Winter in the Northeast was particularly brutal this year, but not enough to account for the likely record prices. Blame crude oil's recent price jump for that. But the chills could become even worse if Obama's proposed cut in low-income energy subsidies passes.
It's hard to fathom that something as mundane as weather could affect employment statistics. But it clearly does. And it also has big impact on how much work actually gets done. And beyond the snows of winter, there's distractions like the Super Bowl that keep worker from their duties.
Much to retailers' surprise, old man winter didn't deter consumers from the post-holiday clearance sales. Merchants posted better-than-expected January results despite the dreadful weather that had caused many analysts to cool their forecasts.
U.S. shoppers piled up the presents under their Christmas trees, but retailers were still a bit disappointed. The Commerce Department's official tally shows what many suspected: Consumers did most of their holiday buying early this year.
Among Wednesday's top online stories for investors: Why did Warren Buffett invest in BYD? How does the market usually fare on a blizzard day? And what I learned from working with Jim Cramer.
For many sportswear manufacturers, wintry weather leads to increased sales as people bundle up and and outfit themselves for the great outdoors. Here, Matthew Pulomena and Nikhil Hutheesing face-off on which sportswear companies stand to benefit the most -- and how investors can profit.
Jersey residents voted in 2005 to give their state a lieutenant governor. Still, with Gov. Chris Christie vacationing in Florida while his state got pounded by a blizzard, there's a leadership vacuum in Trenton because Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is away on vacation, too.
It's been a grueling winter for travelers as airlines cancel flights ahead of possible bad weather. In February, 13,000 flights have been cancelled and 1 million passengers stranded. And even when winter ends, new rules could keep more planes grounded.
Snowstorms on the Eastern Seaboard this week could mean shortages and higher prices for chicken. At least a dozen poultry houses suffered collapsed roofs due to heavy snow, and further losses are expected.
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.
