Veteran financial writer Melissa Preddy served as a business writer, editor and columnist for The Detroit News from 1995 to 2008, is a Michigan-based freelance journalist. She now works as a writer and editor for a medical research unit of the University of Michigan Medical School. Follow her daily posts. | E-mail: Melissa Preddy
Bankrupt American Airlines on Wednesday revealed a tough restructuring plan that would scrap the pension plan, reduce health care benefits and, as several of my mobile news smartphone apps trumpted, , lay off some 13,000 employees. That’s a blow to a stumbling jobs market and a hit to consumer and worker confidence, though investors probably love [...]
Every February, myriad events nationwide commemorate and celebrate the country’s African American citizens. And while many observances focus on history, heritage and culture, there are plenty of angles for business writeres, too, in the experiences of black Americans. Profiles and features of are a natural fit. If you generally only cover incremental changes at companies run [...]
We may know by Friday if state attorneys general have reached a deal - reportedly worth up to $25 billion – with five major banks accused of deceptive practices that exacerbated foreclosure problems for struggling homeowners. The banks involved are Bank of America, Wells Fargo & Co, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup and Ally Financial Inc. The [...]
Coming off a year with a welcome 10 percent increase in sales, the nation’s auto dealers are prepped for an even better 2012, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Its “Top 3 factors why U.S. auto sales will increase in 2012″ suggests that aging autos, available credit and plenty of incentives from dealers [...]
With less than a week until the celebration of excess known as Super Bowl Sunday, you might be looking for business and economy tie-ins to the annual climax of the football season. Here are a few ideas for traditional and offbeat approaches: The usual players. Bars, casino special events, TV sales at appliance and discount [...]
Hard to believe it’s been 18 months since President Obama signed financial regulatory overhaul into the law that was prompted by the collapse and/or near collapse of what’s now known as America’s too-big-to-fail financial institutions. Pundits, critics and observers differ on the need for such legislation and now, whether it’s made our economy safer from [...]
Nearly a month into New Year’s resolutions, I have a feeling that millions of Americans’ resolve is withering just as grocery ads are touting fattening Super Bowl snack foods and bistros are starting to advertise succulent Valentine’s Day specials. Between now and Lent, more than a little noshing will take place – so take advantage [...]
There’s a hip new name for the secondhand goods deals that long have been dear to the heart of garage-salers, estate-sale mavens and consignment-shop connoisseurs: Re-commerce. The new term for turning one’s unwanted possessions into spendable cash turned up on a Trendwatching.com list of 2012 consumer trends to watch. “For smart consumers, trading in is [...]
With one week to go before all W-2s must be mailed out, the IRS already has started processing 2011 income-tax returns and readers are beginning to gather news they use in preparing their own.
