Toyota: Credit Not Responsible For Current Sales Slump, But Please Hurry Up And Fix! [Toyota Sales]

Jim Lentz, Toyota's US sales chief, told the Detroit News yesterday that consumer financing isn't their challenge right now; rather, ... out of showrooms. As the report notes, though, consumer confidence isn't an easy ship to right once it begins ... are visiting his showroom just to look around, convinced that they're not able to obtain a loan. "Many [more...]

Date: 2008-10-10 14:00:00

Blog posts (282) | Videos (105)
 

Consumer Reports Retirement Survey: Planning Ahead May Be Just As Risky As Rewarding

February issue offers 17 moves to rebuild the nest egg and secure the future In the wake of big investment losses many have turned to Plan B to ... their credit card use and spent less on groceries and household goods. “When bad investments happen to good ... . But it proved punishing during the unusually severe market downturn of recent months. The [more...]

Date: 2009-01-06 12:09:04

Market Update 01/19/2009

Market Comment Mortgage bond prices fell last week pushing rates higher despite continued signs of economic weakness ... the credit crisis. Consumer sentiment came in surprisingly better than expected despite headlines ... indicator of the state of our economy. This report, provided by the Bureau of the Census, takes [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 21:27:51

Economy Weakens PC, Chip Sales

Things are not looking good for PC and chip manufacturers as consumers held back on electronics purchases during the holidays ... for the first time in 6 years in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to a new report from IDG ... tightening credit, eroding confidence, and growing unemployment,” said Doug Bell, research analyst [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 20:37:39

Fed Watch: Starting on an Ugly Note

Will the economic recovery package will be too "fleeting": Starting on an Ugly Note, by Tim Duy: ... with a truly terrible report on manufacturing. Across the Curve has the details; my eyes were pulled ... prices. Moreover, lending for home purchases (and consumer credit in general) is now fighting against [more...]

Date: 2009-01-05 08:24:00

JPMorgan temporarily stops foreclsures

Are they being nice or just plain practical?JPMorgan Chase the nation's largest bank and one of its biggest mortgage lenders, ... . The global credit crisis, which began with subprime mortgages, increasingly appears to be affecting a wider range of consumer loans and, according to a report published by First American CoreLogic Friday [more...]

Date: 2008-11-02 09:41:00

Six Months of Job Losses: You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet Baby

Marian Spiral Fractal by Bryan Evan Well, we're up to six months of job losses (pdf) ... market is drying up, but so is office hiring of all kinds. What hasn't shown up on this report ... and hospitality of all kinds will start contracting as people shop less and eat in more. With consumer credit [more...]

Date: 2008-07-04 01:30:00

Hit me Congress, One More Time: Bailing Out the Auto Industry by Walter Brasch

December 8, 2008 — dandelionsalad by Walter Brasch featured writerDandelion Saladwww.walterbrasch.com Dec ... . Equally as important, Consumer Reports has consistently given cars produced by foreign-owned ... caused by the sub-prime loan fiasco and the reality that credit is now tight for most Americans [more...]

Date: 2008-12-08 15:49:59

‘Young spenders will drive India’s economy’

As the Indian consumer goes all out to seek new experiences from food and wine, installs an in-home spa and holidays in exotic destinations, ... of the sources of credit available to them, says Hiscock. According to the latest research in the India Retail Report 2009, retail spending by Indian consumers is expected to rise from Rs.13.3 trillion [more...]

Date: 2008-09-29 05:17:26

BEWARE OF “FORECLOSURE RESCUE” SCAMS

BEWARE OF “FORECLOSURE RESCUE” SCAMS January 16, 2009 By: credit ... the Times reports. The Federal Trade Commission has already sued five companies representing 20,000 ... . What can consumers do? Be wary of companies that charge upfront fees and promise results, an FTC official tells [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 15:38:28

Chipmakers Want a Bailout Too

The Semiconductor Industry Association said today that chips sales were up 5 ... growth. Citing a recent Credit Suisse report, the association said PC unit sales were up 9.1 percent ... of chips go into consumer devices, the U.S. Congress needs to act to stabilize the economic situation. SIA [more...]

Date: 2008-10-02 13:52:44

The Economic News Isn’t As Bad As the Media Wants You to Think It Is

Liz Peek Financial Columnist Today’s New York Times front page made me laugh. While the second-biggest jump in U.S ... Consumers Feel the Next Crisis: It’s Credit Cards.” Are they so worried that even one tiny day of respite ... has boosted the nation’s appetite for change, and that each new dismal report sinks McCain’s prospects [more...]

