The Fed rule on debit card fees could have far-reaching effects on how consumers spend and save.
The debit card battle between retailers and banks has reached epic proportions. The plan by lawmakers is to slash the fees retailers pay banks every time a shopper uses a debit card. Both sides are spending millions of dollars to convince lawmakers that they’re looking out for average Americans.
Continue reading… “What Effect Will the Cut in Debit Card Fees Have on Consumers?”
China launched a pilot pension program as part of efforts to narrow the standard-of-living gap between rural and urban residents.
China plans to expand a piloted pension program to 60 percent of its rural areas this year, an increase from the original target of 40 percent, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang said Friday.
Continue reading… “China Expands It’s Pension Program to Cover 60% of Rural Areas”
Futurist Thomas Frey: Consider the following scenario. Over the next few years, several major cities in the U.S. will begin to impose a ban on all new residential and commercial construction. With populations declining in numerous metro areas, they will worry openly about becoming the next Detroit with abandoned neighborhoods signaling a rapid decline in property values.
Continue reading… “Turmoil Ahead for Housing”
Experimenting Our Way to Success – Reinventing Publishing Models
Futurist Thomas Frey: Amazon revolutionized book reading in 2007 when it introduced its Kindle book reader. Within the past three years, the explosive sale of book readers has caused a massive surge in the sale of e-books, already outpacing the sale of hardcover books, with a prediction by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos that they will outsell paperbacks within the next year.
Continue reading… “The Fall of Book Publishing: The Rise of New E-Book Business Models”
Health insurers propose double-digit increases in their rates, citing a need for protection against any sudden uptick in demand once people have more money to spend on their health.
Major health insurers in the U.S. are heading into a third year of record profits. Their earnings have been enriched in recent months by a lingering recessionary mind-set among Americans. Many who are postponing or forgoing medical care.
2015 global manufacturers will view the U.S. as equal to if not better-than China.
In March, U.S. exports hit a record $173 billion, up 15% from a year-ago and 37% from 2009. According to a new study from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the good times for “Made in America” are just getting started. (video)
Continue reading… “‘Made in America’ Making a Comeback: Study”
College graduates face a double digit unemployment rate.
Today’s college grads are the new underclass. They have been beaten down by heavy debt and lack of work. Many are struggling to stave off financial ruin.
Continue reading… “85% of Young People Return Home After Graduating From College”
San Jose, California
When the landlord hikes your rent it’s usually not welcome news. But a surge in rents this year represents a counterintuitive bit of good news for the economy and perhaps even for the beleaguered housing market.
Continue reading… “Top 10 Cities Where Rents Are Spiking”
After pop-up restaurants and stores, we now have The Nomad,the UK’s first “roaming pop-up cinema.”
It uses inflatable screens of up to 60 square metres, shows up at unusual places across England and encourages you to watch their films in costume.
Continue reading… “Moving Pictures: Pop-Up Cinemas are a New Trend for Summer”
Here’s one way to bring location-based checkins to the masses — use them to shave off a few dollars at the gas pump…
Continue reading… “Foursquare Checkins Get Customers Gas Discounts”
Postal Service reports more that $2 billion in losses.
The U.S. Postal Service is continuing to lose money, reporting a loss Tuesday of more than $2 billion over the first three months of the year and warning it could be forced to default on federal payments.
Continue reading… “Billions in Losses Reported By the Postal Service”
Information at the speed of need
Futurist Thomas Frey: The distance between information and our brain is getting shorter.
Twenty years ago if you had access to a large information base, such as the Library of Congress, and someone asked you a series of questions, your task would have been to pour through the racks of books to come up with the answers. The time involved could have easily have been 10 hours per question.
Continue reading… “Power of 10 Interface”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.