The bottom line

Making a million in America

It takes the average American household about 25 years to earn a million dollars—the fastest rate of any country. In Mexico and Romania, by contrast, the average family would take more than three centuries to rack up $1 million in pretax earnings.

The Economist

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Consumers shun cheaper phones

Global sales of mobile phones fell last year for the first time since 2009, as consumers shunned cheaper phones with limited features. Meanwhile, sales of more sophisticated smartphones, a sector dominated by Samsung and Apple, are rising, and are expected to make up more than half the mobile phone market for the first time this year.

Reuters.com

Japanese Lexus voted most dependable

Domestic automakers are closing the gap, but Japanese Lexus still makes the most dependable cars, according to a new survey by J.D. Power and Associates. Porsche took second place, and Lincoln and Toyota tied for third. The least dependable brands? Jeep, Mitsubishi, Dodge, and Land Rover.

CNNMoney.com

Amazon voted most reputable

A new survey found that Amazon is America’s “most reputable” company, just edging out last year’s winner, Apple. The “least reputable” list included oil giants Exxon-Mobil and BP; big banks like Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Citigroup; and bailed-out insurer AIG.

Slate.com

Time Warner talks to Meredith Corp.

Time Warner may part ways with much of its magazine arm, Time Inc. The company is reportedly in talks with Des Moines–based Meredith Corp. over the sale of People and other titles. Sources say it would retain ownership of Time, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated.

Reuters.com