Archive for October 25th, 2011

Tanning salons say “go get ‘em B of A”

October 25, 2011

As if Bank of America didn’t cause enough of a stir with its $5 monthly debit card charge …

A B of analyst issued a report predicting that U.S. debt will be downgraded again in November or early December.

His rationale: the so-called “super committee” designated to craft a plan to reduce the nation deficit and debt will fail to reach a compromise and the draconian default cuts will kick in.

Specifically,B of A  analyst Ethan S. Harris wrote:

We expect a moderate slowdown in the beginning of next year, as two small policy shocks — another debt downgrade and fiscal tightening — hit the economy.

The “not-so-super” Deficit Commission is very unlikely to come up with a credible deficit-reduction plan.

The committee is more divided than the overall Congress

It is hard to imagine the liberal Democrats on the Committee agreeing to significant entitlement cuts.

And,  all the Republican members have signed the “no taxes” pledge.

The credit rating agencies have strongly suggested that further rating cuts are likely if Congress does not come up with a credible long-run plan.

Hence, we expect at least one credit downgrade in late November or early December when the super Committee crashes.

Didn’t these jabrones see what happened to S&P, Gibson Guitars and the tanning salons?

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Halloween: Battle of the bite-sized candies …

October 25, 2011

Punch line: Despite a tough economic situation, Americans are likely to spend more this Halloween season.  And, what candy should you buy for the trick-o-treaters? Well, this year consider bite-size M&Ms and Skittles – they scored the highest across all key metrics according to Insight Workbench … 

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Excerpted from brandchannel.com, “M&Ms and Skittles Best Bite-Size Halloween Brands

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, Americans will spend $72.31 on costumes, candy, and decorations, up from last year’s $66.28 and 2009’s $56.31 …

Overall, this Halloween is all about bite-size …

According to Insight Workbench, Candy Corn, the most iconic Halloween candy had the weakest metrics across all categories: lowest share of buzz, a Net Sentiment score of 52 and a Passion Intensity score of 48. Most people eat it solely at Halloween for tradition’s sake …

According to the NPD Group, about 5% of all candy consumed annually is eaten between Halloween and the week after with the most popular choices being chocolate, chewy candies and hard candy.

“It really came down to a battle of the bite-sized candy bits: the good ole reliable, melts-in-your-mouth-not-in-your-hand chocolaty M&Ms vs. the chewy, fruit-impersonating Skittles that let you “taste the rainbow.”

“Halloween was once an inexpensive holiday. Families made treats like candy apples, constructed costumes out of old bed sheets, and made their own spooky decorations. As stores stockpile all of the typical Halloween fare … plan a budget for this trick or treat season,” says Howard Dvorkin, CPA and founder of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. …

Edit by KJM.

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