the New Orleans Saints did with Drew Brees at the end of his career.

The Saints would continue to extend Brees at high amounts, but add void years to his contract in order to spread Brees' signing bonus among multiple years of their salary cap. The move allowed Brees to make a ton of money while preventing the Saints from being in an awful cap situation.

Rodgers restructured his deal last offseason to ensure he becomes a free agent in 2022 if he can't work out a long-term deal with the Packers. The deal also gave Rodgers a massive $46 million cap hit in 2022, putting the Packers in a situation where the team needs to restructure his deal again or trade him.

Rodgers restructured that deal amid rumors he was frustrated with the franchise and looking for a way out. Cooler heads prevailed, and Rodgers had yet another spectacular season with the Packers. He threw for 4,115 yards and 37 touchdowns, winning his fourth MVP award.

Striking now could be the right decision. Rodgers said there's been growth between him and the Packers while receiving his MVP award. He said he's had "good conversations" with the team, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Packers are sending all the right messages now, but it's up to Rodgers to decide whether he wants to come back. Rodgers can force the team's hand by demanding a trade. Considering his cap situation, Rodgers might actually get his wish. Rodgers could also retire, an idea he's flirted with in the past.

If Rodgers returns, it would be a huge boost for Green Bay. The relationship between Rodgers and the team was in shambles last offseason, and it looked likely 2021 would be his final year in Green Bay.

Getting Rodgers back would keep the team's Super Bowl window open for at least another season. Depending on how generous Rodgers is feeling, a new deal could also give Green Bay an opportunity to surround Rodgers with better talent in an attempt to make one final run at another championship.

Aaron Rodgers is a priority for the Packers this offseason. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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Packers reportedly want to go all in on keeping Aaron Rodgers - Yahoo Sports

China made headlines in 2021 when it first banned all domestic cryptocurrency mining in June and then outlawed cryptocurrencies completely in September. Following Beijings decision, questions remained as to where large scale mining companies would move their operations to next, with China being responsible for much of their worlds mining activity up until the crackdown.

GEM Mining CEO John Warren believes that the U.S. has been able to fill the vacuum left by the Chinese pullout of the crypto space.

What you've seen over the past years with China shutting down, Kazakhstan shutting down, [is that] North America and specifically the United States has really become the Bitcoin (BTC-USD) mining capital of the world, Warren told Yahoo Finance Live. And I think that's a positive thing for the United States.

Warren joined Yahoo Finance Live to discuss the migration of bitcoin mining to the U.S., crypto mining's energy use, and sales tax exemptions. GEM Mining, based in Greenville, S.C., is a privately held, institutional-grade bitcoin mining company which mined over 600 Bitcoin (worth over $25 million) in 2021.

The American South is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing destinations for cryptocurrency mining operations and other crypto-related businesses. Attractive tax incentives and affordable renewable energy are making states like Texas and Georgia hotspots for miners who have been exiled from overseas due to government crackdowns. Politicians there are also enjoying jobs creation and tax revenue bumps within their states.

Cryptocurrency mining is highly energy-intensive, but Warren says GEM Mining has a goal of reaching full carbon neutrality by 2026. The company currently has operations in six states. And according to Warren, energy accessibility plays an important role in selecting areas of the U.S. in which to expand.

GEM Mining, my company, we're 97% carbon neutral. There are very few companies in the U.S. that can say that. But a huge component, as you know, is the energy. And certain states are very friendly to the miners.

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In regard to sales tax exemptions which make certain states more attractive for mining companies, Warren cited Kentucky as being a trailblazer for signing crypto tax incentives into law. Kentucky passed HB230 in March 2021 with overwhelming support the legislation provides sales and use tax exemptions on the tangible personal property directly used and the electricity used in commercial mining of cryptocurrency.

One of the biggest things is getting an exemption for the sales tax for all the miners, he said. I mean, we have over $300 million deployed in miners. That's a huge sales tax benefit if you don't have to pay it. So ultimately, the miners are located in states where they have that sales tax exemption.

Thomas Hum is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @thomashumTV

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U.S. is now the Bitcoin mining capital of the world: GEM Mining CEO - Yahoo Finance

ZHANGJIAKOU, China While the United States was watching the Super Bowl, China watched its biggest Olympic star American-born freeskier Eileen Gu start her bid to win a second gold medal in these Olympic Games.

A late-arriving motorcade snarled the already wicked traffic around the Genting Snow Park venue. Bing Dwen Dwen, the instantly-beloved mascot of these Games, bounced around in the front row of nearly-full stands. Fans of Gu braved minus-seven degree temperatures minus-23 with the wind chill and waved flags, clapped and cheered as she led off the 27-woman qualifying at freeski slopestyle.