Date: 2008-10-29 17:30:08

PC sales stank last quarter, but HP, Apple and a few others kept growing

No wonder there's been so much buzz about layoffs at Microsoft: PC sales just stank in the last quarter ... in the fourth quarter, according to a new report from research firm IDC. The holiday season drop pulled ... reduction in spending among both consumer and commercial segments amid tightening credit, eroding [more...]

Date: 2009-01-14 21:20:33

Banks Supposedly Will Cut Consumer Credit Card Lines by $931 Billion if Reforms Mandated

There is a rather amusing story at the Financial Times tonight, "Credit card reforms ‘to cost banks billions’". Let's look at the particulars ... that banks will lose $10 billion in interest annually, reduce credit lines by $931 billion, and put ... not get anyone well known for banking expertise to put its name on a self-serving report [more...]

Date: 2008-12-15 01:59:42

Greenpeace Praises Consumer Tech Firm for “Environmental Achievements” in Beijing

Haier.jpg World's foremost environmental org Greenpeace has just given a nod of appreciation to Haier - a consumer electronics maker and the ... credit for promoting prototypes of climate-friendly and energy efficient solar-based HFC-free air ... '. Calling its efforts "environmental achievements", the organization's report commends Haier [more...]

Date: 2008-08-20 10:24:36

Retail Sales Disappoint

Retail sales disappoint….  Chuck’s views on the Lone Prop…  Waiting on the ECB…  Emerging market currencies sell off…  And Now… Today’s Pfennig! ... according to yesterday’s report from the Commerce Department. The falling home prices, rising job losses, and tighter credit have all combined to finally force US consumers to adjust their spending [more...]

Date: 2009-01-15 17:57:41

Price comparison traffic up 37% thanks to economic downturn

With prices rising and the credit crunch biting, consumers are taking more time to find the best deals online. Last week we contributed to an Experian Footfall report which highlighted the downturn on the high street and in out of town shopping centres, compared with the increase in online retail traffic [more...]

Date: 2008-07-15 10:54:15

Economic Crises Deepens: JPMorgan Chief Says 2009 Will Be Bleak

Jump to CommentsBy Francesco Guerrera in New YorkThe Financial Times The US financial and economic crisis will worsen this year as hard-hit consumers default on credit cards and other loans, Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, has predicted in an interview with the Financial Times.Mr Dimon, whose bank will report fourth [more...]

Date: 2009-01-15 18:20:12

Center For Responsible Lending Burning, Payday Loans Unscathed

The CRL is burning… With each passing day, payday loans become more popular with consumers in need of a temporary cash bump ... higher. Witness this recent story from the Credit Union Times‘ David Morrison. He reports in “Sandler Mortgage Lending Controversy ... [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 22:12:37

Retail Sales Down 2.8% in October

Yet more evidence that consumers are hurting. From the Wall Street Journal: U.S ... reports, Federal Reserve policymakers should have added flexibility to address the credit crisis ... and the biggest since records began in 1992, the Commerce Department said today in Washington [more...]

Date: 2008-11-14 13:55:56

Sony Ericsson reports results for fourth quarter and full year 2008

.fullpost{display:inline;} Highlights:Global economic slowdown leads to contracting consumer demand Previously announced annual Euro 300 million cost ... to the global economic slowdown that resulted in contracting consumer demand and decreased availability of credit. Gross margin became 15% due to negative impact from exchange rate fluctuations [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 07:56:00

The Reality of The Good Cars We Are Building Today. Read On.

Too often the conventional wisdom in the looming credit crisis and the request of The Big 3 for a federal loan has been that it’s all Detroit’s ... independent survey on initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par [more...]

Date: 2008-12-23 00:09:27

CR Retirement Survey: Planning ahead may be just as risky as rewarding

The Press - January 12, 2009 In the wake of big investment losses, ... surveyed more than 19,000 Consumer Reports online subscribers between the ages of 55-75 and found ... on entertainment. About one-third have cut their credit card use and spent less on groceries [more...]

Date: 2009-01-13 22:42:30

Retail Sales Sends Markets Spiraling

Retail Sales Sends Markets Spiraling The markets were greeted today with an economic report that disappointed even negative expectations ... expectations.  Although the report is being heralded as “the worst holiday spending in decades,” ... .   Consumers are essentially maxed out on much of their available credit.  Since the financial institutions [more...]

Date: 2009-01-14 17:15:00

The retail crash bodes ill for services

This is bad any way you slice it: Retail sales plunged far more than expected in December, a record sixth straight monthly decline as consumers were battered by a recession, a severe credit ... of the housing slowdown continued to seep into the local economy. According to a report Tuesday [more...]

