May 16, 2008

The Latest Business Headlines from WWJ Newsradio 950

DMC Pediatric Center | The Detroit Medical Center and Children's Hospital execs say a $34 million, five-story outpatient pediatric center will be built. | Story

Home Permits Down | Only 631 permits for new non-rental housing units have been issued this year in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston, The Detroit News reports. | Story

Pulte Hears From Critics | A rally was staged by the AFL-CIO and several unions before the company's annual shareholders meeting, the Detroit Free Press reports. | Story

CAW Reaches Agreements | The Canadian Auto Workers union tentatively agreed Thursday to labor deals with General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC that would replace contracts expiring in September. | Story | Related Podcast

Holiday Travelers Seeking Bargains | Many Memorial Day travelers will try to save money – driving shorter distances and opting for shorter, less-expensive stays this year. | Story

Oil Falls, Stocks Rise | Stocks edged higher Thursday as oil slipped, with traders selling the commodity to settle expiring options. The Dow gained 94 points to close at 12,992. | Story

SHOPPING AROUND FOR A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT? EXAMINE THEM CAREFULLY

If you are considering setting up a Health Savings Account (HSA), the good news is that there are more options to choose from than ever before. But, as with any financial transaction, make sure you check out the details before you commit your money.

HSAs let you to pay for health-care expenses, like co-pays and deductibles, and save for future retiree expenses, such as Medicare premiums, on a tax-free basis. To qualify for an HSA in 2008, you need to be enrolled in an insurance plan with a deductible of at least $1,100 for individual coverage or $2,200 for a family.

It’s a fast-growing business. The number of banks, credit unions and brokerage firms offering HSAs has doubled in the past 18 months according to Carlton Doty, an analyst with Forrester Research. More...

Changing Your Mindset Could Help You Deal With Inflation

Inflation has infested our food and energy supplies, so it's hard to avoid. And the usual Fed remedies – such as raising interest rates – may not help either, especially as interest rates are being lowered for other economic reasons. For some tips to help you to keep money in your pocket as prices continue to rise, click here.

Survey Finds Women Most Concerned about Health Costs

Women were more likely than men to have trouble paying for health care premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs, a survey says. But women are more likely than men to have done retirement health care planning. More...

MORE NEWS

INFLATION APPEARS TAME, BUT YOU'RE PAYING MORE: If only beleaguered motorists and shoppers could make their gas pains and food sticker shock go away with the ease that the government can. How can government data say inflation seems tamer when milk and gas both cost almost $4 a gallon? Wednesday's Consumer Price Index showed overall prices edging up a smaller-than-expected 0.2 percent even though food prices shot up by 0.9 percent, the biggest one-month gain in nearly two decades. It makes you wonder if the government is performing a statistical sleight of hand. The same Labor Department report showed that gasoline prices fell 2 percent in April after seasonal adjustments when motorists were paying a lot more at the pump. More...

TIPS FOR MOMS RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE: In addition to those moms already in the workplace quite a few mothers who've been out of the work loop are looking to get back in. But it's not always easy, particularly during an economic slowdown. On CBSNews.com, Stephanie AuWerter, editor for SmartMoney.com, offers some tips for moms heading back to work. The first step, she says, is to crunch the numbers. By the time you pay for child care, work clothes, commuting costs, etc., you might not be improving your finances by as much as you think. Before you take a job you want to have an idea of how much you need to earn just to break even. More...

SHOPPERS FEELING SQUEEZE BUY A LITTLE AT A TIME: Shoppers have been lugging ever-larger products to their ever-bigger cars for years. Now, more of them are feeling so pinched by the sagging economy that they are embracing a new behavior: buying a little at a time. From meat to mustard, consumers are trying to control their food bills by buying smaller-size items as they grapple with soaring prices. Companies have taken note, experimenting with different measures like 3/4 gallon milk jugs and pies that have shrunk to 6 inches. More...

MOTOR SCOOTERS GAIN FAVOR: With the average price of gas closing in on $4 a gallon, many cash-strapped motorists are turning to fuel-stingy motor scooters and smaller motorcycles. Dealers across the nation report brisk sales this spring, particularly for those that get from 75-120 miles per gallon. More...

WORLDWIDE AUTOMOTIVE REPORT PODCAST: The CAW settles early with the big three. General Motors has a deal in Lansing, working on one in Kansas. Convertible sales drop in a tough economy.

YOUR WEEKEND

'THE COLOR PURPLE' IN DETROIT: Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, this musical is the story of a woman who finds the strength to triumph over adversity, and discover her unique voice in the world. The score features gospel, jazz, pop and blues. The show runs May 20 through June 1 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. More...

MOZART'S MAGIC FLUTE: The Arbor Opera Theater and Marygrove College present a "modernized" version of "The Magic Flute" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Set in the now-demolished J.L. Hudson building in downtown Detroit during the 1960s and performed in English, the Magic Flute is a classic tale of the age-old struggle between good end evil. More..

MORE IDEAS AT GREATSTUFF For even more things to do, visit GreatStufftodo.com, southeast Michigan's online resource for creating a better weekend and making the most of your spare time. The GreatStuff Web site and weekly e-newsletter are produced through a partnership between ArtServe Michigan, the Detroit Free Press and WWJ Newsradio 950.