Retail sales affected by increasing fuel prices

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39365048

In the UK, retail sales have been going up, but the quickly increasing fuel prices have also affected consumers and indicate possibility of retail sales dropping.

Fuel prices were 18.7% higher than usual in February, and there was a sharp fall in retail sales around a similar time period. This indicates that the demand for goods has decreased as the price on necessities has increased. Ultimately, inflation has gone up from 1.8% in January to 2.3% in February.

As consumer spending decreases, the UK faces some danger of the entire economy slowing down. People have become much more cautious with their spending because of the higher fuel prices, and it could potentially lead to certain other businesses suffering as a result.


1. What do you think could be potential solutions to the issue of rising fuel prices?
2. How do you think this change in spending will affect other parts of daily life?
3. Do you think consumers will take out from more long-term savings in order to continue their current lifestyles or adapt slightly depending on prices of goods in the market?

Two months out of office, Barack Obama is having a post-presidency like no other

So far, Obama is trying to approach his post-presidency in the same way as his cocktail-hosting duties — keeping things 'low-key', despite annoying pestering from Democrats for him to do more. After his presidency, Obama has taken multiple vacations since leaving the White House. Places like Palm Springs, the Caribbean and Hawaii.

"After meeting with tech executives about his presidential center recently, Obama headed to Oahu, where he golfed with friends and dined at Buzz’s Lanikai steakhouse in Kailua."

“Relaxed and calm”, mentioned about Obama, when dropped in on a Chicago meeting with community organizers planning his future presidential library.

Speculations on Obamas plans to stay in Washington is due to their daughter Sasha’s 2019 graduation from Sidwell Friends School. 

“[Michelle] got one daughter to get off to college, another is a [sophomore] in high school. All of that comes first,” said Tina Tchen, her White House chief of staff.

“When I left my job in the White House, my kids were out of high school. If they had still been in grade school or high school, I might have well made the decision to stay in the city.” Former vice president Al Gore told The Washington Post. 

Obama has been receiving much praise for his actions on still contributing to the overall community. His next move he is currently working on is building a community library in the Washington with his wife Michelle. He has been also has gotten praise for his fashion choices which has been trending on social media.

Founder and CEO of the KLEO Community Family Life Center, Torrey Barrett stated that “When he saw me, it wasn’t a traditional handshake... It was actually a dap, where we shook hands and patted on the back at the same time. . . . He said he and Michelle’s main priority now is to make sure the library happens.” 


Do you think Obama's deserves a break?

Do you agree with Obama's post presidency choices? Or do you believe he should do more like the other Political Democrat leaders?

Do you believe his presidential duties are seized or should he hold his persuasion-al mantel to still help guide America?

Building a Better Electric Grid, for a Better California

Article Link

PG&E is currently working to modernize and make this revolutionary machine better. This device is able to knit together constantly changing power flows from the sun and wind, and balance them with reserves stored in giant batteries, electric vehicles, even water. This will enable all of the latest high-tech innovations for people, while also providing reliable electricity for people. This is called the electric grid. It is making a difference in the way we energize our modern lives, as well as helping the state deliver a cleaner, more sustainable future. Nearly 70% of the electricity on PG&E's grid is now greenhouse gas free, making our energy among the cleanest in the nation. Now, we must connect this with markets allowing them to grow.

Questions:
1. Do you think this is a good way to conserve or make energy cleaner?
2. Do you think this is too similar to solar panels?
3. Is this a good source of reliable energy?

Americans are dying with an average of $62k of debt

Article link

There's no doubt that debt is hard to settle. And according to Credit.com, 73% of their consumers had a significant amount of debt when they passed away, averaging at around $61,554. A majority of their debt was due to unpaid credit card balances and loans (such as auto, personal and student). Usually, when there aren't enough assets to cover the debt, creditors end up only getting paid some of what they were owed in the first place. However, handling debt after death isn't always so easy. Factors such as the type of debt, where one lives and the value of their estate makes it much more complicated. For example, if your only asset is a home that other people live in, then that asset is used to handle the debt. However, the people living there might have to handle the mortgage themselves or the house must be sold to the creditors. Essentially, the debt would easily be passed onto someone else, even though it's not theirs. 

