David Cameron’s decision to wield his cherished veto in Brussels last week added more high drama to the endless euro saga. Cameron’s refusal to sign up for a new EU treaty to save the euro, which gained the support of every …
How Flooding in Thailand Hurts Intel’s Sales
Intel, the world’s largest microchip maker, lowered its sales forecast by $1 billion due to a shortage of hard disk drives caused by the recent severe flooding in Thailand, the company said Monday. Thailand is one of the world’s …
A Quarter of Extreme Couponers Have Incomes of $75,000 or More
When researchers from the University of Arizona set out to study people’s couponing habits and motivations, they discovered that a significant number of the most die-hard coupon aficionados aren’t clipping out of financial need. …
Is Amazon Due for a Backlash Because of Its ‘Evil’ Price Check App?
There’s a long, storied history of retailers battling it out for holiday shopping dollars. Price wars, seasonal promotions aimed at one-upping the competition, and price-matching guarantees are all commonplace, and considered …
Christmas Miracle! Secret Santas Paying Off Strangers’ Layaway Items
An anonymous merrymaker spread some holiday cheer last week by paying $500 toward the layaway accounts of three strangers at a Kmart in Michigan. Since then, copycat Secret Santas have followed suit, giving thousands of dollars …
Would You Rat Out Your Boss? Majority of Americans Say Yes — For a Price
More than three-quarters of Americans would blow the whistle on wrongdoing at their workplace, according to a newly released survey — but only if they could do so anonymously, without fear of reprisal, and — and this is a big …
Will Shoppers Save the Economy?
The U.S. consumer is back, but how long can that keep the economy going?
One of the growing bright spots in the economy recently has been Americans’ willingness to hit the mall. In the third quarter alone, higher consumer …
The IRS Might Owe You $1,547
Usually when the IRS starts tracking people down, it’s because Uncle Sam is owed some money. But for 100,000 Americans somewhere out there, the IRS is trying to return $153 million.
Estates Paying Taxes: Down. Estates Filing Returns: Up
In 2011, some 3,300 estates will owe federal estate taxes, according to the Tax Policy Center. That’s the fewest in 75 years.
Holiday Shoppers Hitting Pawn Stores in Big Numbers
It has been a huge year for retail sales so far in the holiday shopping season, with $52 billion spent over Black Friday weekend and another $6 billion spent online during the “Cyber Week” that followed. Here’s one more hot …
10 Happiest Places to Work: Is Your Job on the List?
New Holiday Tradition: Buying Yourself a Gift
Gift exchanges are so inefficient. Unless everyone’s picked out presents via gift registry, there’s a decent chance someone will receive an unwanted gift—which amounts to a waste of time and money. And if everyone’s picked out …