All Economy
Retail sales a pleasant surprise. Three takeaways.February saw a surprising increase in retail sales, despite the sequester and the expiration of the payroll tax holiday. But not all sectors saw growth.
Cyprus: a bank levy after all?Racing to secure bailout, Cyprus agrees to a bank levy that's different than the one its legislature defeated in the legislature. This bank levy would take 20 percent from accounts over 100,000 € at its No. 1 lender, but the deal hasn't been finalized with European Union.
Choosing the right headphonesWith the wealth of options available for headphones, it can be hard to select the right ones for your lifestyle ands activity level. Here's how to choose.
Dress for success without breaking the bankKeeping up with the dress code at your new workplace doesn't have to mean shelling out big bucks on a new wardrobe. Mix and match pieces and a little help from your co-workers is a good place to start.
Where are people under 35 buying their cars?People under 35 aren't as interested in owning a car as their parents and grandparents, but when they are they're focusing less on Japanese brands and turning to Detroit and South Korea.
IRS: warp speed apology for bad 'Star Trek' parodyIRS training film – a 'Star Trek' parody from 2010 – gets blasted by House committee Friday. IRS quickly admits mistake, saying Star Trek parody wasn't 'best stewardship of resources.'
Stocks rise on strong company earningsStocks closed up on Wall Street Friday as Nike and other major companies issued strong earnings reports. Investors took advantage of the market's down week and ramped up their buying of stocks.
Is automatic enrollment the future of retirement savings?A bold plan in California would eventually make automatic enrollment widespread and could revolutionize the state’s retirement savings landscape, Harris writes.
Ahead of critical deadline, Cypriots hit the ATMs and lash out at GermanyWith the banks closed while the Cypriot government and Europe try to hash out a bailout plan, people lined up to get what money they could from the ATMs -and to vent about the crisis.
Why the Senate budget's tax cuts do not add upThere is a reason for the lack of detail in the Senate Democrats' budget, Gleckman writes: Raising nearly $1 trillion by eliminating tax preferences for some businesses and a tiny slice of households is very hard to do.
MPAA: Global ticket sales soar thanks to Asian moviegoersMPAA, the Motion Picture Association of America, reported a record $34.7 billion in global ticket sales in 2012, thanks in part to the growing popularity of movies in Asia. The MPAA said the Asian box office grew 15 percent last year.
New Pepsi bottle: Will the blocky shape bolster sales?The new Pepsi bottle is part of PepsiCo's rebranding efforts, which include buying Super Bowl rights and partnering with Beyonce. The bottle hasn't changed in 17 years.
Stocks fall on weak Oracle sales, Cyprus fearsStocks closed lower on Wall Street Thursday after Oracle's weak sales results weighed down big US technology stocks. Traders are also worried about Cyprus running out of time to avoid bankruptcy.
Home sales rise in February, but is the market really improving?As existing home sales continued their steady climb in February, low inventory is creating competitive markets in some parts of the country. But low prices and high demand aren't creating a rapid increase in home prices. What's wrong?
Why Democrats should protect Social Security and MedicareSocial Security and Medicare are the most popular programs ever devised by the federal government, Reich writes. If average Americans have trusted the Democrats to do one thing it has been to guard these programs from the depredations of the GOP.
With Cyprus desperate for bailout help, Russia plays hardballRussia is worried about an economic meltdown on Cyprus, which hosts both Russian corporations and bank accounts. But so far, it has yet to bite on the Cypriot finance minister's offers.
Jobless claims rise to 336,000Jobless claims increased by 2,000 to 336,000 claims from 334,000 claims for the prior week, according to Thursday's jobless claims report.
Emergency funds: How much should you save for a rainy day?Figure out an emergency fund size that’s right for your life and start saving for it, Hamm writes. When things in your life don’t go as planned, you’ll be glad you have it.
$860M overcharge: Ohio employers win lawsuit$860 million in overcharges are owed to some 270,000 Ohio businesses. Judge rules that state workers' compensation fund ran up $860 million in overcharges over a decade.
Federal Reserve stays the course boosting Asian stocksOn Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. central bank will continue to buy bonds, easing borrowing rates. The Fed is awaiting further employment gains before it plans to change its policy.