In your opinion, what is the best way to handle/avoid debt?

Why is it important that we learn about debt at a young age?

Do you expect the number of people with debt after death to increase or decrease in the future? Why? 

Trump approves Keystone XL pipeline

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39381324

Last Friday the Trump administration officially approved the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that was blocked earlier last year by the Obama administration. The pipeline will b 1,180 miles long, carrying oil from Canada down to oil refineries in Texas. In 2015, then Secretary of State John Kerry stated that the pipeline wouldn't help the US economy, nor would it help the US become more energy independent. He said that the pipeline was a "particularly dirty source of fuel." Conversely, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that he was "very pleased" with the agreement, and claims that Canada will be a "stable and reliable" source of energy for the US. Previously, when Obama was in office, he struggled with the Keystone XL controversy, initially stating that his administration was in favor of the project. Later, however, increasingly alarming environmental damage prompted him to scrap the pipeline. The $8 billion project is supposed to create an estimated 13,000 jobs, but opponents of the pipeline claim that a majority of these jobs are only temporary. Aside from the environmental implications, opponents worry that the pipeline could contaminate local water and land. There is also the issue of the pipeline going through Native American and Indigenous Canadian lands.

Discussion:
Do you think the construction of this pipeline will have an overall positive or negative effect on the US economy?
Should economic benefits be valued above environmental protection?
Should the US continue to rely on outside oil or move towards energy independence? (And what are the economic implications of independence?)

David Rockefeller, banker and philanthropist, dies at 101

David Rockefeller, the famed banker and philanthropist, died Monday at age 101, according to a spokesperson for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Rockefeller served as chairman and CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank, which after a series of mergers is now JPMorgan Chase (JPM). But he was also born into great wealth as a grandson of John D. Rockefeller, who was the founder of the Standard Oil empire and America's first billionaire.

According to Forbes, David Rockefeller was worth $3.3 billion at the time of his death, making him the world's oldest billionaire.

He died in his sleep Monday morning of congestive heart failure at his home in Westchester County, New York, according to family spokesman Fraser P. Seitel.

"Barbara and I were deeply saddened to hear that our wonderful friend, David Rockefeller, has passed from this good earth," former President George H. W. Bush said in a statement. "So many knew him as one of the most generous philanthropists — and brightest Points of Light — whose caring and commitment to the widest range of worthy causes touched and lifted innumerable lives."

Related: Dumping fossil fuels was great move for Rockefeller Brothers fund

Rockefeller retired in 1980 as CEO and chairman Chase Manhattan after nearly nearly 35 years at the bank. But he was also well known for his charitable work.

He donated almost $2 billion to a wide range of institutions, including The Rockefeller University, Harvard University, the Museum of Modern Art, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Council on Foreign Relations. He also founded the Trilateral Commission, an organization designed to promote cooperation among the nations of North America, Western Europe and Japan.

To mark his 100th birthday in 2015, Rockefeller donated more than 1,022 acres of land in Seal Harbor, Maine to the Mount Desert Island Land and Garden Preserve.

Related: Forbes list of billionaires

He was the last surviving grandchild of John D. Rockefeller, who started the oil empire that today includes both Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX).

Many members of his family were drawn more to politics than to business. His brother Nelson served as governor of New York and U.S. vice president while another brother, Winthrop, served as governor of Arkansas. He also had a nephew, Jay Rockefeller, who served as U.S. senator from West Virginia.

David Rockefeller started out in government as well, serving as secretary to former NYC mayor Fiorello LaGuardia before joining the army during World War II.

Do you think that this will affect central banking?

Do you think this will affect the economy?

Do you believe that he played a big role in central banking?

