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The Fed makes its interest rate decision tomorrow.   I put decision in quotes above because the Fed is expected to do absolutely zilch with rates.    The rate is set at 0-0.25% right now and absolutely no one sees this going higher. Still, as always its the brief statement accompanying the decision at 2:15pm ET that really matters.  Fox Business will cover it. Below is a chart of the ... read more

You're late.    You're over-billed.   You're not in the system.    But it's okay because they "apologize for the inconvenience". I've heard those five words - "we apologize for the inconvenience" way too much lately and ill bet you have too. I'm not sure what's going on with customer service lately but its taken a steep drop down from an already precipitous decline the last few ... read more

Shots of the Plastic Logic e-Reader.    CEO said should come to market in early 2010.    Tiny, and very thin. read more

Every day it seems we discuss another government effort to meddle in the private sector. Whether it's bailing out the banks, taking over car companies or the desire by the government to run our health care system, the government has a very poor record of doing anything well. If you think government-run health care is a good idea, read the following article from author John Steele ... read more

Readings this Wednesday: Votes nix tax hikes in California as it teeters on the brink Citizens in Massachusetts don't get to vote directly so of course the tax hikes pass Does GM = "Government Motors?" Another government agency? GM doesn't see deal with UAW before bondholder deadline, either "Terrorizing" the bankers Senate tries to curb credit ... read more

The President wants to raise fuel economy standards for vehicles in America.   His proposal would also help resolve differences between the states and Federal government. It is a noble goal, and much will be made of it.   But we've seen this movie before.   Since the CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standards were created more than 30 years ago, there have been many attempts to raise ... read more

Today the government announced changes and updates to the Making Home Affordable program.    In the press conference, Tim Geithner and the head of HUD, Shaun Donovan, brought up a gentleman who was having his mortgage modified from a 6.5% interest rate down to a government-sponsored 2%, which will over time rise to 4.85% and lock in at that level. A few quick thoughts/questions: The ... read more

Last week the Administration happily touted the $17 billion in budget "savings" it had found by going "line by line" through the massive bill.   This prompted me to write about how the $17 billion is actually just 0.5% of the total budget, and how can you argue about 'savings' when the budget is up more than 14% from the previous spending plan. Some people wrote in saying "setttle down ... read more

Pepsi made a bid weeks ago to buy its largest bottler, Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG).   PBG rejected the bid as too low. Nothing unusual there, as negotiations like that happen all the time.   But now its turned ugly (and litigious, but that's really the same thing). According to Dow Jones: PepsiCo (PEP) filed a lawsuit Monday claiming Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. (PBG) and some of its ... read more

"Greedy." That's one of the nicer words being used this morning about the Chrysler secured lenders who refused to take the government's debt deal.    Yesterday the President said the group was "small" and merely "speculators."    Other political types - including the Governor of Michigan - piled on, calling these firms "greedy." It is easy to blame this ... read more