Consumerist
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laundry
Laundromats Enter Underfilled Recession Cycle
Are you doing laundry this weekend? Are you running fewer loads than you used to, going longer between washes, or even using a friend or relative's equipment in order to avoid unloading a pocketful of quarters at the laundromat? If so, you're not alone. Laundromats, once thought to be a recession-proof business, are surprisingly vulnerable to economic downturns. More » -
recession watch
Unemployment Hits A 26-Year High Of 10.2%
The pace of job losses has slowed significantly, but the economy still divested itself of 190,000 jobs in October, sending the national unemployment rate to 10.2%, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It should be noted that the unemployment rate only tracks people actively seeking work. More » -
incorrect procedure
Man Stabs Himself So He Doesn't Have To Work At Blockbuster
Blockbuster must be a very unpleasant place to work, because police say a Colorado man stabbed himself and blamed "three skinheads or Hispanic males dressed in black." (Really.) According to the cops, the guy eventually admitted that he stabbed himself so he wouldn't have to go to work. More » -
incorrect procedure
Man Attempts To Rob Taco Bell, Then Asks For A Job Application
Well this guy is doing it wrong: We've been alerted to a report from Haverstraw, NY where police say a man entered a Taco Bell, waved a gun around, demanded money — then asked for a job application. More » -
steak
Consumers Forgo Restaurants, Cook Fancy Steaks At Home
Americans love steak. Now, in a recession, we still love it, but we've shifted to buying and cooking delicious high-end steaks at home instead of eating them in restaurants, thanks to greater availability of fancy cuts of meat to consumers. More » -
recession watch
Problem Solved! GDP Shows 3.5% Growth
No, just kidding. We know you still don't have a job. The Commerce Department announced that the economy grew 3.5% in the third quarter — snapping the longest streak of economic contraction since 1947. More » -
recession watch
Has The Recession Forced You To Swap Stoli For Swill?
The old adage about booze being recession-proof may have some truth to it: alcohol sales are up 2% over the past year. Not surprisingly, the cheap stuff is leading the way, with sales of private-label wine — no, that's not the stuff you brew in your backyard — up 20%. And more people are shunning bars and restaurants, opting instead for the comfort of a brown paper bag and the neighborhood stoop. More » -
have it our way
Burger King's Swank New Look Will Make You Crave Whoppers
In its latest effort to take the burger experience to a higher level — and win back consumers who've migrated to "fast casual" restaurants — Burger King is remodeling more of its eateries to include what His Highness describes as a "contemporary industrial palette of metallic and black accents, complemented by finishes that resemble brick and concrete." But will the fancy new look, which was relaunched this week in Amsterdam, get customers to eat more Whoppers? And how does a creepy guy in a plastic mask sell what the company calls an "intimate and engaging dining" experience?
Inside: Poll - Will the new look get you to eat at BK more often? More »
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someone think of the children
Red Robin Cuts Crayons, Forces You To Talk To Kids
Don't look now, but some restaurants seem to be cutting back on that staple of the family dining experience: crayons and paper for kids. NPR's Planet Money blog reports that the Red Robin chain has gone from four crayons per customer to two. How long before they drop them completely, forcing parents to — gasp — hold conversations with their children instead of letting them color images of popular menu items while mom and dad knock down their pre-meal cocktails. More » -
recession watch
It Will Take You Six Months To Find A New Job
If you've been out of work for months, and still don't have any leads on your next job, you've got a lot of company. According to the latest government job report, the average job search now takes over six months, the longest average since the government started tracking unemployment in 1948. More » -
smell my feet
More Kids Getting Rocks This Halloween
Bad news for any kids expecting a big haul this Halloween. The National Retail Federation is out with its spending projections for the holiday, and they're grim. Total spending for Halloween is expected to drop from $66.54 per family last year to $56.31 this year. The numbers include candy, costumes and decorations — but not shaving cream, eggs or toilet paper. More » -
unemployment
13 More Weeks Of Unemployment Benefits For Some Americans
On Tuesday, the House voted to extend unemployment benefits for Americans who live in states where the unemployment rate is greater than 8.5 percent. 400,000 people were set to run out of benefits at the end of September, and will now continue to receive them until the end of the year if the bill passes. More » -
underlying indicators
Underwear Index Shows Economy Not Bulging Just Yet
Forget GDP growth, the unemployment rate and even the Big Mac Index. If you want to know how the economy is really doing, and you're male, just open your fly. (Note: We don't recommend doing this at work.) According to the Men's Underwear Index, if your underwear is relatively new, the recovery is on the way. If not, well, we really don't want to know about it. More » -
bah, humbug
Retailers Beg You To Spend Some Money This Christmas
A survey released this weekend by the bean-counters at Deloitte Research predicts that holiday spending will be flat this year, which means another lousy year for retailers, but could also lead to some bargains as desperate merchants try anything to lure you into the store. "Many consumers remain burdened by restricted credit availability, high unemployment and foreclosures," Carl Steidtmann, chief economist with Deloitte Research, told Reuters. What was that about the recession again? Oh, right. Over.
Holiday spending seen flat [Reuters] -
mortage meltdown
Newsflash: The Next Tsunami Of Aggressively Irresponsible Loans Didn't Magically Disappear
We've been talking about the next wave of the mortgage crisis for quite some time now, and it seems that, as predicted, it's cresting and about to hit. We are, of course, speaking of Option-ARM loans — considered the riskiest of all mortgages due to their ability to grow rather than shrink. Yes, there actually exists a mortgage that allows the borrower to pay less than the interest that is accruing on the loan. More » -
this exists
99-Cent Cardboard iPhone Case Won't Make You Awesome
If you think 99 cents is a fair price to pay for the latest fart-simulator or "Are You a Moron?" quiz in Apple's App Store, Case-Mate has a deal for you. The company's Recession iPhone case is made from 100% cardboard, and sells for 99 cents — with free shipping included. Case-Mate doesn't claim that the case is actually useful in any traditional sense of that word; the FAQ for the product makes it clear that there's no warranty, it doesn't include any kind of screen protector, and that it's flammable "if you light it on fire." More » -
recession watch
Bernanke Says The Recession Is "Likely Over"
Good news? Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says that the recession is over, but that it won't really stop the rise of unemployment — currently at a 26-year high of 9.7%. More » -
stubborn
NFL Not Going To Budge On Blackouts — Will Post Games Online
The NFL's blackout rule — which prevents games from being broadcast in home markets if there is no sellout — is coming under fire lately as some teams (ok, let's face it, we're talking about Jacksonville) might not have a single home sellout all season. More »
recession watch
New York, 4:01 AM
Sun Nov 15
6 posts in the last 24 hours
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