San Francisco

Where Do the Most Tax Cheats Live?

A new study by the National Taxpayer Advocate used confidential IRS data to identify five metropolitan areas where potential tax cheats cluster.

The 9 Worst Corporate Stadium Names in America

Last week, Florida Atlantic University announced plans to sell its stadium naming rights to GEO Group, a privately-owned prison corporation with an spotty reputation. But it'll hardly be the first time someone put a questionable name on large sports venue.

Forget the Zipcar Deal: Rent a Car Cheaper with Peer-to-Peer

Avis Budget's purchase of Zipcar embeds the car rental company in the heart of the fast-growing car-sharing business. But the more interesting and price-friendly trend in car rental is being powered by companies that don't own any vehicles at all.

Could Same-Day Delivery Save the Post Office?

By 2015, the U.S. Postal Service is expected to be losing money at a rate of $20 billion a year. But the Post Office has a plan intended to help stop the bleeding -- or at least slow it down. Next week, it will begin testing a new same-day delivery service called "Metro Post."

Best Places to Retire for Under $40,000

Many baby boomers who haven't saved enough to retire well are contemplating delaying retirement. But if working into your 70s isn't possible (or appealing), moving to a place with a lower cost of living can help stretch your savings and finance a better quality of life.

Home Prices Rose in All Major U.S. Cities in May

Home prices rose in May from April in every city tracked by the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index, a sign that increasing sales and tight inventories are supporting a modest housing recovery.

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.

Look Who's Buying America Now!

While Americans are still reeling from the housing bust, people from around the globe are scooping up cheap American homes. Over the 12 months that ended in March, nearly 9% of all real estate spending in the U.S. was done by buyers from abroad. Is it "Rising Sun" all over again?

Home Prices Rise in Nearly All Major U.S. Cities

Home prices rose in nearly all major U.S. cities in April, further evidence that the housing market is slowly improving. According to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index, the only top 20 metro area to see prices fall was Detroit.

Junk Food: The Pariah That's Replacing Tobacco

Forget cigarettes: The big public health boogyman now is obesity. The idea that our growing waistlines pose a hefty threat to our financial well-being is gaining momentum, and all signs point to this trend having a big impact on public opinion and public policy.

Target Makes a Test Run at Trendy Sportswear Biz with C9 Store

This fall, Target will launch its first spin-off store concept, based on its C9 by Champion athleticwear brand. Can the cheap chic icon muscle in on an activewear game dominated by trendy and pricey names like Lululemon, Athleta and Under Armour?

Yahoo Faces Shareholder Showdown Over CEO's Fate

Yahoo is facing a showdown with a major shareholder, activist hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb, who wants the troubled Internet company to fire CEO Scott Thompson for unethical conduct -- essentially, résumé inflation.

No Bottom in Sight: Home Prices Set Post-Crisis Lows

Just when it looked like housing prices were bottoming out and now was the time to snap up the best bargains comes news that may make you want to wait. The latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices show that real estate prices are continuing to descend.

U.S. Homes Lose (Only) $700 Billion in Value in '11

The year-end housing news is sobering: U.S. homes are expected to lose more than $681 billion in value in 2011. But there's an upside: That's 35% less than the $1.1 trillion lost in 2010, according to research from Zillow.

McDonald's Turns On a Dime to Beat Happy Meal Law

When San Francisco outlawed free toys with meals that don't meet certain nutritional requirements, the McDonald's Happy Meal looked set to become a bit less happy there. But Ronald and Co. have cooked up a clever solution.

No Trick: It's Adult Revelers Driving Halloween Sales

Halloween can get ghoulishly expensive for parents. Between decorating, candy, pumpkin-picking and costumes, and the holiday price tag can get almost scary. But many of the biggest spenders on Halloween don't even have kids: Young professionals now spend the most of anyone.

Midwest Cities Top U.S. Credit Score Rankings

There must be something in the cheese: Four of the top 10 American cities for credit scores are in Wisconsin, and four more are in nearby Midwest states, according to a new analysis by Experian. But all is not sunny in the South, where the cities with the worst scores are concentrated.

Missoni Buzz Overwhelms Target Stores, Website

Target strategically built a wave of buzz around Tuesday's launch of the Missoni for Target line, but the retailer was unprepared for what it created: Mob scenes in stores and a surge that crashed its website for more than a day. So was the near instant sellout a success, or a PR mess?

France's Macaron King Sets Out to Conquer America

The macaron is a filled cookie about the diameter of a half dollar coin that has become a foodie currency in its own right in recent years. It's simple in concept, but near impossible to get right -- and for the first time, Laduree, the French bakery and tearoom that made them famous is opening a U.S. boutique. So, let them eat cake!

10 Most Popular U.S. Summer Vacation Cities

When it's time for some R&R in the sun, Americans have a wealth of options. But based on summertime hotel room rentals, which one takes the crown? Orlando with its theme parks? New York with its culture? Washington with it's history? L.A. with its beaches? None of the above. Curious? Read on ...

Home Exchanges: Why Pay When You Can Swap?

Summer is around the corner, but vacation budgets for many families are tight. Still, a bit of belt-tightening doesn't have to mean giving up your dream vacation if you're able to escape the costs of a hotel and car rental. Now could be the time to take a leap of faith and try a home exchange or swap.

San Francisco Board Votes to Ban Happy Meals Toys

San Francisco could become the first U.S. city to ban toys from Happy Meals after its Board of Supervisors approved the rule in an 8-3 vote Tuesday. If Mayor Gavin Newsom is unable to overturn the ban, it will take effect late next year.

Why Happy Meals Toys are Controversial in California

Forget California's huge budget deficits, high unemployment levels and nasty political campaigns. One of the most polarizing issues in the Golden State today is about a proposal to ban Happy Meals toys in San Francisco.