Data analysis of the government's Cash for Clunkers program is beginning to surface. That analysis, coupled with some not too impressive projections, is beginning to paint a murky, if not dismal, picture of the auto industry's future. I read an excellent break down of the data, which was provided by Michelle Krebs via Edmunds Automotive Network.

First off, some analysts are claiming that while the Clunkers program did boost auto sales for the month of August, those sales were most likely moved forward on the calendar by auto buyers who were already contemplating a purchase. The supposition is that these consumers simply bought earlier to reap their government vouchers (you're welcome). Dismal September sales numbers are being projected for auto makers.

Continue reading Cash for Clunkers data paints a murky picture

Cash for Clunkers data paints a murky picture originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading American Apparel CEO puts big ugly foot in his mouth

American Apparel CEO puts big ugly foot in his mouth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What does it mean when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) considers issuing bonds to raise cash? Obviously, the organization would be seeking more money to pursue its agenda, but what else could be inferred by this? How would the dynamics of world economic power wielding be affected? What effect could this have on the natural ebb and flow of free market capitalism? How would U.S. Treasuries be affected?

This possible bond issue was examined recently by Bloomberg.com. The Bloomberg article points to what I think is the most significant aspect that an IMF bond issue would present. I'm concerned that IMF bonds would directly compete with U.S. Treasury bonds. That possibility is fodder for a great deal of speculation.

Continue reading IMF bond sale: Would that be a good thing?

IMF bond sale: Would that be a good thing? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading China seeks to cap and trade the American consumer

China seeks to cap and trade the American consumer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Things have again become spicy in the world of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Reports are circulating that Microsoft miscalculated the severance payouts to some of the approximately 1,400 employees that the company recently laid off.

According to CNET News, Microsoft Corp. has sent out letters requesting a return of funds from those former employees who received apparent overpayment of severance benefits.The report also indicates that some of the laid off workers may have received severance underpayments.

Continue reading Microsoft accounting error shows up as huge PR blunder

Microsoft accounting error shows up as huge PR blunder originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Can anything save Playboy? Don't bet your booty on it. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bank of England lowers interest rates to lowest point since The Revolution originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Way Off Wall Street: The public responds to the Madoff scandal

Way Off Wall Street: The public responds to the Madoff scandal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

American Small Business League cries foul on Obama team originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hawaii breaks out Obama-era stimulus projects originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our feature on Money Losers of 2008. See all 20.

It's hard to dispute the fact that 2008 has been a lousy year for singer/actress, Jessica Simpson. She entered the year with her new beau, Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys, and was immediately blamed for his troubling performance on the field. The release of her feature movie, Blonde Ambition, went straight to DVD without even blinking. Her debut into the country music realm has all but fallen flat. The kindest professional critique of her maiden country album, Do You Know, referred to that effort as "solid yet simple." The reviews go steeply downward from there.

In defense of the minx with the jinx, I think Jessica Simpson has been mistreated a bit. I mean, blaming her for the flat performance of Romo's Cowboys just isn't fair. But then again, we Packer fans know that those Cowboys are just loaded with handy excuses. It's just a powerful shame that they had to make Jessica Simpson one. Perhaps it's due to the shock of no longer finding Brett Favre at Lambeau Field.

As far as Jessica Simpson's acting career, I thought we had settled that issue with The Dukes of Hazard. As a matter of fact, I thought we settled it with her Pizza Hut commercial. You know, that's the commercial where they made her come out and say "Hi, Yaw" as if it was something she would normally say. Worst of all, they used the cut where her telltale neck tick makes her whole head jerk to the side. I suppose I need to reissue my "Jessica is not an actress" memo to Hollywood.

Continue reading Money losers of 2008: Jessica Simpson, the minx with the jinx

Money losers of 2008: Jessica Simpson, the minx with the jinx originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Welcome to Way Off Wall Street, a column dedicated to providing Main Street opinions on topics of interest to investors. Each installment highlights the views of Americans who are far removed from the canyons of Wall Street -- and who often see things more clearly as a result.

Continue reading Way Off Wall Street: Can labor unions help stabilize the economy?

Way Off Wall Street: Can labor unions help stabilize the economy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our feature on Money Winners of 2008. See all 20.

As far as pop star phenomenons go, Miley Cyrus, aka Destiny Hope Cyrus, certainly is one. At just 16 years of age, the bright personality of this moderately talented female offspring of Billy Ray Cyrus has been effectively parlayed into a several-million-dollar property by none other than media giant Disney (NYSE: DIS). She is being exploited in classic Hollywood style, right down to her "morning after" bed sheet clad, Vanity Fair photo shoot. Smile pretty baby, and say cha ching!

The question is, how much is Miley Cyrus really worth? With earnings of $25 million from June 2007 to June 2008, Cyrus is listed as #35 on the Forbes Celebrity 100. Somehow though, that figure seems just a bit misleading. With concert appearances that have tickets selling out in minutes, a hit television show, multiple albums, movie deals, guest appearances, and a host of other deals pending, it's virtually impossible to place a true monetary value on the girl. It is speculated that the Hannah Montana franchise, which features Miley Cyrus, will net Disney in excess of $1 billion. The Baltimore Sun recently reported that Miley Cyrus is currently out-earning names as big as Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston. Her concerts are reported to be out-drawing Bruce Springsteen. Who's the boss now, baby.

Continue reading Money winners of 2008: Miley Cyrus, pop star phenomenon

Money winners of 2008: Miley Cyrus, pop star phenomenon originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst in Money 2008 feature.

