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EconNews Online is South-Western's service to provide summaries of the latest economics news stories. Review the brief summaries and, for stories of interest, select the full summary. |
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Increased U.S. border
security has created an unusual problem - migrant workers who entered the
country illegally are finding that they can't leave, and so are staying.
This increase is taxing the public sector programs in communities in which
illegal immigrants live. (Updated October 17, 2003) |
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The supply of economists,
as measured by the junior memberships to the American Economic Association,
has increased by 14%, while the number of available jobs for economics Ph.D.'s,
fell by 10% last year. (Updated October 17, 2003) |
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As a result of the recent
blackout that affected 50 million people and seven gasoline refineries in
the US and Canada, prices of gasoline may rise by as much as 10 cents a
gallon. (Updated September 10, 2003) |
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Baseball teams are turning
to "variable pricing," in which ticket prices vary by anticipated
demand. (Updated September 10, 2003) |
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AT&T hopes to become
more efficient and more profitable by continuing to shed its workforce and
cut costs elsewhere. (Updated August 27, 2003) |
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Lumber prices have staged
a rebound of late, increasing as a result of increasing demand and reduced
supply. (Updated August 27, 2003) |
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United Air Lines filed
the largest bankruptcy in aviation history in December of 2002. Now, only
five months into the new year, the company is talking about operating outside
court protection much earlier than expected.. (Updated June 2, 2003) |
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The cost of attending
a New York Yankee game has spiraled to $197.09 for a family of four. Increasingly,
some fans prefer to stay at home or watch the game in sports bars. (Updated October 10, 2002) |
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Computer sales showed
a surge over the holiday season of 2001, stimulated by steep price discounts
for computers and related products, in spite of the recession and the growth
in popularity of home entertainment systems. (Updated January 15, 2002) |
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The market for bio-terrorism
products was insignificant before September 11, 2001. Costs were high and
consumer interest was low. Following the attacks, the government and consumers
are seeking treatments and vaccines. (Updated November 1, 2001) |
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Time-of-day electricity
pricing encourages consumers to use appliances at off-peak times. Utilities
therefore do not need to buy as much power on the expensive spot market
and fewer power plants need to be built. (Updated August 1, 2001) |
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The 2000 Census reveals
that Detroit and some other cities declined in the 1990s due mainly to downsizing
in manufacturing. But other parts of Michigan grew as other industries expanded. (Updated June 1, 2001) |
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Retail sales figures
for February provided further evidence of a weakening economy and decline
in consumer confidence. The weakness in retail sales could provide added
reason for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again. (Updated April 1, 2001) |
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Air traffic growth slowed
in October 2000 to just 2 percent over a year before. The causes are stated
to be consumer fears of operational problems and Middle East violence, fewer
discounted tickets, and cuts in travel budgets. (Updated January 1, 2001) |
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Oil production in West
Texas is booming again now that oil prices have risen to the levels of the
early 1980s. It is economic to open new and old wells that were uneconomic
before. However, activity has not rebounded to prior heights due to uncertainty
about the future. (Updated October 1, 2000) |
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Attendance at racetracks
has been slumping for decades due to the popularity of other sports and
alternative forms of gambling. Nevertheless, betting is increasing. Track
owners hope to bring the betting back to the track by turning their facilities
into entertainment centers and by providing shopping plazas. (Updated July 1, 2000) |
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VHS video sales are
relatively flat while DVD sales are increasing fast and will dominate the
market by 2002. This trend is due to a growing number of consumers owning
DVD players, buying more DVDs per person, and responding to falling DVD
prices. (Updated June 1, 2000) |
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The antiques and collectibles
market is growing due to TV shows such as Antiques Roadshow and web sites
such as that of eBay. While large antique shows are prospering, small shows
are not, because large shows are able to charge dealers less and attract
more customers. (Updated May 1, 2000) |
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The plunge in the stock
market has reduced paper wealth. Consumers are spending less, workers may
quit technology firms, and investors are likely to invest less. (Updated May 1, 2000) |
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American dominance of
the luxury car market ended in 1999 as Mercedes-Benz and Lexus overtook
Cadillac and Lincoln. Foreign cars apparently look and drive better, and
more are offered at lower prices. The American companies are responding
by trying to offer similar cars at cheaper prices. (Updated March 1, 2000) |
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House prices are rising
fast, the average now exceeding $200,000. House buyers want more space and
amenities, and can afford to pay for them. The cost of materials and skilled
labor is rising also. (Updated March 1, 2000) |
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Tobacco farmers are
selling less tobacco. Public-health groups emphasize that cigarette manufacturers
are buying more tobacco from overseas. The industry retorts that smoking
restrictions and higher cigarette taxes should share the blame. (Updated February 1, 2000) |
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Lower snowfall is reducing
skiing opportunities. Skiers are canceling or going elsewhere. Resorts are
responding by cutting lift ticket and accommodation prices, and are engaging
in more aggressive marketing. (Updated February 1, 2000) |
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In 1995, the Peruvian
Government shot down planes suspected of trafficking drugs and caused the
price of coca leaf to fall dramatically. However, the emergence of new trafficking
routes, a reduced supply in Bolivia, and a greater demand for cocaine, has
caused the price of coca leaf to rebound. (Updated November 1, 1999) |
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China is experiencing
deflation and authorities have therefore banned new construction of factories
that make consumer goods for the domestic market. It is uncertain how well
the ban will be respected as previous measures - minimum prices and lower
interest rates - have been ineffective. Devaluation may occur in the future. (Updated October 1, 1999) |
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Cell phone usage is
increasing, causing some consumers to give up their home phones. The reasons
are the lower prices of cell phone plans and the growing quality of the
product and its call coverage. (Updated October 1, 1999) |
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Refugees returning to
Kosovo are finding that food prices are double or triple their previous
levels. Staple foods particularly are in short supply. . (Updated August 1, 1999) |
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A decade ago, the growth
of managed care resulted in steady or lower health care costs. Now the price
of health care is rising at a rate of 7 to 11 percent a year for large employers,
more for smaller employers. Many employees are also dissatisfied for reasons
other than price. (Updated July 1, 1999) |
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Wheat and tobacco farmers
are worried because of rising costs and falling prices. In Canada, farmers
are able to grow hemp, a non-intoxicating cousin of marijuana. However,
the drug enforcement authorities will not permit hemp growing in the U.S. (Updated May 1, 1999) |
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Gasoline prices have
risen sharply in recent weeks. Refiners have been able to increase the price
of refined oil because of strong demand. An industry economist claims that
the higher prices reflects the higher price of crude oil, but OPEC has not
yet finalized its plans to cut output. Consumers and businesses are seeing
their costs increase. (Updated May 1, 1999) |
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The heat and floods
of 1998 are threatening the supply of pecans from Texas. However, distributers
are buying nuts from other states and Mexico, while producers are releasing
nuts from 1997 that have been kept in cold storage. (Updated February 1, 2000) |
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Sony and Nintendo have
decreased the prices of their video game systems. Sales have increased significantly.
The trend may be short-lived, however, as new hi-tech products come on to
the market and computer prices fall. (Updated October 15, 1998) |
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Bolivia is attempting
to stop the illegal growth of coca plants by giving grants to communities
and training to farmers in return for the destruction of their coca fields. (Updated August 18, 1998) |
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