Do you think that with him not being around anymore welfare will need to find more funding?

http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/20/news/companies/david-rockefeller/

Donald Trumps Immigration Policies Will Slow Long-Run US Economic growth

In his first speech to congress, Donald Trump took on many issues and his campaign promises. One of the issue that he took on was immigration. In his speech he again recapped his plan of building a wall and gain efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. He thinks that these efforts will lower unemployment and crime rates, raise wages and save billions of dollars in public spending. But changes like this could create severe short run labor shortages in heavy sectors like technology, agriculture, construction and food processing. According to the U.S. census made before policy changes, in 20 years immigration will account for over two-thirds of the U.S. population growth. so basically slowing or stopping immigration will slow labor force growth and in turn economic output growth.

https://www.usnews.com/opinion/op-ed/articles/2017-03-10/donald-trumps-immigration-policies-will-slow-long-run-us-economic-growth

Do you agree or disagree that immigration will slow labor force growth?

What should Donald Trump do differently?

Is it necessary to change the policy?

Can We be as Happy as Scandinavians?

Article link

Many of us have at least heard that the Scandinavian countries are among the 'happiest' in the world. This past year, Norway overtook the top place upon that list and moved Denmark from first place. However, what does is really mean to be a 'happy' nation atop the UN's list of happiest nations? Well, there is a prominent level of subjectivity to the UN's list, such as simply asking member nation citizens how happy they are, but also factoring in economic ideals such as GDP and measuring greater total wealth to a more comfortable standard of living. There are also other debates, such as whether the socialist economy of nordic nations or the cultural significance of daily indulgences helps. There also could be scientific evidence in the genes of these Nordic people which helps stave off depression all together. Whatever it may be, these nations consistently rank near the top each year, and the citizens are happy about it.

1.) Is it possible for a nation like the United States to replicate such levels of a measure of happiness, or are we too diverse and mixed among cultures to be satisfied as a nation?
2.) Is socialism a main generator of happiness due to slightly higher wealth spreads, or are things like this and GDP obsolete for happiness.
3.) What can we take from these nordic cultures?

Uber president Jeff Jones steps down

Uber President Jeff Jones Steps Down


The Uber president, Jeff Jones is stepping down for a lot of reasons. He is stepping down primarily because he was frustrated that the company was hiring a new chief operating officer and he was not even in the conversation for the role. But sources say that Jones actually stepped down because he doesn't agree with some of the sexism and sexual harassment scandals that have been surrounding Uber?

Why do you think Jeff Jones stepped down?

What do you think will happen to Uber, due to Jeff Jones Stepping down?

If Uber begins to fail, is this positive for the consumers or negative?

J.C. Penney lists the 138 stores it is planning to shutter

Like many other retailers, J.C. Penney is closing down stores because more people are online shopping instead of going to stores and buying their clothes there. Around 5,000 jobs will be lost while J.C. Penney currently employs 105,000 people. Nine stores will close in Texas, eight will close in Minnesota and more stores will close in other states as well. 900 J.C. Penney stores left after the closing down the 138 stores.

1) Because other retailers are also following J.C. Penney's path, do you think this could hurt employment in America?
2) Do you think online shoppers think about how them not visiting stores affects the jobs of others?
3) How may retailers get people to continue to visit stores instead of just online shopping?

Are Free Meals in Economy Class Making a Comeback?

After the economic recession, the much requested airplane food begins to make a comeback. Some airlines offer free meals in the cheap seats. Currently, Delta airlines offer free food for passengers flying between New York's JFK to LAX and SFO, such as the Mesquite-Smoked Turkey Combo shown above.

Other participants in the oligopoly are also discussing the possibility of adding their own complementary meals in the economy class to match consumer expectations. For example, United and American both offer complementary food for international flights to Asia, Europe, South America, etc. Furthermore, free meals are offered on flights to Hawaii, such as the "ginger chicken with green peas, carrots, corn, and steamed white rice" and a cookie. Although generally people don't travel to Hawaii to get airplane food, it is still a minor positive outcome next to diving, fishing, beautiful beaches, resorts, and good weather that can be put in the cost and benefit analysis whenever families make a decision for their summer vacation.

A complementary meal is a good thing because when the big companies are trying to improve their flight experience to appeal to more people, consumers are the ones who benefit from the competition. With complementary food and beverages, people may find it easier to enjoy their time on the airplane as they await for the greatness that they will experience after landing, whether it be going home and seeing their families, traveling to an exotic destination, or conducting business.

