U.S. economic confidence fell slightly in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. But consumers in the District of Columbia and states such as Maryland, Virginia, Utah and Massachusetts kept their confidence up. Here's why.
Since the fall of 2008, the big banks have spent $600 million on lobbying and related political activities. More and more, influence in Washington is an essential contributor to profits.
Mother Nature's fury this winter has left a path of fiscal destruction that will linger far after the record-breaking snowfall starts to melt -- and she's not done yet. But for some businesses, blizzards mean opportunity.
