Heir Today Gone Tomorrow
December 7, 2007
The heirs of many affluent baby boomers, mostly the children and grandchildren of these wealthy boomers, may find themselves with less inheritance than both they and the general public may have imagined.
Consumers Shopping Smarter
December 7, 2007
2007 may be the year that American consumers actually bring in some good cheer with the New Year, at least as far as their holiday shopping goes. Unlike many past years when consumers could not wait to charge their purchases on their high-interest credit card, this year they seem to be using cash far more frequently.
Holiday Air Travel and Gas Prices
November 30, 2007
Holiday air travel is expected to rise by about 4 percent this year over last year. What else is expected to rise is the cost of tickets for those passengers as jet fuel prices continue to soar as high as the planes themselves.
Holiday Spending May Be Gassed Out
November 28, 2007
As the holiday season approaches, more US shoppers are planning to spend less on gifts because they fear having to spend more on gasoline and home heating fuel. This is according to a survey conducted by the Consumer Federation of America along with the Credit Union National Association.
Bank Accounts are Safe
November 22, 2007
The online trading company E-Trade suffered some customer turmoil last week as many of its customers began to wonder if their accounts were safe amid the troubles currently being experienced in the sub-prime market. E-trade has an estimated 3.6 million accounts.
High Heating Oil Concerns
November 20, 2007
It may end up being a very cold winter for some consumers this year. Oil prices are tickling the $100 a barrel mark and with that comes higher heating oil prices. For some people, the increase in heating oil will mean no heat or a much reduced comfort level when the colder temperatures finally hit them. Already, heating oil prices have set new high records, often on a daily basis.
Mobile Banking Is Here
November 19, 2007
For certain consumers, mobile banking is here. Recently, AT&T announced that it now offers mobile banking to Wachovia and SunTrust customers. This is according to the San Antonio Business Journal.
China Economic Milestone
November 14, 2007
Investors around the globe are realizing that China is becoming one of the major economic players and they (the investors) are putting their money where their reasoning is.
Federal Reserve Not Optimistic
November 12, 2007
Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman, reported on Thursday, 8 November, that a whole array of economic issues and problems, including woes with the housing market, would most likely cause economic growth in the US to slow down in the near future.
Bankers Tighten Credit
November 8, 2007
It should come as no surprise that bankers have now tightened credit and lending policies. One major hit by this new crunch is the real estate market. It should be noted, however, that the belt tightening is being spread across a very broad plane, with commercial paper being included in the mix.