Date: 2009-01-14 15:06:15

Global Investing Roundups Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

Consumer Confidence Climbs; Home Prices Record Plunge; Troubled Banks on the Rise; Oil Falls 7%; Slim’s Bank Buys Citi Stock; D.R ... for” 2009, a Credit Suisse Group AG (CS) report said. Source: Global Investing Roundups Wednesday ... , according to the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price index, which posted a 16.6% drop for the three [more...]

Date: 2008-11-26 13:12:23

Retail Sales Disappoint

Retail Sales Disappoint Contrarian Profits Writes: Retail sales disappoint… ... dropped 2.7 percent according to yesterday’s report from the Commerce Department. The falling home prices, rising job losses, and tighter credit have all combined to finally force US consumers [more...]

Date: 2009-01-15 18:56:29

bmi Launches In-Flight Voice Communication Without Voice

We’ve just heard how Delta is ready to launch it’s WiFi service across its fleet and it looks like they aren’t the only ones to launch ... threat of credit and debit fraud, for the first time consumers can now use a...MOTOTRBO Digital Two-Way ... . Will bmi offer full voice support in the future? WiFi? We’ll be there to report it! via Engadget [more...]

Date: 2008-12-16 02:41:45

Biodiesel Maker Latest News and Information

BioDiesel and Bio Fuel News Provided By MSN News Consumer prices fall for third straight month in Dec ... small businesses continue to struggle with tight credit and declining sales, one fledgling industry ... are reporting an influx of inquiries and … Green industry casts wide net - Rocky Mountain News [more...]

Date: 2009-01-17 05:01:29

A 90?s Flashback for Commercial Property

Angela Pruitt reports: Commercial property is bracing for a tough time that could morph into a crisis similar in scope to the free ... in history. But with the credit markets in lock-down mode, consumer confidence battered [more...]

Date: 2008-11-26 15:40:57

Consumer Traps & Tips & Tallahassee Report from Sen. Deutch

The Sheriff’s Department has issued an alert for all citizens ... that caused him to fall behind on his credit card payments. His unpaid balances were then sent [more...]

Date: 2009-01-16 17:29:05

FTC cracks down on medical identity theft

Ann Zeigler reports: The FTC plans to issue a new consumer protection rule that will take on the issue of medical identity theft, a growing concern now that identity thieves have recognized that medical records are rich sources of financial information that can be used to obtain credit with someone else’s history. Alternate [more...]

Date: 2008-10-07 17:23:15

Tough Times Topple Woolworths

The credit crunch and consumer pessimism may spell a bleak outlook for other British retailers in 2009. MarketWatch’s Aude Lagorce reports. 12/31/2008 [more...]

Date: 2009-01-02 19:15:40

JP Morgan:2009 Cloud Computing Outlook

Bert Bouwhuis pointed me to the a report by JP Morgan on Internet-oriented companies, ... computing was on track to be the buzzword of 2008 until it was displaced by the credit crunch. But beneath ... and cloud applications for the consumer and small businesses due portability, collaboration, convenience [more...]

Date: 2009-01-06 21:37:09

Shall We Call it a Depression Now?

Today's employment report, showing that employers cut 533,000 jobs in November, 320,000 in October, and 403,000 in September -- for a total of over 1 ... . And many are worried as well about their mortgage payments. So consumer spending is also falling off ... who are still good credit risks. Second, a stimulus package must be enacted right away. It needs [more...]

Date: 2008-12-05 14:58:00

The Affects of the Fed's Rate Cut on Consumers - December 17, 2008

So what does yesterday’s Fed rate cut mean for the average consumer? In a statement made Tuesday afternoon, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke confirmed the report ... . It would be here that home-equity line of credit and certain credit cards with variable interest rates [more...]

Date: 2008-12-17 20:49:00

Fortis Rescued, but Hypo Bank May Go Bankrupt Monday

Banks are falling over like kingpins. Not good at all. First, on the Fortis salvage operation: Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg invested 11 ... last year and credit writedowns. Fortis will sell its stake in ABN Amro's consumer banking unit ... the articles are in German. which sadly I do not read). However, this report comes from a reader [more...]

Date: 2008-09-29 00:53:15

Credit crunch fuels growth in cybercrime

UK cybercrime has rebounded to levels not seen since 2006 as a result of the recession and consumer complacency, according to Garlik's annual UK Cybercrime report. [more...]

