The 20 Most Valuable Brands In The World
Every year, BrandZ and Millward Brown Optimor calculate and rank brands based on their global value. These are the 20 most valuable brands for 2013. (Think mobile.)
California
22 States Report Employment Gains in February
Unemployment rates fell in 22 U.S. states in February from January, a sign that hiring gains are benefiting many parts of the country.
8 States Making Tax Changes: Some Painful, Some Pleasant
As you prepare your tax returns for 2012, be warned: A number of states have made or are considering big changes to their state income taxes. With some of those changes already having taken effect, you need to know whether you're in the line of fire -- or in line for a tax break.
The 10 Most Expensive Cities in the United States
The Council for Community and Economic Research just released its sixth annual city cost-of-living rankings. We'll tell you which cities made its top 10 list, plus the average costs of a few ordinary purchases in each one to help put those expenses in perspective.
The 10 Most Outrageous Items People Bought in January
2013 started off with some impressive sales, including record prices for a mansion and a Ferrari. One famous baby even got a diamond-encrusted Barbie doll for her first birthday -- and you won't believe what it cost her parents.
The 5 Best-Run and 5 Worst-Run States in America
Each year, 24/7 Wall St. conducts an extensive survey of all 50 states, reviewing a raft of data on financial health, living standards, government services and more to determine how well each one is managed. So which states do the best -- and the worst -- at the business of government? Read on...
The 2 Words the Food Industry Spent $45 Million to Avoid Using
California's Prop 37, which would have introduced labeling rules for foods containing genetically modified organisms, failed last week, largely because of a huge and misleading ad campaign funded by agriculture and food companies. So why are they so loath to talk about genetic engineering?
The 10 Best States to Retire In Now
Ask anyone to name the states U.S. retirees are most drawn to, and they'll likely fire off a list of coastal sun magnets. But as today's seniors look toward retirement with nest eggs battered by the recession, more factors than climate will go into their next choice of zip code.
Disney's 2013 Theme Park Plan: Keep the Magic Alive Every Week
Disney set up a three-story castle made of ice in Times Square this week to introduce its new Limited Time Magic theme park campaign for 2013: The family entertainment giant plans to kick things up a notch at its Florida and California attractions by offering 52 weekly themed events.
Apple's 'Little' Event Next Week Likely to Be the iPad Mini Reveal
Apple has sent out invitations to an event next week that is expected to be its unveiling of the much-anticipated iPad mini. The invitations didn't reveal details, of course, but hinted at something small with the words: "We've got a little more to show you."
How Close Are We to the Age of the Self-Driving Car?
Imagine a world without traffic jams, driver's licenses or car insurance. Sounds like science fiction, but maybe it's not. Last week, California became the second state in the country to pass legislation paving the way for self-driving vehicles.
The Secret the Food Industry Is Spending Millions to Keep
Big Agriculture and food companies are shelling out gobs of cash ahead of November's election to convince Californians to vote against a proposed law that would require businesses to label products that contain genetically modified organisms. Here's why:
California's Tax Man Eyes a New Tool: A GPS Tracker on Your Car
Here's a news item that will inflame both the privacy activists and taxophobes alike: In California, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is considering a plan to use GPS technology to track how far people drive, and tax them based on the distances.
Thousands Fall Victim to Utility Payment Scam
As much as President Barack Obama wants your vote, he won't pay your electric bill. But thousands of Americans have been persuaded otherwise, falling victim to a scam that claims to be part of an federal program to help pay utility bills in the midst of this scorching summer.
New Twist on an Old Law Offers Underwater Homeowners Hope
Governments have long used eminent domain to seize private property for projects in the "common good" -- often to the dismay of the owners. But now, two California cities want to use it to help get besieged homeowners out of their underwater mortgages.