Judging by the toys featured at the American International Toy Fair, the industry isn’t ready just yet to place huge bets on an economic recovery. Toymakers are sticking with many of the trends that worked last year and are keeping prices low. One big theme is toys that take advantage of the falling prices of […]
Social Security to start cashing Uncle Sam’s IOUs
The retirement nest egg of an entire generation is stashed away in this small town along the Ohio River: $2.5 trillion in IOUs from the federal government, payable to the Social Security Administration. It’s time to start cashing them in. For more than two decades, Social Security collected more money in payroll taxes than it […]
Sectors That Are Creating Jobs
The US Employment Situation report (better known as the jobs report) released on Friday paints a somewhat mixed picture of the labor market. The economy lost only 36,000 jobs in February, well below the consensus forecast of a 68,000 decline in jobs and continuing the trend of moderate job losses in recent months. Contrast that […]
‘Idol’ loses another finalist
Not enough “American Idol” viewers were inspired to vote for Tim Urban. The 20-year-old college student from Duncanville, Texas, was eliminated from the ninth season of the Fox singing competition Wednesday at the end of the “Idol Gives Back” charity event. Urban, who wasn’t at his best with his version of the Goo Goo Dolls’ […]
Instant Ab Flatteners
Achieving a toned, sexy tummy might seem like a pipe dream this time of year. Baggy sweaters abound, egg nog is served and Frosty the Snowman doesn’t offer much in the way of flat-belly inspiration. But getting a sleek, sexy stomach is easier than you think. Spend just five minutes a day on toning your […]
America’s most unusual planned communities
Whether it’s a religious calling, a golfing itch or Disney-developed serenity, millions have found a way of life in communities that amount to mini worlds. There’s no place like your centrally planned home For a citizenry obsessed with personal freedoms, it’s amazing how many of us live in manufactured environments. But just as art and […]
Best Laptops and Desktops of 2010
Whether you’re looking to surf from an ultralight netbook at your favorite coffee shop, tear into opponents on a gaming PC, or edit family videos on a touch-friendly all-in-one desktop, this year’s crop of laptops and desktops offers a bounty of power and flexibility at prices that have never been more reasonable. We’ve compiled some […]
Rank: 1
Metro: Boulder (Colo.) Share of homes with increasing values: 59.39% Median value: $347,200 Annual change: 2.12% Quarterly change: 3.86% Boulder, about 35 miles northwest of Denver, has had a relatively stable housing market, in part, because it is home to strong employers, including the University of Colorado, as well as a base of affluent residents. […]