A recent article on CNN Money described the woes of independent gas station owners. The increasing cost of a gallon of gasoline results in less profit thanks to the processing fees credit card companies charge the merchants. I can appreciate that doing business in this type of environment is tough. With gas prices soaring to ... Continue reading this article…

The Federal Reserve may soon become much more powerful if Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has his way. Earlier today, he released the “Blueprint for a Modernized Financial Regulatory Structure,” which includes a number of recommendations designed to take power away from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Paulson’s recommendations The Federal Reserve should be able ... Continue reading this article…

While I was having dinner with my father last night, the Federal Reserve lowered the interest rate at which it loans money to central banks. While my family and I were discussing the economy (among a number of other more interesting topics), Ben Bernanke was actually doing something. Will the move help? It will be ... Continue reading this article…

There’s no need for me to explain in detail the favored tax policy by each of the four leading candidates for the President of the United States for two reasons. First, Jeanne Sahadi wrote an excellent tax policy summary for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain and Mitt Romney. Secondly, the candidates’ stances now may ... Continue reading this article…

I’m glad everyone is excited about receiving checks from the government in June or July, but there seems to be a misunderstanding amongst people I talk to. While President Bush and a contingent of the legistlative branch have agreed on the propsed details, the bill still has to pass the House and the Senate. None ... Continue reading this article…

President Bush is suggesting a $145 billion rebate to taxpayers in order to stimulate the economy and avoid economic recession in 2008. About $100 billion is reserved for individual tax payers and the rest is for businesses. This could come to the masses in the form of a $800 tax rebate check for each individual ... Continue reading this article…

Forget what the government tells you about the inflation rate, known to economists as the CPI. The CPI may come into play when dealing with economical issues, but don’t expect your real expenses to increase at a rate nearly as low as the rate quoted by officials. First of all, the CPI doesn’t include food ... Continue reading this article…

Money Magazine has an eye-opening look inside the personal financial reports of the leading presidential candidates, including asset allocations and income sources. The article points out anything out of the ordinary with the candidates’ holdings and even offers money management suggestions from a financial adviser. Hillary Clinton. Net worth: $34.9 million. 2006 income: $12.1 million. ... Continue reading this article…

Newsweek in an upcoming article has taken note of a changing trend. Americans who in the past several years would choose certain items important to them on an individual level and spend more, this behavior is changing. Expensive coffee drinks, shoes, entertainment are some examples. People with a passion for a product have had no ... Continue reading this article…