All Economy
European interest rates cut. Too little, too late?European interest rates were cut by central banks in an effort to rescue the eurozone economy. But is the cut in European interest rates a last ditch effort?
Will enough people buy into Obamacare?The Affordable Care Act’s tax on those who do not have health insurance will be modest and difficult to collect. But will it be enough to get people to buy coverage? If not, healthy people may opt out until they get sick, driving up premiums for those who do buy in.
Weak retail sales figures push stocks lowerStocks closed mostly lower Thursday after signs emerged that Americans are spending at a slower pace and that China's economy may be in worse shape than previously thought. The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 47 points at 12,896.
Happy Birthday, Spam! America's favorite canned meat turns 75Spam turns 75 years old this July, and it's celebrating with a new mascot and a party at its chief US manufacturing plant. Once a staple of soldiers' diets, Spam's reluctant legacy may be as the clown of the food world.
Jobless claims report shows another small declineToday’s jobless claims report showed another small decline to initial unemployment claims and a flattening to continued unemployment claims. Seasonally adjusted initial claims continued to remain below the important 400K level.
Big Pharma's $3 billion slap on the wristThe Justice Department has announced a $3 billion settlement against GlaxoSmithKline for improper marketing prescription drugs in the late 1990s to the mid-2000s. It may sound like a lot of money, but really is just a drop in the bucket for Big Pharma.
Volkswagen completes Porsche takeoverVolkswagen has completed its takeover of Porsche, acquiring the 50.1 percent of the luxury automaker that it didn't already own. Volkswagen will pay Porsche $5.6 billion plus one ordinary VW share, according to the agreement.
Baby bust: Germany's not-so-secret weaknessIn about 20 to 25 years or so the newest generation of young adults will become part of the labor force. As Germans born in the 1950s and 1960s retire in the coming decades, Germany will get a much smaller labor force than its neighbors.
June job report: Gains made in private sector employmentJune jobs report numbers released today show the economy is currently showing the most growth for small to mid-sized service providing jobs with goods-producing jobs remaining near trough levels.
Obamacare's 'tax' is mostly bark, not biteThe Affordable Care Act’s tax was the essential final piece of the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the law’s constitutionality. But in reality, the tax itself is modest, at least to start. It will affect relatively few people be hard to enforce.
Lobster cheaper than bologna? True, thanks to surplus.Lobster is unusually cheap in Maine this season thanks to a glut that has sent prices into a freefall. In some places, soft shell lobster is selling for lower per pound prices than bologna meat at many supermarket deli counters.
US stock market climbs as world banks slash interest ratesU.S stock market futures opened higher Thursday on actions taken by central banks in Europe and China to cut key interest rates and pump stimulus money . The Dow rose 26 points to 12893 as the US stock market awaits today's reports on unemployment claims and retail sales.
Independence Day: Dining out on July 4? 15 ways to save.Independence Day or not, dining out doesn't have to cost a fortune. Here are 15 ways to save, from splitting meals to knowing which cuts of steak will give you the best value.
Independence Day: Do July 4 droughts hurt fireworks sales?Independence Day 2012 coincides with devastating wildfires across Colorado, resulting in a statewide ban on fireworks. But droughts are a common feature of the Independence Day holiday season, and the fireworks industry has found ways to cope with Mother Nature.
July 4th: Celebrate Independence Day with some tax factsJuly 4th is upon us, complete with fireworks and celebratory picnics in honor of America's independence. Also in honor of American independence, the Reformed Broker has forwarded along some lovely tax facts. Enjoy!
July 4th: Musings on the meaning of true patriotismWhen arguing against paying their fair share of taxes, some people claim “it’s my money.” Robert Reich says such people forget it’s their nation, too. True patriotism means paying for America, it means coming together for the common good.
High-tech swap meet: Exchange CDs, DVDs and books onlineThe wonders of the Internet have created what a high-tech swap meet for those who know where to look. Our personal finance expert shares several helpful sites that allow you to swap CDs, DVDs and even books for free, or very low cost.
Stocks rise as oil prices, factory orders also climbIn an abbreviated holiday trading session energy stocks rose due to increased tension over Iran. The major stock indexes moved higher after the government reported that factory orders rose in May. The Dow Jones rose 72 points to close at 12,943.
Economists squabble over how to best assess recovery dataIceland has been used by Nobel laureate Paul Krugman as a poster child for economic recovery. But Stefan Karlsson again argues--this time with help from the Council on Foreign Relations--that Baltic countries may have better overall numbers.
Chuck E. Cheese: Pizza chain mascot gets an overhaulChuck E. Cheese, the mouse mascot of the children's pizza restaurant chain of the same name, is getting a makeover. Chuck E. Cheese is now a guitar-playing rock star voiced by the lead singer of a popular punk band.
