President Obama announced on Friday awards of $2.3 billion in Recovery Act funds to go towards new clean energy manufacturing across the U.S."Building a robust clean energy sector is how we will create the jobs of the future," said Obama. "The Recovery Act awards I am announcing today will help close the clean energy gap that has grown between America and other nations while creating good jobs, reducing our carbon emissions and increasing our energy security."The...
Consumer delinquencies in nearly all loan categories declined in the third quarter of 2009, according to a report released today by the American Bankers Association (ABA). This is the first time since 2007 that so many loan categories experienced a decline in delinquencies, which the ABA defines as a late payment that is 30 or more days overdue.The ABA's composite ratio, which tracks eight closed-end installment loan categories, fell 12 basis points to 3.23% of all...
Pending home sales fell sharply in November but remained "comfortably" above the level of activity from a year ago, the National Association of Realtors reported today. The index used to measure contracts signed in November fell 16% to 96.0 from an upwardly revised 114.3 in October, but is 15.5% higher than November 2008 when it was 83.1.The slide in pending contracts comes after a strong surge in previous months when buyers scrambled to beat the original...
If you're a small business owner and are having a tough time meeting business expenses during this difficult economy, you may consider looking into a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan program designed just for you.Under the America's Recovery Capital (ARC) loan program, small business owners may receive up to $35,000 in short-term relief. The ARC loan is intended for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help the business ride out the current economic situation...
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced today that they are suing the world's leading computer chip maker Intel Corporation, saying that the company "has illegally used its dominant market position for a decade to stifle competition and strengthen its monopoly."In it's complaint, the FTC alleges that "Intel has waged a systematic campaign to shut out rivals’ competing microchips by cutting off their access to the marketplace. In the process, Intel deprived consumers of choice and innovation...
Writing a business plan is a crucial step to your business' development. A well thought-out business plan defines your business, outlines your strategy for the growth of your business, expenses and income expectations, marketing strategies. It helps you allocate resources properly, handle unforeseen complications, and make good business decisions. And a realistic business plan is a basic requirement if you plan to obtain a loan to help start or grow your business. The Small Business Administration...
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning to consumers to be skeptical of anyone trying to sell test kits, inspections, or quick fixes for problems caused by imported drywall that has turned out to be contaminated. Earlier this year, it was determined that some U.S. homes built between 2003 and 2008 contain imported drywall, referred to in the press as Chinese drywall. Consumers largely report that their homes were built in 2006 to 2007, when...
New claims for jobless benefits rose by 17,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 474,000 for the week ending December 5, the Department of Labor reported today. The unexpected rise in initial jobless claims comes after five straight weeks of declines. The four-week moving average was 473,750, down 7,750 from the previous week's revised average of 481,500. The advance seasonally-adjusted insured unemployment rate for the week ending November 28 was 3.9%, a .2 percentage point decrease from the previous...
Bank of America announced last week that it would repay the entire $45 billion received from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).Paying back the funds would allow the North Carolina-based bank to break free of the federal government's restrictions and save approximately $3.6 billion annually in interest payments to the government. BofA has already paid $2.54 billion in dividends to the U.S. Treasury since the bank initially received TARP funding.And on Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department...
Getting your first credit card is a major stepping stone to financial independence. It's nice to be able to cover surprise expenses or emergencies without having to borrow money from relatives. You will have the freedom to make purchases based on an anticipated paycheck. Even if you're smart enough to only buy things when you have the cash, it's important to establish your credit history now. After showing a history of responsible credit card use, you...
