This week, United Airlines jacked up fees on passengers who need to adjust travel plans. For flights within the U.S., customers must fork over at least $200 (up from $150) for changing tickets.
Companies & Industries
2013 Gas Prices: Even Less Predictable Than Usual
What can drivers expect going forward in terms of gas prices? Probably more of the same—meaning more unpredictability, not necessarily more price drops.
More Booze Please! The National Drive to Lift Restrictions on Alcohol-preneurs
The craft beer industry has been on a tear, boasting a 17% rise in sales last year and continued growth expected going forward. Lately, it looks like a big surge is on tap not only for craft breweries, but small businesses that make wine and spirits as well.
Ben Affleck to ‘Live Below the Line’ with Food Budget of $1.50 per Day
Oscar winner Ben Affleck’s next project is a challenge aimed at raising money and awareness for global poverty.
Efficiency Backlash: Businesses Find Too Much Downsizing Can Hurt the Bottom Line
One national restaurant chain realizes that overburdening its employees hurts sales, as well as the company brand. Will more businesses follow its lead?
Social Media Manipulation? When “Indie” Bloggers and Businesses Get Cozy
Brands have sought to partner with influential bloggers for nearly as long as there have been blogs, with ads, sponsored posts, and more. Lately, however, a new relationship between brands and popular social media practioners is …
Budweiser’s New Pitch: Less Beer, Pay More
How’s this for a sales pitch: With Budweiser’s new can design, you’ll get less beer, and you’ll get to pay more per ounce. You’ll also get to support the aluminum industry.
Money Talking: Is Manufacturing Coming Back to the US?
Joe Nocera (NYT) and Rana Foroohar (Time) join Charlie Herman (WNYC) on Money Talking discuss if the just what kind of manufacturing renaissance we’re seeing in the U.S. – is it for real and what types of jobs will it create. Last week, Rana wrote the cover story for Time magazine on the topic and Joe just visited a company making …
Does Kmart’s Hilarious New Ad Acknowledge That Kmart Stores Are Hopeless?
In just over a week, Kmart’s 30-second “Ship My Pants” spot — go ahead, say it quickly — has received close to 13 million views online. The viral hit should give the struggling retailer some much-needed buzz. It might also call …
Plugging the Pension Gap … With Cheese?
In American slang, the word “cheddar” has long been a stand-in for money. Now, it would appear some folks in the U.K. are taking this association far more literally.
According to the Financial Times, the British food company Dairy Crest has a roughly $128 million deficit in its pension fund as of the end of September, and to help plug …
2013 Boston Marathon Paraphernalia Already Up for Sale on eBay
You just knew this would happen. In the days after Monday’s tragedy at the Boston Marathon, all sorts of marathon-related gear has shown up on eBay.
Tale of Two Supermarkets: Why Fresh & Easy Flopped and Fairway Flies High
This week, the death of one high-profile grocery chain, and the ascendancy of another, tells us a lot about what Americans want in a supermarket—and what we’re just not buying.