Murano Glass vs Expensive Gas
Photo By: kaijaalioglu from Pixabay.com In the face of rising natural gas prices, many of Murano, Italy’s world-famous glass artists are shutting down their furnaces. Artisans on the small island…
When the Federal Government Steps in
Fiscal policy is determined by the federal government on three levels: (1) changing tax structures to maximize revenue collection, (2) regulating government spending based on the pulse of current economic…
Passing the Buck: Why Everything’s Now a Dollar and a Quarter at the Dollar Store
The dollar store, a staple in strip malls across many parts of rural America, is on its way to becoming the dollar and a quarter store. The appeal of the…
The Rising Cost of Pepsi
If you think the price of your favorite Pepsi product seems higher than the last time you bought it, you’re probably right. Pepsi recently announced that it would be raising…
Timber! Lumber Prices are Falling
Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the average price level for consumers rose 5.4% over the past year. While some are expressing concern over rising inflation…
Mark-ups in the Used Car Market
The past few months has seen a dramatic increase in the demand for vehicles. As cities begin to reopen, households are looking to purchase new cars to drive to the…
We’re Open, But…
If you’ve found yourself waiting for service at a bar or restaurant recently, you’re not alone. Across the country, widespread labor shortages are creating new headaches for the hospitality industry,…
What’s in Your (Digital) Wallet?
After decades of struggling with high rates of inflation, in 2001 the nation of El Salvador abandoned the use of its local currency, the Salvadoran colón, and made the US…
That Summer Job Is Still Waiting If You Want It
Did you miss out on getting a summer job last year? Students still hoping to earnsome extra money this summer should have no difficulty finding a job, or two, or…
How a Blockage in the Suez Canal is Contributing to a Change at the Mall
Like so many businesses, clothing retailers have endured a year or more of disrupted supply chains, challenges with maintaining appropriate inventory, and significant fluctuations in demand. The recent blockage in…