Does it say something about American society when we consider the broad acceptance of the infomercial? At the very least, it says quick-hit, impulse item merchandising is alive and doing well. It also tells us that potential snake oil salesmen will always find their marks. What was once a marketing style reserved for county fairs and roadside stands is now considered to be mainstream business as usual.

Which of the following infomercial offerings made you sit up and take notice this past year? Did PedEggs get you up on your feet? Did you give in to a ShamWow craving and find yourself all wet, or did you buy some Aqua Globes and find yourself a bit dried out? Did Green Bags make you green behind the gills, wishing you had kept your greenbacks to your self? In the video marketing temple of Billy Mays On High, we must be careful whence our consumerist tithes may flow.

There are a few things about these product offerings that I want to know. Such as, why does that ShamWow barker have a head set on anyway? Who are we supposed to believe that he's talking to? Why would I need a PedEgg to accomplish what a little sandpaper can do? Wouldn't letting the ethylene gas from a banana escape into the atmosphere preserve the fruit just as long as sucking that gas into the interior of a Green Bag? How does an Aqua Globe measure the percentage of water in the soil that surrounds it?

Continue reading Best & Worst in Money 2008: As-seen-on-TV product

Best & Worst in Money 2008: As-seen-on-TV product originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst in Money 2008 feature.

As we undertake a hasty exit from the tumult of 2008 and plunge headlong into the mysteries of 2009, we might find it interesting to consider some business entities that could benefit from a little "freshening up." Four familiar names; Kmart, Playboy, Starbucks, and Wall Street, are each in need of a timely makeover, to varying degrees. But if you could chose just one of these big name operations to fix up for 2009, which one would it be, and how would you fix it?

First let's consider Kmart, the adopted son of Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD). What are the changes that Kmart might need to remain competitive going into 2009? Should the company try playing the boutique angle, which failed to work for Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT)? Should the company tighten up and consolidate, while pursuing a deeper product value play, or should it attempt to spread out its market coverage and work over its wholesale vendors, while engaging Wal-Mart in a game of cut-throat retail price points? If you were CEO of Kmart, what would you change?

Continue reading Best & Worst in Money 2008: Most in need of a makeover

Best & Worst in Money 2008: Most in need of a makeover originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Big sucking sound as WaMu white collars get the axe in Seattle originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Welcome to Way Off Wall Street, a column dedicated to providing Main Street opinions on topics of interest to investors. Each installment highlights the views of Americans who are far removed from the canyons of Wall Street -- and who often see things more clearly as a result.

This is the second part of a two part report in which I have examined current retirement attitudes. In Part One, I revealed some of the current thoughts and concerns that were expressed to me by people who are already retired, and by people who expect to retire within the next five years. In Part Two, I present the thoughts and attitudes of people who expect to retire more than ten years from now, and people who believe that the concept of a traditional, full retirement cannot be applied to their lives.

When examining the attitudes of people who will reach the retirement stage of life more than a decade from now, I found it difficult to form a well-rounded picture. I had expected that I would encounter numerous strategies and "secret formulas" for retirement success. However, what I actually encountered was a vast swamp of bewilderment, misinformation, and noncommittal apathy. I'm still rather stunned by it. These are people generally ranging in age from 45 to 60. I find it quite distressing that most of these people don't have a solid grasp on their own retirement planning. An article presented by redwoodage.com quotes Peter Smyth, executive vice president of The Hartford's International Markets, as stating: "The overall level of financial preparedness globally remains low and is deteriorating."

Most of these distant retirees seem totally blind to their own retirement financing. They complain that it's going to be difficult and expensive, but then they defer the responsibilities of their future financial security to employer-provided savings plans and government entitlement programs, including Social Security. Rare was the person I found who was involved in creating their own independent retirement nest egg. Additionally, I never expected to encounter such a stark contrast between this group and the people who are only about ten years older than they are.

Of this distant retirement group, those people who are actually taking an active hand in planning for their own financial futures seemed to favor two particular strategies. The first strategy encompasses those people who have engaged a professional financial planner for guidance in retirement planning and those who are utilizing their own skills and knowledge to actively develop a retirement portfolio on their own. The second active planning strategy is generally defined by a slow, and sometimes questionable, accumulation of tangible assets.

Continue reading Way Off Wall Street: Retirement dreams fade for younger workers

Way Off Wall Street: Retirement dreams fade for younger workers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Service employees union boss takes it on the chin

Service employees union boss takes it on the chin originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Manufacturing bright spot: Pierce Manufacturing Inc. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Many of today's "investors" place their bets on the stock market's wheel of fortune. They hope that their number will come up. I have news for those stock players: the majority of their ranks are no longer true investors. They are gamblers, plain and simple.

Would those gamblers like a hot tip? Here's one in keeping with today's economic defeatist attitude. I suggest that they immediately dump shares they hold in anything that's associated with motor racing. The reasoning for my saying this is simple: NASCAR has a measurable carbon footprint.

Please understand that I'm playing the devil's advocate here. I myself have nothing against motor sports.

NASCAR has already made one move towards a green future by introducing a new hybrid pace car. However, that's not going to cut it for the peak oil crowd. Additionally, this week the government announced its disdain for corporate America, with the curt dismissal of Detroit executives by a Pelosi-led crowd. We must also consider that advertising money is drying up, and with that, may go some sponsorships. NASCAR is in dangerous waters, and I believe that the sharks are circling.

Continue reading Finally, they'll come for NASCAR

Finally, they'll come for NASCAR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.