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20 Jan 2010 22:09

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World: China’s growing faster than its censorship walls can go up

  • 10.7% growth in its GDP in 4Q ’09 alone source

14 Jan 2010 10:39

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Biz, U.S.: Obama’s bank plan: Lots of money for the U.S., with perks!

  • $90 billion in bank taxes over the next ten years source
  • So what happens if the banks overpay the bailouts? Simple. The money goes back to the U.S. to help strengthen the financial position that was screwed up by the bailout crisis. Did someone say “win-win” situation, kids? The banks don’t think so, by the way, and angrily responded to the new charges like petulant children who didn’t get a Nintendo 64 for Christmas.

12 Jan 2010 11:00

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Biz: Kraft/Cadbury merger: Chocolate & cheese candy bar closer to reality

  • Kraft only needs to improve their offer slightly to push through the deal. Kraft’s hostile takeover seems closer to reality than ever despite the fact that Cadbury had a solid 2009. Kraft needs to work fast, though – they have seven days to raise their offer to something a little more crumbelievable. source

10 Jan 2010 10:32

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Biz: China topples Germany, becomes world’s biggest exporter

  • 17.7% increase in Chinese exports in December – giving China a leg-up on the Germans
  • 13.9% decrease in overall imports and exports in 2009; so it’s not all massive growth for China source

04 Jan 2010 12:24

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Biz: Manufacturing rates are at their best since before the recession

  • 55.9 the December factory index according to the Institute for Supply Management
  • 50 the number the rate needs to be above to note a growing sector; so we’re doing good!
  • five straight up months; it’s at its best level since the heady days of April 2006 source

28 Dec 2009 10:41

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Biz: Ho, ho, ho! Holiday spending at retail was up this year, guys

  • 3.6% increase in retail sales over last year; yay source

27 Dec 2009 11:40

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Politics: A quick note to the Obama administration on airline security

  • The president is very confident that this government is taking the steps that are necessary to take our fight to those who seek to do us harm.
  • Robert Gibbs • Speaking about airline security and Obama’s role in making sure it’s done right. You know, Barack, you seem like a reasonable dude, so whatever you do, keep in mind that you were once in coach like the rest of us, and you know what it’s like. Don’t force rules on us that fudge the real issues of improving security. It helps nobody and angers normal people greatly instead. source
 

23 Dec 2009 13:41

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Biz: Spending up, homes down: Our economy likes mixed signals

  • 0.5% increase in consumer spending in November alone
  • -11.3% decrease in new home sales; oh, how you tease source

22 Dec 2009 08:57

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Biz: The not-so-incredibly-growing economy: It’s not as big as hoped

  • +2.8% the rate that the economy grew last quarter, according to numbers released last month
  • +2.6% the revised rate that the economy grew last quarter; we want our other .6% back source

16 Dec 2009 10:23

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Biz: Construction numbers: Can they fix it? Yes they can!

  • +8.9% from October’s depressing six-month low number
  • -12.4% from a year ago; at least they’re building source