All GE wants to do is make jet engines and nuclear power plants.  They dumped their small appliance division decades ago. Then they dumped their large appliance division and pretty much everything else.

They have (had??) an insurance division. I've read that it was a huge, money-sucking pit for GE.  I'm guessing that the future for nuclear is the same.  Jets have a while left on the market, but one design flaw (ask Rolls Royce about cracked rotors) can wipe a billion off the sales sheet while adding a couple hundred million to costs.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/business/engine-on-southwest-jet-not-the-only-one-to-develop-cracks.html 

David's Bridal files for bankruptcy - CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/19/business/davids-bridal-wedding-dress-bankruptcy/index.html

GM to lay off 15 percent of salaried workers, halt production at five plants in U.S. and Canada

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/11/26/gm-lay-off-percent-salaried-workers-halt-production-five-plants-us-canada/

Planning car production is a complicated business.  Right now Americans are buying muscle cars, SUVs and pickup trucks.  We all know that a recession is around the corner, when that happens people are going to be abandoning those gas guzzlers like they did during the last one.  GM & Ford are going to have to weather the storm, but they're not going to have any domestic offerings to compete with the Japanese imports.  I guess they figure that they'll import their international offerings.

Ford have some cracking options over here.

never been a ford man, and have 2 on the drive at present. A transit Van (custom) that drives like a car, and a little fiesta that Lucy is learning on.

Oof!

Thomas Cook debt-holders scramble for protection against default | Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thomas-cook-grp-debt/thomas-cook-debt-holders-scramble-for-protection-against-default-idUSKBN1O3138

The US Auto Industry is about to Implode - Michael Alkin, [Video] Published on Jan 31, 2018

Laura Ashley to close 40 stores, putting hundreds of jobs at risk | Business | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/17/laura-ashley-to-close-40-stores-putting-hundreds-of-uk-jobs-at-risk-china

Has anyone besides me noted a connection between rude sales staff and company "difficulties"?

Yeah, someone (I think it was Ergo) talked about how he had to deal with Sears customer service recently and how terrible the experience was.

Harley shares slide as US sales tumble, despite earnings beat
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/23/harley-earnings-q3-2018.html

Harley needs to stop catering  mostly to aging Boomers.  They do have their new DOHC twins, but the 750cc and 500cc bikes haven't been well received.  I think bike riders in the US would be all over a domestic bike with a modern powerful twin and good chassis.

Charlotte Russe files for bankruptcy, plans to close 94 stores - UPI.com
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/02/04/2531549319406/?sl=2

Ooof!

Payless ShoeSource set to close thousands of stores
https://www.journal-news.com/news/payless-shoesource-close-all-300-stores/O5IG88Q7ccbQlPnfAGK9FJ/