Blog Profile / The Week: U.S. Business
| URL : | http://theweek.com/topic/sub_section/business/us_business | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed Under: | Business & Finance | |
| Posts on Regator: | 547 | |
| Posts / Week: | 5.4 | |
| Archived Since: | June 14, 2011 | |
Blog Post Archive
Why are gas prices spiking?
Americans normally associate climbing gas prices with the long days of the summer driving season. But this year is different: The average price of regular gasoline has risen 45 cents in the past 31 days, the fastest spike since 2005, according to AAA. Show More Summary
The struggling Postal Service's next venture: A fashion line?
What's the failing Postal Service's backup plan if that whole mail-delivery thing doesn't work out? Apparently, it's to give you a fashion makeover. As the struggling service continues to lose a reported $40 million a day, the USPS has announced that it's teaming with Ohio garment company the Waconah Group to create its very own fashion line. Show More Summary
8 best industries for starting a business in 2013
Thinking of taking the entrepreneurial leap this year in an industry that would pay off? IBISWorld's recent list of eight hot industries for start-ups is a good place to begin your research. What do these eight industries have in common?...Show More Summary
Why we can't grow our economy forever
Politicians, newscasters, and pundits are united around an idea I find wacky: That we can grow the economy forever on our finite planet. We have 7 billion people on Earth, and almost 1 billion of us go to bed hungry each night. 2.7 billion of us live on less than $2 a day, and there's 394 ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Show More Summary
Should Office Depot merge with OfficeMax?
Shares of Office Depot and OfficeMax surged on Tuesday, following a report in The Wall Street Journal that the two companies are in the advanced stages of merger talks. A deal would theoretically help both companies grapple with a host of challenges, from flatlining revenue to Amazon's metastasizing clout within the retail industry. Show More Summary
Where the rich live: America's top 25 wealth centers
Where do rich people live? The detailed answer, based on a new Census Bureau report, is absorbing if not exactly shocking: They tend to live near major population centers along the coasts, both in suburbs and urban areas. The CensusShow More Summary
The most powerful handshake in the world
We've all been victims of a terrible handshake. Maybe it's a death-grip where you feel like you're shaking hands with a lobster. Maybe it's a limp, lifeless shake, like you're suddenly wagging a fern. Either way, if you're meeting someone for the first time, a bad shake can leave a lasting, negative impression — especially in the world of business. Show More Summary
Making money: Staying on track for tax season, and more
Navigating health club contracts If you're joining a health club this year, mind the pitfalls in the contract, said Caroline Mayer in Forbes. Start by familiarizing yourself with your local consumer protection laws; gym members usually have three days to back out of contracts after signing. Show More Summary
Why airlines might finally lift the ban on electronics
Why is there a ban in the first place? The airline industry and the Federal Aviation Administration worry that electromagnetic waves emitted by passengers' personal electronic devices — including MP3 players, laptops, tablets, and cellphones — could interfere with an aircraft's electronic controls, or avionics. Show More Summary
Is the economy on the cusp of a buyout boom?
With a spate of blockbuster mergers and acquisitions in recent days, analysts far and wide are proclaiming the dawn of a new age of mega-buyouts. On Thursday alone, $40 billion worth of deals were announced, including the purchase of Heinz by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G, and the merger of American Airlines and US Airways. Show More Summary
3 level-headed takeaways from the Tesla-New York Times kerfuffle
One of the weeks' biggest internet brouhahas centered on New York Times reporter John M. Broder, who test-drove a new electric Tesla Model S that ran out of power on a rather chilly trip from Washington, D.C. to Boston. Elon Musk, the...Show More Summary
Is it finally time to kill the lowly penny?
President Obama dropped a bombshell in an online "Fireside Chat" Thursday that could reverberate — and shatter piggy banks — across the nation. Our commander-in-chief, it seems, wants to do away with the penny. Each one-cent piece costs 2.4 cents to mint and distribute, so the U.S. Show More Summary
Another big airline merger: What it means
The looming merger of American Airlines and US Airways will have at least one clear consequence, said Justin Bachman at Businessweek: Travelers will soon be paying more for tickets. "Consolidation is a euphemism for fewer seats, andShow More Summary
Why your college could go bankrupt
As the higher education system in the U.S. faces rising costs and reduced state funding, many are asking, What will colleges of the future look like? According to a recent cover story in The American Interest, some won't look like anything at all, because they'll cease to exist. Show More Summary
Warren Buffett buys Heinz: Another big win for the Oracle of Omaha?
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is adding "ketchup magnate" to his resume. On Thursday, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway agreed to buy the H.J. Heinz Company, adding another iconic brand to Buffet's portfolio. Berkshire will team up with Brazilian private-equity firm 3G Capital to buy the 144-year-old packaged-foods company. Show More Summary
What the American Airlines-US Airways merger means for customers
On Thursday, American Airlines and US Airways announced an $11 billion merger that would see the creation of the world's largest airline. The merger caps years of consolidation in the U.S. airline market, 70 percent of which will now...Show More Summary
How Poland Spring squandered its Marco Rubio moment
Marco Rubio clearly just wanted it so bad. In the moments before he interrupted his response to President Obama's State of the Union address to lunge desperately for a bottle of Poland Spring, the senator from Florida was clearly suffering from some kind of iron-wool-mouth that only good old-fashioned H2O could ease. Show More Summary
Comcast buys the rest of NBC: Did General Electric get robbed?
On Wednesday, cable and internet provider Comcast announced that it would become the sole owner of NBCUniversal, purchasing the 49 percent stake that belongs to General Electric for $16.7 billion. The deal represents a huge bet by Comcast...Show More Summary
$9 minimum wage: Poverty reducer or job killer?
In perhaps the "most controversial proposal" in Tuesday night's State of the Union address, President Obama called for raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour. "Even with the tax relief we've put in place, a family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. Show More Summary
Are healthier drinks the key to Coca-Cola's future?
Coca-Cola, the world's largest soda company, on Tuesday reported a profit of $1.87 billion for the fourth quarter, despite declining demand in North America for its signature soft drinks. The company said soft drink volume declined 2...Show More Summary