All Economy
Health cost growth slows. Time to rethink budget debate?If future medical costs continue to grow at their current low rate the federal budget will be in much better shape than most analysts thought, Gleckman writes. The slowdown in health spending growth is sure to drive the fiscal debate in some important and perhaps unexpected ways.
Wrigley pulls caffeinated gum – for nowWrigley pulls gum 'out of respect' for FDA, which is investigating candy, nuts, and other snack foods that have added caffeine in recent years. By pulling gum, called Alert, Wrigley gives FDA time to regulate the industry.
McDonald's cuts Angus burgers as beef costs riseMcDonald's cuts Angus burgers from its menu, realizing that for McDonald's customers, a $5 burger can't compete with a $1 burger. Although McDonald's cuts Angus burgers now, chain says they may 'play a future role.'
Germany's declining population gets sudden immigration boostImmigration to low unemployment Germany surged to 369,000 last year, with the influx from southern European nations on the rise.
Stocks recede from record levelsStocks fell from record levels Thursdays, with markets ending the day slightly lower. A decline in Americans applying for unemployment benefits failed to give stocks a boost.
Mike Jeffries wants no fat customers at A&F. Bad business?Mike Jeffries, CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been accused by critics of excluding plus-sized customers from his stores. Unapologetically targeting thin, attractive customers is nothing new for Jeffries and Abercrombie, but can retailers afford to ignore a growing number of plus-sized shoppers?
Military woes: sexual assaults – and nuclear weaponsSexual assaults in military going up, according to Defense Department study, despite promises to fix the problem. Why is sexual assault such a hard problem for the military?
Tesla review: near-perfect Consumer Reports ratingTesla review from Consumer Reports gives Model S a 99 out of 100. Tesla review is best Consumer Reports rating since 2007.
MBA: Mortgage rates flat at 3.47 percentMortgage rates went flat at 3.47 percent since last week, according to the latest mortgage rates data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
Bangladesh's factory woes force a rethink in Britain fashion retailersTragedies in Bangladesh, including a deadly fire last night in Dhaka, have given new momentum to British campaigns to improve conditions at foreign factories that supply domestic retailers.
Tesla Motors eyes self-driving electric cars, courtesy of Google?Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, is considering the potential of driverless technology for Tesla Motors vehicles, Ingram writes, and has even spoken with Google about it.
Oreck bankruptcy: Financial mess for vacuum makerOreck bankruptcy follows two layoffs in the last seven months. Tennessee vacuum maker expects to continue operations despite the Oreck bankruptcy.
Tesla profits beat estimates; demand predicted to growThe electric car manufacturer's increased first quarter profits were fueled in part by zero-emission vehicle credit sales to other car makers. They were also boosted by more efficient manufacturing. With the right financing, the company predicts its Model S electric car could now be accessible to 10 million American households.
New report reveals stunning disparities in health-care costsA joint replacement at one Los Angeles hospital costs $297,000; at another, 12 miles away, it's $84,000 – a gap that health-care experts say could help consumers, armed with such information, play a role in driving costs down.
Stocks rise as Dow holds above 15,000Stocks rose Wednesday, on a day without any major economic releases. The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 15,000 for a second day. Stocks have defied predictions that a sell-off would follow the spring surge as signs emerged that growth could be set for a slowdown.
When the roof caves in, what should an ethical company do?The collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh is forcing Western companies to rethink their operations in the South Asian nation. Ethical firms focus on the big picture.
McDonald’s to Charles Ramsey, Amanda Berry’s rescuer: ‘We’ll be in touch.’McDonald’s has reached out to Charles Ramsey via Twitter after the hero of the Cleveland kidnapping case mentioned McDonald’s in his 911 call and a captivating TV news interview. Was the McDonald’s tweet appropriate?
Dow hits 15000, but percentage of Americans owning stocks hits a low. Why?Barely half of Americans, 52 percent, now say they own stock outright or as part of a mutual fund or self-directed retirement account, Gallup reports. That's a 15-year low point.
Saving for retirement? Learn these five truths.Half of Americans aren’t saving a dime for retirement, Hamm writes, but they should. Hamm offers five simple facts about retirement savings that hammer down on common myths about saving for retirement.
What is your one-year financial plan?The 'Year-Long Plot,' as Hamm calls it, is a detailed financial plan, week by week, of how you’ll move from where you’re at right now to the financial goal you want to achieve in one year.
