Today, automakers are more likely to recommend that owners of new cars need to change the oil in their vehicles every 5,000, or even 10,000 miles. So why do some quickie lube service station keep pushing the one-size-fits-all …
Be Skeptical of Colleges Providing Student Loan Assistance
USA Today reports on a popular new trend among pricey private colleges looking to compete with more affordable public colleges: promises to help students repay their loans.
China’s Hot New Export: Financial Fraud
Stock and accounting fraud are nothing new. And yes, we have plenty of home-grown frauds. (Remember Enron?) But so far this year, the vast majority of stock fraud seems to be coming to American investors by way of China.
Is Greece the Next Lehman?
We can all remember the sudden collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, the official launch of the last financial crisis. Panicked investors dumped stocks and bonds around the globe in a desperate flight to cash and …
Retail Sales: No Reason to Celebrate
Americans bought less stuff in May, but more than most people thought. That’s left markets perky, but we’re not in the clear yet.
The Commerce Department reported U.S. retail sales fell last month by 0.2%, their first drop in almost a year after ticking up 0.3% in April. The good news is the drop wasn’t as bad as economists predicted, …
It’s a Deal: 50% Off Everything, $25 Bonus at Jos. A. Bank
Here’s another great deal with perfect timing for Father’s Day: Through Tuesday, June 14, all men’s apparel at Jos. A. Bank, and there’s an additional discount of $25 for every $125 spent on regular or sale price merchandise.
Is Greece the next Lehman?
In the latest news out of Athens, Greek prime minister George Papandreou is offering to give up his post for the cause of Greek salvation. The outlook couldn’t get much worse.
We can all remember the sudden collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, the official launch of the last financial crisis. Panicked investors dumped stocks …
Among E-Retailers, Who’s Got the Speediest Service? Who’s Got the Slowest?
Given the troubled state of the brick-and-mortar bookstore business, you’d think that Barnes & Noble would be focusing on ramping up its e-retail customer service. But in a new study, the bookstore chain had the longest average …
Is It OK to Walk Away From Your Mortgage?
In spite of the mild economic recovery we’re experiencing, the percentage of homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages — that is, they owe more than their homes are worth — has barely budged.
Fannie and Freddie Fact vs. Fiction: What Will the Wind-Down Do?
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — just the companies’ names sound like characters out of a Brothers Grimm fable. But their financials from the last few years read like something from Stephen King. Here’s a look at what will and …
Why You Should Prepare for Inflation
High inflation erodes the purchasing power of savings, pushes up interest rates and undermines future economic growth. Everyone agrees, in short, that it’s bad. Very bad. What experts can’t agree on is whether the risk of …
China’s Latest Export: Stock Fraud
Chinese software company Longtop Financial Technologies did everything it could to make U.S. stock buyers believe it was a safe investment. Perhaps it was doing too much.
The company regularly reported income that was slightly higher than what executives had predicted the company would earn months earlier. On its balance sheet, …