Gu is quite literally the face of these Olympics. Her image is everywhere in China, present on commercials, billboards and every single shopping bag handed out at the Olympics official stores. She's also a flashpoint of geopolitical controversy; raised American but skiing for China, her exact citizenship is a matter of considerable debate.

Whats not up for debate, though, is her skill on the slopes. Gu won freeskis big air gold medal last week, and has two more events slopestyle and halfpipe in which shes favored to match that mark.

Slopestyle involves a combination of rails and jumps over a long, descending course. Gu began her slopestyle qualifying with a less-than-spectacular initial run, falling off one rail early and failing to cleanly land a jump. The crowd below didnt care, cheering her every move. She finished that run with a 57.28 rating, good for 11th in the first of two rounds, with the top 12 advancing to the finals.

At almost the exact same time the Rams were shutting down the Bengals final, desperate drive, Gu stood at the top of the hill, knowing she needed to land a clean run. Several of her rivals had fallen in the first round, and an 11th-place finish was unlikely to hold up.

Gu began her run, and the volume of the crowd dropped from passionate to silent. Hundreds of Chinese fans watched her run on the large-screen television at the base of the hill. This time, though, Gu had no troubles, sequencing cleanly through the pipes and jumps. She totaled two 900s 2 1/2 rotations and a 720 cork, a flip that included two rotations.

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At the base of the hill, she munched on a bun while waiting for her score: 79.83, good enough for third place and a clean path into the finals.

Qualifiers are always scarier for me than the finals, Gu said afterward. Finals, the pressures off. I just go do my thing.

As it turned out, Gus first score wouldnt have held up; had she not landed her second run cleanly, she would have finished the qualifying session in 16th place. But shes on to the finals on Tuesday, with a clear chance at a second straight gold.

From Team USA, Maggie Voisin qualified fourth and Marin Hamill qualified sixth. Darian Stevens failed to qualify, and Caroline Claire did not compete.

China's Eileen Gu gestures as she waits for her score in the freeski slopestyle qualification run during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Genting Snow Park H & S Stadium in Zhangjiakou, China on February 14, 2022. (MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

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While Americans watched the Super Bowl, China was honed in on Olympic star Eileen Gu - Yahoo Sports

After a stumble in the Olympic qualifiers, Erin Jackson's gold-medal dreams were over. Jackson failed to qualify for the 500-meter event at the Beijing Olympics, but then something beautiful happened. Her teammate Brittany Bowe gave up her spot, giving Jackson a second chance. Jackson did not waste it, picking up a gold medal in the 500-meter event Sunday in Beijing.

Jackson was the final member of Team USA to skate Sunday. She took part in the second-to-last skate of the day. Jackson had a tall task ahead of her. Miho Takagi of Japan put up a 37.12 early in the event, and remained in the top spot the entire time.

Jackson the No. 1 ranked skater in the world proved she was up to the task. Jackson got out to a strong start, and kept up that momentum throughout her skate. She finished with a time of 37.04, narrowly beating Takagi for the gold.

With the performance, Jackson became the first Black woman to win an individual speedskating medal at the Olympics.

It was the first time since 1994 an American woman brought home the gold in the 500-meter race. Bonnie Blair was the last American woman to win the 500-meter event at the Olympics. She did it three times 1988, 1992 and 1994.

Jackson nearly didn't make it to Beijing. Her stumble during Olympic trials was enough to keep her from qualifying for the games. Two days later, Bowe gave up her 500-meter event spot to Jackson so that Jackson could take part in the event.

Bowe's kindness was rewarded. The United States eventually received a third spot in the 500-meter event. Bowe received that spot, and took part in the event Sunday.

Brittany Bowe was the first member of Team USA to skate Sunday. Bowe got out to a strong start, and finished with a time of 38.04. That put Bowe in line for the bronze, but with so many other skaters left, it was expected Bowe would drop in the standings as more event progressed. That's exactly what happened. Bowe finished 16th, though was not expected to medal in the 500-meter event. Bowe excels in the 1,000-meter race. She's expected to be one of the favorites in that event, which will occur Thursday.

Kimi Goetz was second to skate for Team USA. Goetz was making her Olympics debut after failing to qualify in 2018. Goetz was expected to make the team in 2018, but sustained a concussion on the first day of Olympic qualifiers and dropped out. Goetz finished with a time of 38.25. She finished in 18th place.

Erin Jackson brought home a gold medal for Team USA. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

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Erin Jackson wins historic gold medal in 500m after nearly missing the Olympics - Yahoo Sports