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One of the biggest changes to financial system regulation presented in President Barack Obama’s regulatory reform proposal calls for the creation of an agency devoted to protecting consumers. This new agency could demand any number of reforms from banks and other financial institutions. It could require greater transparency, simpler financial products and even set caps [...]

This past weekend, while I was enjoying the beauties of nature — and the company of my family — in Idaho, the leaders of the G8 were having a meeting in Italy. Members of the G8 spent most of the time patting themselves on the back, telling each other that they had done a marvelous [...]

Radio personality Mark Kaye had rapper Flo Rida on his show not to long ago. To welcome him, Kaye put together a rap song, “Floconomy.” It’s an amusing look at how “difficult” it has been during this recession for the wealthy and the famous.
Happy Friday!
Post from: Yielding Wealth

The number of uninsured Americans is projected to increase by at least 6.9 million by 2010 — meaning 19.2 percent of nonelderly Americans would be uninsured. This is an increase of 2.0 percentage points from 2007, say Todd Gilmer and Richard Kronick of the University of California, San Diego, in a paper published May 28 on the [...]

While the health-care sector has continued to add jobs through much of the recession, many individual hospitals have been feeling the pinch. We were reminded of this fact this morning, when we noticed recent reports from around the country describing layoffs at several hospitals.
The University of Iowa Hospitals must cut $45 million from its budget [...]

In April, the number of MLS-listed homes that went under contract rose by an astounding 7 percent. It’s the biggest one month jump in Pending Home Sales since October 2001, not coincidentally, the second-to-last month of the Early 2000s Recession.
*** Click the title to see complete post and pictures from http://www.themortgagereports.com ***

A recent poll conducted by the Consumer’s Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, found that only 4 percent of patients said their doctors talk with them about the cost of prescriptions. And 60 percent find out what the price is for the first time when they pick up their drugs at the pharmacy.
Should doctors discuss the [...]

Surprisingly well.
Although there are plenty of reports where people are splitting their pills, and delaying elective procedures and preventive care, those who are able to afford concierge medicine aren’t cutting back.
In these cases, health is showing resiliency during these tough economic times, and, “With jobs scarce and stress at a peak, many may see a [...]

It’s nice that the Senate has passed new credit card rules aimed at protecting consumers. Indeed, new rules on interest rates, over the limit practices notification of new card terms are all to be applauded. Going forward, these rules will better level the playing field and give us better information so that we can improve [...]

As we detailed in our most recent report on so-called millionaires’ taxes, we now have five states that have imposed a top rate near or above 10% on a small subset of high-income earners. While original adopters California in 2005 imposed their 10.3% (now 10.55%) tax rate at income over $1 million, subsequent states have [...]