Questions:
1. Is it worth paying for a meal / beverage on an airplane?
2. What is the impact of free meals in a flight experience?
3. Should airlines offer better meals (similar to business / first class meals) for a price or offer free meals that differentiate for different seat rankings?

Ways the GOP Bill Could Change Your Health Insurance

Ways GOP Bill Could Change Your Health Insurance

Ways the GOP Bill Could Change Your Health Insurance

One of the biggest changes to come would be that fewer employers would not offer health insurance to their employees. This change would make the job market more competitive and the trade off for the employers would be either having to pay high amounts for the health insurance plan for their staff or not having it at all and maybe pay their employees a little bit more. Another huge change would be less money for medicaid. The problem with this is when the money for medicaid goes short, do they still get the help and attention needed for their medical status? And if so what do they do when they get handed a bill they cannot pay off? Lastly, younger people may have cheaper policies. This means, younger people would have a lower premium while those ages 50-60 have higher premiums. 

Questions:

1. Do you feel insurance companies will be able to survive if these changes come to play?

2. Do you feel that cutting the allowance for those on medicaid will make a significant change? Why or why not?

3. Do you feel its a good idea to have the elder pay higher premiums so the young adults can have cheaper policies? Explain. 

Economics On The Border

Ever since Trumps victory in the presidential election there has been troubles for many of those along the U.S.-Mexico border. Many of the store owners along the border have been having trouble getting customers who aren't coming to buy things from their stores to boycott Trump. One store owner even talked to some of their customers to see what was happening got the impression that his customers are thinking"Let's spend our money here. Let's not send dollars to United States." It isn't just store owners that aren't being affected but american workers who work for companies that would move outside of the U.S. to sell to more places easier things they wouldn't be able to do with some of the actions the Trump administration has talked about.

1.What could be ways to urge companies that might leave to stay.
2.Do you think that there are things that the government could due to help fix these troubles
3.What ways do you think the government will respond to this sittuation

http://www.npr.org/2017/03/12/519879412/texas-border-town-economics

Work is Work

Work is Work

Check it Out

Whenever you think of Trump, his blockage of immigrants coming into the United States is always the first thing you think about. Especially when it comes to the Mexican and Muslim communities. "Build that Wall" has slowly become not only a physical request, but a symbolic barrier between the American people and immigrants. However, when it comes to the wall,  more Mexicans are willing to build this wall than you think. Mario Burgos states that for him he doesn't see it as an anti-immigration thing but he sees it more as an opportunity for more jobs. Some people in his business group who are immigrants agree that anything that put people to work is a good thing as well.

1. Is it right for immigrants to block out other immigrants due to the economic value of it?
2. Can there be economic value from building the wall?
3. If you were out of work, poor and near the border, would you build the wall to better your situation?

Two die in protests after South Korean president removed from office

    South Korea first Female president Park Geun-hye was impeached resulting in protests. The chaos all started when the former president was involved in a corruption scandal.  She is accused of helping Choi her friend raise donations from companies for foundations.Many are not happy with the decision and believe they that their nation has lost their liberty. During one of  protest in the capital of South Korea two died. Many are worried that North Korea will take advantage of the political issues going on in South Korea.


http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/10/asia/south-korea-president-park-geun-hye-impeachment/

Do you think it was the right choice to impeach president Park Geun-hye?
Should people just accept that she was impeached or should they continue  to protest?
Should South Korea be worried that North Korea will take advantage of the political chaos?

SF traffic ranks as 4th worst in world

link

San Fransisco is a place that garners many people looking for a place to live because of it's amazing views and all of the history that lives within the city. This is also the cause for so much traffic within the city. San Fransisco is the third most congested metropolitan area in the world, according to SF Gate. We can help reduce this congestion by carpooling to our destinations, using services like lyft and uber, or by using public transportation.

How else could we fix this congestion?
Should SF make public transportation more affordable?
Should more laws be implemented in order to lower the amount of people that drive at one time?

