Category Archives: economy

FAA Announces More Commercial Spaceport Taxpayer Grants

In 2009, U.S. commercial space transportation and the services and industries it enables accounted for more than $208 billion in economic activity. More than one million people were employed as a result. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, aviation, economy, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Driving More – 31.5 Million Travelers During Labor Day Holiday

The current national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is approximately $3.57 per gallon, about 86 cents higher than one year ago. Down nearly 10% from their May peak, gas prices will have less of an impact on Labor Day holiday travelers than they had on Memorial Day and Independence Day holiday travelers, during which 42% and 44% of travelers, respectively, stated gas prices would impact travel plans.

Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CBO Says 2011 U.S. Budget Deficit Third Highest in History

CBO projects that real GDP will increase by only 2.3% this year and by 2.7% in 2012. Worse, under current law, federal tax and spending policies will impose substantial restraint on the economy in 2013, so CBO projects that economic growth will slow that year before picking up again, averaging 3.6% per year from 2013 through 2016. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Treasury Receives $2 Billion TARP Repayment from American International Group. U.S. Taxpayers Still out at Least $51 Billion

During the financial crisis and Great Recession caused by Wall Street financiers, the U.S. Government’s support for AIG totaled approximately $180 billion. After today’s repayment, the taxpayers remaining outstanding investment in AIG through Treasury is $51 billion. Not one of the involved executives has been prosecuted for what were various forms of financial fraud that lead up to the near collapse of the global financial system and the ongoing Great Recession. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

August New Vehicle Sales Barely Up. U.S. Economy Still Stalled

It looks like the new vehicle retail sales for August will continue at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of a mere 9.9 million units since sales for August are projected at 898,000 units. The retail selling rate is just … Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, marketing, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM CEO Akerson Buys Another 10,000 Shares at $25.05

Akerson vowed this week that there was plenty of upside in GM stock given its new structure and emphasis on managing costs. On a cost cutting side, one program with great promise involves vehicle architectures. Akerson said “We need to simplify.” The company said that by 2018 it plans to cut that number to 14 from the 30 currently use.

Skeptics, and there are many, say show us the earnings per share and start paying dividends. Well, at least Akerson is putting his money where his promises are, so to speak. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news analysis, people, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement Favors Koreans

Under current market conditions, this waiver will not balance the current €10.7 billion trade deficit in automobiles, according to the respected consultancy Frost & Sullivan. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

High Fuel Prices Having Little Impact on Vehicle Choice?

Rising fuel prices are having little effect on the type of vehicles U.S. buyers are considering. This latest research conundrum comes from consultancy AutoPacific, which claims that while drivers are complaining about fuel costs, the choice of a future vehicle appears decoupled from them. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, energy, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Stock Below $25 down from $39 High as Conference Opens

During the program, senior leaders reviewed GM’s progress and outline plans for further improvement. In a sense GM is playing a “beat the reaper” game – can GM increase share and sales of less profitable small cars such as the Chevrolet Sonic, which is just entering production, at a greater rate than the drop off in truck sales and larger per unit profits in North America, while growing in Eastern Europe, South America and Asia? Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Yaris Now $14,875! Tundra and Sienna also Increase

The strong Japanese Yen is making itself felt on this side of the Pacific Ocean as Japanese automakers continue to raise prices. Japanese automakers are facing an unprecedented change in their competitiveness – they no longer have a price advantage over the Detroit Three or Korean automakers. In fact, companies that are heavily dependent on Japanese production of components and vehicles have a price disadvantage amounting to thousands of dollars per vehicle.
Continue reading

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, economy, manufacturing, marketing, new vehicle, prices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BMW Group Posts Record Global Sales for July

BMW was the best-selling premium automobile brand in the US market, although incentive costs were rising to almost $3,000 a unit and Lexus was effectively shut out of the market because of earthquake shortages. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

July Unemployment Stagnant at 9.1% as only 117,000 Jobs are Created. Almost 14 Million People are Officially Out of Work

The latest negative economic news came after automakers reported that total U.S. light vehicle market in July grew less than 1% from what was a weak July of 2010 as the economy languishes. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Another 400,000 Apply for Unemployment as Congress takes Month-Long Paid Vacation. No Job Creating Policies in Place

A new U.S. Senate report from the Joint Economic Committee says this: “Two years after the Great Recession officially ended, (Does anybody really believe the recession ended?) unemployment remains above 9% (the real rate is likely 12% or more). Equally alarming, the record long-term unemployment that characterized the Great Recession has shown few signs of abating and remains at near-record levels. Almost 4.5 million workers have been unemployed for a year or more. Another 1.7 million have been jobless for between six months and a year. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bye Bye American Dream – One in Four Could Not Pay for a Major Auto Repair in Latest AAA Economic Survey

One in four American drivers could not pay for a car repair of $2000 if faced with one today, according to the results of a survey released today by AAA. The survey also said one in eight would be unable to pay for a repair bill of $1000 – easily reached with overly complex vehicles on the road. Continue reading

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, customer satisfaction, economy, financial results, news analysis, people, prices, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Korean Auto Sales Surge as Japanese Remain Sidelined

Korean auto sales increased sharply in July while Japanese automakers watched as depleted inventories once again cut into their normal sales levels. Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia posted huge gains and a record month. A combination of high fuel economy and low prices – helped by the Korean Won – saw double-digit sales gains at both automakers. Still, several questions remain about the ability of Korean automakers to continue to grow at the significant rates they have been achieving. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment