Companies cut spending because of fiscal cliff
Over concerns about the fiscal cliff, major U.S. companies are reducing their spending at the fastest pace since the recession. Half of the country’s 40 biggest corporate spenders say they plan to cut investment spending this year or next in order to protect profits in the uncertain environment.
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Administrative bloat and tuition costs
Administrative bloat at U.S. universities is adding to the steep rise in tuition costs. U.S. universities employed more than 230,000 administrators in 2009, up 60 percent from 1993, or 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty.
Bloomberg.com
Market for new and existing homes improves
The market for both new and existing housing continues to improve. Housing starts rose 3.6 percent in October over the previous month, and 42 percent over a year earlier. Sales of existing homes last month were up 2.1 percent over September.
Los Angeles Times
Annual federal deficit as share of GDP decreases
The annual federal deficit has fallen faster in the past three years than during any comparable period since the 1960s. From fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2012, the budget deficit decreased from 10.1 percent of GDP to 7 percent.
Investor’s Business Daily
Federal rules for contracts get flouted
Despite federal rules that direct government contracts to small businesses, large companies are receiving billions of dollars more than they are supposed to. In the year that ended Sept. 30, 2011, about $4.7 billion of the more than $10 billion in contracts earmarked for businesses with fewer than 500 employees was given instead to major companies.
The Washington Post
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Stunning beaches in ScotlandThe Week Recommends Scenic spots that wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean
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Dash: the UK's 'flawed' domestic violence toolThe Explainer Risk-assessment checklist relied on by police and social services deemed unfit for frontline use
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China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
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The bottom linefeature Sedentary habits keep rising; A new home for Twinkies; Taco Bell's new hit; Companies stretch the workweek; Women's wages still fall short
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The bottom line
feature Where to stash your cash; Facebook's tax refund; The value of old phones; The wealth of America's megabanks; Grateful alumni
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The bottom line
feature High cellphone taxes; Companies shore up pension funds; The bite of high gas prices; More dads stay home; Americans' scarce savings; Clorox sales hit a peak
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The bottom line
feature Taxi drivers with college degrees; Morgan Stanley's revealing nicknames; Sleep deprivation and lost productivity; A retreat for Barnes & Noble; Signs of a stabilizing economy
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The bottom line
feature No-growth small businesses; Swift sales for Taylor's new album; Predicting doctors' costs; Airlines face shortfall in qualified pilots; Will Japan slip into recession?
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The bottom line
feature Apple's corporate tax rate; A housing market still in the tank; Boeing's Dreamliner earns rave reviews; Billions owed in child support; Goldman Sachs trims its ranks
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The bottom line
feature No new jobs in August for small business; Lowest corn harvest in 17 years; Louboutin wins battle over red soles; The growing American lower class; U.S.'s competitive ranking drops; The expanding wealth gap
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The bottom line
feature Facebook tries gambling; The not-so-rich Americans; Pauly D's banner year; Gibson Guitar pays a fine; Let's get women on board!