Consumers have been warned to expect a gallon of regular to cost $4 by springtime. For drivers in three states, four bucks or more per gallon is already a reality.
Compete To Be Unique, Not the Best
Most companies want to be the best at what they do. But in the vast majority of business, there is no such thing as “the best.” Trying to imitate rivals will get you nowhere: It’s impossible to do exactly what your competitors are doing and end up with superior results. Customers choose different products and services for different …
Citibank Sued For Giving Frequent Flyer Miles That Count as Taxable Income
Citibank customers who earned frequent flyer miles for opening accounts were caught by surprise when the bank labeled the bonus as taxable income. Faced with the prospect of hundreds of dollars in taxes for what they thought were …
The Redboxification of the American Shopping Experience
What will the vending machines of the future look like? What’ll they sell? Perhaps the question should be: What won’t they sell? Coinstar, the company that owns DVD kiosk giant Redbox, is testing out new machines that’ll sell …
Curious CapitalistEconomy & Policy
Is America’s Economic Recovery Real?
That’s the $64,000 question, particularly for the U.S. presidential elections – if things keep improving, it’s only good news for Obama. The economy has been on a roll this year, with unemployment down, consumer and …
Taco Bell, Transformed: Major Revamp of the Menu, Slogan, Restaurant Vibe
The last several years haven’t been good ones for Taco Bell. There was the E. Coli outbreak in 2006, the salmonella illnesses last year and the accusation that the fast-food chain’s beef is barely beef. (Taco Bell strongly …
How Job Candidates Now Resemble Reality TV Contestants
Want a job? Then get ready to perform. The days in which a good education, a solid resume filled with relevant skills and work experience, and straightforward, professional answers to interview questions were enough to warrant a …
LinkedIn Founder Reid Hoffman: How to Build Your Career in the Networked Economy
Reid Hoffman knows a thing or two about networking. Not only did he launch one of the most successful Internet companies of the past decade, LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, but he’s developed a formidable network of his own, one that’s given him the opportunity to invest such high-flying Internet start-ups as Facebook and …
Can a Second Bailout Save Greece?
After months of delays, arguments and doubts, euro-zone finance ministers agreed on a second, $170 billion bailout of beleaguered Greece in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The agreement will not only provide fresh financing …
ING and Capital One: Is a Culture Clash Inevitable?
The Federal Reserve Board cleared the way last week for Capital One Financial Corp. to complete a $9 billion, cash and stock deal for ING Direct USA. It’s a coup for Capital One, which already purchased a few smaller banks. But …
Groupon Is Selling ‘VIP’ Memberships for $29.99
It’s hard to escape the flood of daily deal offers in pop-up ads and your e-mail in-box. You can’t swing a mouse without hitting a daily deal from Groupon, LivingSocial, or one of hundreds of other sites. Millions of consumers …
Embrace Distraction
Recent studies have revealed the productivity cost of interruptions. But as the world gets more distracting, can we truly uphold the ideal of undivided attention?