Gasoline prices have been steadily rising for months and in spite of the recent slight downturn in the numbers, it does seem like they’re poised to continue going up for the foreseeable future. In fact, most Americans say that they believe that prices will continue to rise and many say that the cost of gasoline is actually the number one concern for the American economy.
Warning: The following illustration is quite sobering when we actually put it in perspective…
Gas prices fell slightly after the death of Bin Laden but then jumped the next day;
According to one economist, 410,000 jobs are lost with every 41 cent increase in the price of gas;
11% of all paychecks go to pay for gasoline;
The United States uses around nine million barrels of oil each and every day;
Prices of commodities, such as wheat, corn and soybeans have skyrocketed recently.
More People Looking for Alternatives
All these problems of high gasoline prices have meant that more people than ever are scrambling to find alternatives to gas guzzling combustion automobiles. Some
18 May
Posted by: Irene Segura in: Financial Tips
Consumers have managed to lower their credit card defaults and late payments with the top six card companies in April, says a new report from The Associated Press. The report revealed that more card users are in control of their spending than they have been in some time.
According to the report, card issuers saw major drops in defaults (balances considered uncollectible, or charge offs) and late payments in April:
The Commerce Department has today revealed US housing starts slumped in April – much worse than forecast.
Housing starts dived 10.6% in the month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 523,000 units, analysts had expected an annual rate of 563,000.
In the meantime, applications for building permits, a barometer of future home construction, also fell, by 4%, to annual rate of 551,000 units.
Demand for houses in the US continues to be weak with potential buyers struggling to obtain mortgages.
Furthermore, the housing market is weak due to a glut of unsold and repossessed properties.
Today’s data further highlights the fragility of the housing market with many suggesting it is holding back the recovery of the world’s largest economy.
Meanwhile, the news sent oil prices sliding with Brent crude down $2.10 to $108.75 after rising above $111 earlier today.
It looked pretty ugly today, but the markets made up much of their losses the Nasdaq flipped into the green, and the SPX and Dow made up more than half their losses.
So what was this today? Beginning of a turn? Dead cat bounce?
What say ye?
12 May
Posted by: James Pease in: Financial Tips
Yesterday I was inspired by a John Wesley quote from an article by Joe Plemon of PersonalFinanceByTheBook.com published on ChristianPF.com:
This quote inspires me by turning a common Christian viewpoint on making money on its head choosing instead to gain as much as we can to have more effect. After all how can we give more if we dont have more?
To highlight the concept I shot the following video, which also touches on embracing your calling in life and pursuing it with passion I hope you enjoy.
Please share your thoughts in the comments.
House Hunters has nothing on these homes. With cable television being a purveyor of home shopping as a means of entertainment, it seems everyone is wanting not only to keep up with the Jones’, but to also take a sneak peek at their closet space or bathroom updates.
The most entertaining house hunting shows feature homes that walked right off the set of Life Styles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leach to House Hunters production. But these homes, even at the biggest and best, pale in comparison with the real big boys on the block of the dream home market.
You want to take a peek? Well, that is not likely. The
Does this sound like you?
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