| If spending drives the economy, brake is on
Or the Twin Cities Caribou coffee shops where tips are down and some regulars are swapping pricier lattes for straight brew. The nearly $14 trillion U.S. economy is more global than ever, but its overall vitality rides on billions of small transactions made -- or not made -- daily. And, from Target to the corner coffee shop, there's mounting evidence that Minnesotans and consumers elsewhere are using more discretion in their discretionary spending. That has Washington and Wall Street anxious, because if consumers stop spending the economy stops growing. The Federal Reserve slashed a key interest rate last Tuesday, and Washington has kicked in with proposed tax rebates. The plan: Put more money in people's wallets, and perhaps they'll spend some of it.
Droop in home sales infects even the subsidized market
Now, a growing number are sold to the first interested buyer, according to industry participants. Housing advocates say people are scared by the spike in foreclosures. "People are not willing to pull the trigger," said Tom Callahan of the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance. "There's more nervousness about, 'Is this going to go bad for me like it did for the person down the block?' " Also, fewer people can qualify for mortgages because lenders have sharply tightened standards in response to rising defaults and foreclosures. "Three or four years ago, we went through three applicants to get someone who was qualified. Now in some cases we could go through 20," said Mark O'Hagan, whose company, MCO Housing Services, is paid by developers to sell affordable units.
Endura's gear is tackling a new market
So why did a company with more than ten years' experience in designing and producing cycling gear decide to turn its attention to such a different sport? "Until very recently, the rugby market used predominantly cotton fabrics, but fabric technology has moved on and we can make tough garments and use sublimation printing to integrate a full design in the fabric," Mr Gibb explains. "The garment's longevity is good and the overall look is far higher because you can get photographic images on to it." He adds: "We started testing 18 months ago and we've haven't had one garment failure. Because it's polyester-based, it wicks sweat away so you don't feel cold and wet." Mr Gibb founded Endura in 1991 along with fellow cycling fanatic Jim McFarlane and until recently there were two aspects to the company - the Endura brand, which sells cycle clothing direct to retailers, and the Tal range of clothing which it sells to racing teams.
WHERE ARE MY BOXES?
Along with clothes and other items, she had sent a 32-inch TV, a laptop, and a hi-fi. She was charged about $300 for shipping. Her employer said they didn't even know if the company was still in business. Even if they couldn't get the money or the goods back, she said she wanted an explanation. Madam Trihandayani is not the only one left puzzled and worried by the sudden disappearance of Aeromaritime Express. Other maids also said their gifts failed to arrive home for the festive period. Madam Brenda Espregante, 32, realised her freight had not arrived only after she returned to her home in the Philippines in January. She had sent out two 'jumbo boxes' in the first week of December. They contained toiletries, groceries and second-hand items worth an estimated $2,000.
Back to basics
Unlike previous years, last week's trips to various race shops and interviews with NASCAR's hierarchy didn't reveal any major changes. The points system will remain unchanged, the schedule will stay intact and, finally, each team will run one type of car in every race. Still, several storylines did emerge during the week. Here are the top five: 1. Junior's fitting right in. If there was one thing the reporters were dying to find out during the four-day whirlwind, it was whether three superstars could co-exist under one roof. Sure, it's early, but the early returns on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s switch to Hendrick Motorsports are all positive. Everyone with a pen, a voice recorder or a camera tried to get someone, anyone, to say something negative about the mega-team's newest member.
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