Finance Globe

Retail sales rose 2.7% in August, according to a government report released on Tuesday. Analysts had expected an increase of 2%.But the increase is likely to be only temporary - the big boost in sales was led by a 10.6% jump in motor vehicle sales, thanks to the government's (read: taxpayer's) $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program that ended on August 24, 2009.Retail sales excluding motor vehicles increased by 1.1%, higher than the .4% that analysts...

The self-employed person generally enjoys the freedom and flexibility that comes with being their own boss. We prefer to make our own rules, make our own schedule, and make our own money. And with that freedom and flexibility that self-employment offers, we also have a few choices in how to go about planning for retirement - the SEP Plan, Solo 401(k), and the Keogh Plan. Here's a quick rundown of retirement plans available to those who...

Non-farm employment decreased by 216,000 and the unemployment rate shot up by 0.3% to 9.7% in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.Economists had expected a jobless rate of 9.5% for August. But while the unemployment rate was higher than expected, the number of jobs lost in August was less than July's upwardly revised total of 276,000 - and August posted the lowest number of jobs lost in a year.Since the start of the...

Here's a look at some financial bad habits that can eat into your chance of ever getting ahead.Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL)These types of loans are sometimes offered by tax preparation companies when you expect to receive a tax refund. Here's how it works: You overpay your income tax all year long and find that you are due a refund of your overpayment when you file your return. But instead of waiting for the IRS to process...

The number of newly laid off workers filing for unemployment benefits for the first time has dropped slightly from the week before, the government reported Thursday.Initial claims for unemployment in the week ending August 22 was a seasonally-adjusted 570,000, down 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 580,000. The four-week moving average - which smooths out weekly volatility - was 566,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 571,000. The advance...

Is there anything more irritating than to take the time to answer a call, only to have to listen to some prerecorded sales pitch?Well, our friendly Federal Trade Commission is looking out for us. Beginning September 1, 2009, "robocalls" - prerecorded commerical telemarketing calls - will be prohibited unless the telemarketer has obtained permission, in writing, from the consumer who wants to receive those types of calls."American consumers have made it crystal clear that few things...

President Obama, while vacationing on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, announced Tuesday morning that he nominated Ben Bernanke for a second four-year term as head of the Federal Reserve.Obama opened his announcement by saying that Bernanke "has led the Fed through one of the worst financial crises that this nation and the world has ever faced. As an expert on the causes of the Great Depression, I'm sure Ben never imagined that he would be part of...

Speaking at an annual conference in Wyoming, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave an optimistic view of the economy on Friday. Bernanke said that Federal Reserve policies implemented in recent months have helped to stabilize a number of key financial markets across the globe.Bernanke said, "Short-term funding markets are functioning more normally, corporate bond issuance has been strong, and activity in some previously moribund securitization markets has picked up. Stock prices have partially recovered, and U.S....

Sales of existing homes have increased for four months in a row for July, according to a report released today by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).Existing-home sales - including single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops - increased 7.2% to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 5.24 million units in July from a level of 4.89 million in June, NAR reported. The rate of sales in July was 5% higher than it was a year ago.The last time...

Mortgage application volume increased for the week ending August 14, according to a report released Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 5.6% on a seasonally-adjusted basis from the previous week. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 4.8% from the previous week, and increased 25% compared to the same week a year ago.The Refinance Index increased 6.9%, after a 7.2% decrease in the week...