Date: 2009-10-01 19:31:32

The Sky Has Fallen: Now What?

Superstrategist Ed Yardeni is quoted by James Pethokoukis in US News & World Report on what could go right in 2009: (1) Lower mortgage rates fuel a refinancing boom which lifts consumer spending. (2) Home sales increase and home prices stabilize. (3) Easier credit conditions increase auto sales. (4) The drop in fuel [more...]

Date: 2009-01-14 15:51:36

William O’Donnell and others at financial giant UBS issued a report earlier in the week noting some reluctance by investors to buy government bonds ... the credit crunch, investors have demanded a greater premium on securities backed by mortgages, which means consumer rates are less tied to Treasuries than before. I asked O’Donnell if mortgage rates [more...]

Date: 2009-01-08 17:39:53

Greenpeace Praises Consumer Tech Firm for "Environmental Achievements" in Beijing

Haier.jpg World's foremost environmental org Greenpeace has just given a nod of appreciation to Haier--a consumer electronics maker and the ... . Calling its efforts "environmental achievements," the organization's report commends Haier ... like water to cool the Olympic Village, the tennis center and other facilities. "Haier receives credit [more...]

Date: 2008-08-20 09:27:04

Leading Indicators at 33 Year Low, Consumer Sentiment Drops Most on Record

The Economic Cycle Research Institute ECRI reports Weekly Leading Index Growth at 33-yr Low ... the Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell every trading day but two so far this month, the credit crunch [more...]

Date: 2008-10-18 05:52:00

N.J. man learns modifying mortgage to cut payments may impair credit rating

by Moe Bedard on September 29, 2009 · 0 commentsin American Nightmare To confuse consumers even more, not all lenders follow the guidelines.That may change on November 1, when lenders can use a new code to report them as a “loan modification under government program.” The code will clarify which borrowers have taken modifications, but because the modification process itself is not streamlined, it won’t be the only worm squiggling out of the can.The bigger impact on credit scores may depend on how [more...]

Date: 2009-09-29 13:48:05

National letstalk survey reveals consumer spending still strong on cell phones and plans

Recent economic hardships may have consumers scrambling even more to stay out of debt, but Americans won’t let the wireless payment slip ... , credit card payment, or rent/mortgage payment. When asked the primary motivation for prioritizing ... . Surprisingly, over 75 percent of respondents report never being late on their wireless bill [more...]

Date: 2008-11-04 05:52:38

TARP Oversight Panel's First Report: What a Crock

Last week I ventured the view that Professor Elizabeth Warren, of Harvard Law School, ... advantage over consumers, which they see as their duty to exploit at every turn. Or, as she puts it, ‘Credit products aimed at both middle class and poor families are designed to trick them, trap them [more...]

Date: 2008-12-19 08:24:12

Consumer Headaches: 15 ways to get help

My two-month-long fight with Qwest, which barring a stroke of luck will no doubt go on a lot longer, ... serious problems that might damage your credit rating or cost you big bucks requires you to roll ... and all sorts of enlightening reports will come up. This is where I learned that Qwest had pulled the “let [more...]

Date: 2008-10-26 02:56:28

Beige Book in a tag cloud: Continued gloom

The Fed’s Beige Book is a hefty document that several times a year pulls together reports on economic activity from each of the Federal Reserve's 12 ... have been worse. To their credit, the Beige book's writers used many different phrases: "continued to weaken ... cloud! activity banks business commercial conditions construction consumer contacts [more...]

Date: 2009-01-14 20:53:43

Consumer Alert: Incredimail Fraudulent Charges

Please, anyone who visits my homepage: do not use, install, give money to, give credit card information to, or associate with this company.  I am so disgusted with them I’m about to report them to the BBB. First off, the program ... their contact form and still have not heard back from them. I had to call my bank and dispute the charge [more...]

Date: 2009-01-06 16:30:10

It’s Time To Cut Back In California

The Union Tribune reports from California. “ABA Recovery Service owner Marcelle Egley-Sparks said that in the past year, ... of the Center for Consumer Financial Services at E. Philip Saunders College of Business in Rochester, N.Y. ... During its first 73 years, San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union never lost money on a real estate loan [more...]

Date: 2008-08-24 18:28:13

Consumers hunker down even further

Consumers hunker down even further Posted November 14, 2008 12:12 PM ... the experts expected. Here's an excerpt of an Associated Press report: WASHINGTON (AP) _ Retail sales ... record levels. Billions of dollars of home equity have been wiped out for millions of Americans. Credit [more...]

Date: 2008-11-14 20:36:11

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