Anyone looking for evidence that there are two Americas should check out the latest round of real estate statistics.
On the one hand, the financial-analytics company FiServ warns that home prices are expected to fall 3.6% by …
Why We Can’t Buy Happiness — But Try to Anyway
In 1972, the percentage of Americans who said they were “pretty happy” was about 50%. In the years since, the U.S.’s standard of living has risen dramatically, and our gross domestic product per capita has increased by 96%. That …
Cheapskate Tip: How to Keep Getting $1 DVD Rentals at Redbox
Starting on Monday, October 31, Redbox is raising its DVD rental prices from $1 to $1.20 per day. While a 20% increase is significant, we’re only talking about a price hike of a mere two dimes daily. Still, wouldn’t you rather …
Increasingly, Black Friday Is a Day to Stay Home, Not Hit the Mall
The day after Thanksgiving has become the official kickoff for the holiday shopping season. It’s also become a day to exhibit nonsensical consumer behavior, such as waiting outside for hours in the freezing cold at stores that …
As Netflix and Redbox Raise Prices, Blockbuster Boldly Tries to Steal Away Customers
Blockbuster has had a miserable couple of years, closing thousands of movie rental stores, entering bankruptcy, and generally serving as one of the recession era’s biggest business flop stories. Now, though, as Netflix and
6 Ways to Save Money and Stay Healthy This Winter
Sometimes staying healthy in the wintertime, when everybody in the office or around the dinner table is blowing their red nose into a tissue, can feel almost impossible. In fact, it can feel a lot like trying to save money when …
Why Europe can’t solve its debt crisis
Any hope that last Thursday’s debt crisis agreement would finally quell the contagion raging through the euro zone was dashed almost before the ink dried. Only a day later, Italy’s borrowing costs actually rose to a euro-era high in a bond auction, a clear sign that investors were far from certain that the debt deal was a game …
Why France — Not Greece or Italy — Will Decide the Fate of the Euro
France’s own economic problems will soon make it unable to help bail out weaker European countries. When that happens, the euro game will be up
Banks Back Off Unpopular Debit Card Fees
Updated Oct. 31, 3:30 p.m.
A month after Bank of America announced plans for a widely derided $5 monthly fee for debit card use, BofA, Wells Fargo and Chase are all backing off their plans to charge for debit card use. It’s a rare about-face prompted by a groundswell of consumer anger. Will it placate furious customers, or is the …
Americans Saved Less Money Last Month
In September, consumers spent more but made less than expected. As a result, the national savings rate dropped to 3.6%, which is the lowest level it has been since the beginning of the recession. And that has some people nervous.
The Big Banks That Aren’t Adding Debit Card Fees*
*What’s the asterisk for? Well, while several big banks say they won’t start charging monthly fees for debit cards a la Bank of America, in most cases they are adding other fees or changing account requirements to increase …
Good News: Americans Saved Less Money Last Month
In September, consumers spent more but made less than expected. As a result, the national savings rate dropped to 3.6%, which is the lowest level it’s been since the beginning of the recession. And that has some nervous. The popular economics blog Calculated Risk blog had this to say:
Spending is growing faster than incomes – and the
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