Obamacare Creators Tell GOP: We Told You So

Over the primaries and the debates Trump's constant talk of Obamacare was repeal and replace it. However, President Donald Trump said last week that "nobody knew that health care could be so complicated." With this statement it brings into question whether or not Trump will try to still repeal this. Obamacare's goal was to give Americans affordable, quality health insurance and to reduce the growth in US health care system. Although these goals are sound good, in practice there has been flaws with Obamacare. Obamacare has been very costly and expensive to the budget, medication is very expensive to, and some people have lost their current healthcare providers. Trump still appears to repeal Obamacare, but there has not been a clear plan of what he will replace it with

1. Should we keep Obamacare and make no changes to it?

2. If changed, what do you believe Trump will change it with?

3. Will there be a way to bridge the gap between Democrats and Republicans with health care?

Without Immigrants, U.S. Workforces Would Shrink Dramatically Over Next 20 Years

In the United States, Immigration has been a highly debated topic. However, this article states that with the drop in baby boomers working and immigrants either retiring or leaving, the workforce population is predicted to drop from 173.2 million to 165.6 million within 20 years. The number of people in the working population who are U.S. citizens with parents who were also born here is deteriorating. Although the decline in baby boomers and older immigrants is happening, the offset of new immigrants and eligible U.S. workers is still not enough to continue the growth of the workforce population. The article also states that in this time, immigrants are the very thing that will help our economy with the loss of so many US citizens eligible for work. According to a senior demographer at Pew Research Center, Jeffery Passel, the growth rate of working-age adults is the slowest it has been in 30 years.

Questions:

1) Do you believe that the decline in baby boomers working will have an extreme impact on the economy?

2) Do you think that the strict laws Trump intends to impose on immigration will hurt the United States economy?

3) Being that the age for working adults is around 25-65 now, do you think the drop in the workforce population will extend the age that people work until?

Syrian Children Suffer From "Toxic Stress" After 6 Years of War

article

Due to the longevity of war in Syria, many Syrian children suffer now from “toxic stress”, which is a condition resulting of continuous experience of trauma. The main cause for this condition, says Taghreed Baaj, a psychological counselor, is the loss of a loved one, family member, or an entire family. Many children that are in the refugee camps are orphans. Due to the increase in bombings, many children do not feel safe the even get their education. A majority of Syrian children stay in the camps in order to feel secure. Many adults have reported that children who suffer from toxic stress wet the bed, have vivid nightmares, and have lost the ability to speak due to their fear. The worst cases, says the article, lead to those children self-harming, taking drugs, or attempting suicide. Over 3 million Syrian children have grown up only knowing war, and millions of others will grow up fearing it.

1. Now that President Trump has placed a travel ban on Syria and other countries in the Middle East, do you think that will only fuel the fear?
2. What should be a solution to helping these children cope?
3. How can the U.S. help Syria?

Sweden Reinstates Draft In Fear Of Russia

Recently the Swedish government announced that starting next year conscription would be put back in place after its abolishment in 2010. Sweden is a neutral country and they are not a member of NATO, due to the Trump administrations hesitance to honor its military guarantees, Sweden has been forced to drastically increase their military strength because they have no one they can rely on. Lately Russia has taken a very aggressive stance in east Europe by doing things such as annexing Crimea, supporting the insurgency in Ukraine and countless provocative training drills on the door steps of other countries. Sweden's army has never been that big, especially when compared with Russia's and with the volunteer only military, Sweden's military is suffering from a lack of personnel. Another serious threat to Sweden is cyber attacks in the last 9 months of 2016 there have been reports of 200 cyber attacks on public infrastructure and 60 have led to major problems, Russia is suspected to be behind the majority of them as the Defense minister of Sweden says "I think Russia tries to have an impact on the Swedish debate and political decisions,” he said. “That’s what I think.”

Questions
1. Do you think that Sweden is right to Reinstate the draft?
2. Do you think that the U.S. will help Sweden if it is attacked?
3. Do you think Russia would consider launching a military engagement in Sweden?

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/02/world/europe/sweden-draft-conscription.html?_r=0