Opinion

From “direct hit” to “completely unscathed” here’s a breakdown of disaster impact.

Something is wrong on Wall Street.

The whole financial community is aflutter over Facebook shares, which stumbled out of the blocks as a publicly traded company last month.

But that’s not the problem. The problem is that the company’s market capitalization is completely out of whack with acceptable notions of corporate significance and meaningful contributions to society. The value of Facebook shares multiplied by the number of those shares is — at last tally — an amazing $87.33 billion.

The American Hardware Manufacturers Association’s (AHMA’s) Home Improvement Industry Confidence Index’s Current Situation Index improved in March to an all-time high of 350 from 270.8 in February (March 2008 = 100), while the Future Expectations Index also increased to 298.3 from 229.3.

In comparing current sales levels to year-ago levels, 84% of respondents said sales were higher in March versus year-ago levels, up from 65% in February.  For March, 11% reported sales were even, and five% said sales were below year-ago levels.

“Secretary Paulson’s proposal for a $700 billion grant of power with no legislative oversight and...

Is the NRF trying to make us believe even though a product comes in from China, it's really to be considered a U.S.-made product because it has 'some' U.S. content?  That's stretching the truth.

The following are responses to an HCN Daily item about Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax plan, built around a 9% business tax, a 9% individual tax and a 9% national sales tax. It would also eliminate the mortgage interest deduction.] 

Brick-and-mortar retailers pay taxes. Online retailers often don't. That scenario along with a recent story about the online taxation debate raging in California led to the following reader comments about the relative fairness of sales tax rules in our increasingly digital world. 

While the National Association Home Builders recently reported home size is on the decline, a survey from John Burns Real Estate Consulting found more consumers expect to buy bigger houses (44%) than smaller houses (22%). Who's right? Here's what we heard.