No one goes into Walmart (WMT) and asks to pay extra sales tax. Thus sales taxes are reasonable barometers for retail sales. This week we look at how taxes are doing in a period of economic recovery.

If you live in a state that offers its residents a pre-paid college plan, you have one more option when it comes to saving for your children’s education. As you weigh the upsides and downsides

Saving the dinosaur press is apparently a bipartisan effort -- and blather from both sides of the aisle doesn’t give a bad idea a patina of credibility. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, a Republ

A 529 college savings plan is designed to encourage savings for future expenses.The plans, officially known as “qualified tuition plans,” are sponsored by states, state agencies or univer

View the list If you’re like us, then you know that 4th of July fireworks aren’t always confined to the skies. Given the hot dogs, beer, and suburban angst, it’s the holiday most l

The Mighty Geithner, Keeper of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, says that 10 banks may repay a combined $68 billion in taxpayer-backed loans.Anywhere outside Washington, a lender would eagerly acce

Note: Five Things will not be published on Friday, May 29. Five Things will resume on Monday, June 1. 1) Fed to "Bolster" Balance Sheet?Fed May Buy More Assets to Bolster Balance Sheet &quo

1) Economics 101Whenever I mention to friends that I see a structural shift in consumer behavior and attitudes, it's almost universally dismissed as some kind of crackpot theory. Which is true, but o

Lights! Camera! Tax incentives! Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm last year signed a bill into law that gives movie companies spending more than $50,000 up to a 42% tax credit for shooting in&

Before we short travel and hospitality stocks or go long in face masks, let’s take a minute to recall the great swine flu epidemic of 1976. It didn’t happen. But many of the same factors