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Gas prices have surged to a new seven-year high and while some experts predict they’ll come down soon, others expect more pain at the pump if crude oil prices rise. For the week of Aug. 2, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline rose by a little over two cents compared to the prior week to $3.159, a seven-year high, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The American Automobile Association said it expects gas prices to remain elevated at least through the beginning of August. “On average, motorists are paying 15 cents more to fill up since...

Toys ‘R’ Us Inc is preparing for potential liquidation if its negotiations with creditors do not result in a deal that can help the struggling toy retailer to emerge from bankruptcy, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. These talks are continuing and no decision has yet been taken. The company is also considering other options, including a potential sale in bankruptcy if possible, according to the source.

Allison and Michael Busam recently took their three daughters, ages 11, 9 and 7, to a school fair near their home in Summit, N.J., where they found a teacher they knew sitting on the bench in a dunking booth. He was promptly dunked three times. The soggy teacher told the Busams he was attending his reunion at Summit High School that night. Since moving to Summit from Hoboken 10 years ago, the Busams hear stories like that all the time. “I know a million people here who grew up here,” Ms. Busam said. Summit, a city of around 21,000 with...

ANAHEIM – Disneyland Resort raised its ticket prices on Sunday, with a one-day, one-park ticket for visitors 10 and older going to $96. The $4 boost at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure is about the same as previous hikes, which usually happen about once a year. Single-day ticket prices have more than doubled since 2003. The cost for annual passes went up, too. - snip - The increase comes as the Disneyland Resort is experiencing strong growth. Since Cars Land opened as part of the Disney California Adventure makeover in June 2012, Disney has often reported record attendance during its...

Gas prices hit record highs Updated: May 22, 2007 10:36 PM By MARC THOMPSON GRAND RAPIDS -- Gas prices have spiked again, jumping nearly 30 cents across West Michigan. The average in most communities is about $3.65 per gallon for regular -- a new record. The highest gas prices throughout the nation are on the West coast and in the Midwest. 24 Hour News 8's Marc Thompson asked Mark Griffin, president of the Michigan Petroleum Association, why gas prices are so high in Michigan. "We would like to know the answer to that too," Griffin said. "It seems like big...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - LaRonika Thomas got upset when Comcast moved the Sci-Fi channel to its digital service this summer, ensuring she couldn't continue to watch her favorite show, "Firefly," without paying $20 more a month. The Chicago resident received The Golf Channel instead on her basic, analog cable service. "I don't watch golf. I would rather have static on than that channel," said the theater director. "It's an awfully big cost," said Thomas. "I haven't canceled my service yet, but I may."

Gas prices on Maui went beyond the $4-per-gallon mark on Monday for midgrade and premium gasoline at some stations.

There is good news and bad news about gasoline. First the good news.... Gasoline could be given away with technology already available. The bad news is that the oil companies will not allow it. Check out this link Oil independence It will open your eyes as to a process that will allow the United States to get out of the Middle east, give us energy independence and allow us to say to the rest of the world stick your oil up your greedy little cans. The only problem with this is the oil companies are in cahoots with the government...

Like most people with even a passing interest in matters relating to business, I have been reading articles in financial periodicals and have heard the prognostications of many economists concerning a looming “Real Estate Bubble” for at least the past three years. Regardless of the logical and empirical approach to much of the research that has been shared on this subject, my own analysis has been quite contrary to these bearish assertions. However, some recent events have begun to weaken my resolve, and lead me to believe that the residential real estate market is indeed beginning to behave in an...

Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) said Tuesday that rising consumption and decreasing domestic production have led to high gasoline prices but also blamed his Democratic opponents and their opposition to the Bush administration's energy policies. The Bush-Cheney campaign accuses Senate Democrats of blocking a Bush energy plan that would increase petroleum drilling and energy conservation and provide new tax breaks and other incentives to spur exploration and production. "John Kerry (news - web sites) and John Edwards (news - web sites) voted no," Cheney said. "It's another area where I think there is a significant difference." Cheney...

Last week, I posted an op-ed piece explaining what I believe to be a major contributing factor to the high cost of gasoline. My opinion was in response to an internet email campaign circulating the net titled “don’t buy gas on May 19.” The motive of the one-day boycott was to punish the oil industry for gouging prices to maximize profits, as some believe. Respondents provided mixed reviews of the article. A clear majority agreed with my assessment. Others expressed disbelief, and in some cases, disdain. One respondent concluded that I must be employed within the oil industry, and reasoned...

<p>LIQUID Gold: According to local beer industry sources, the Mets' and Yanks' concessionaires purchase half-kegs in bulk for approximately $29 per half-keg, roughly half the cost charged to bars and restaurants. Each half-keg holds 1,984 ounces, or 124 16-ounce servings. So, if the teams sell 16-ounce servings for about $6.50, which they do, the profit over the initial purchase price of each half-keg begins when the fifth beer is sold and that profit, per half-keg, is nearly $800.</p>

Attorneys general in 41 states and three U.S. commonwealths yesterday (Sept. 30) announced a $143 million settlement of price-fixing charges against the five major U.S. distributors and retailers Trans World Entertainment, Tower Records, and Musicland Stores, Billboard Bulletin reports. In an anti-trust lawsuit filed in August 2000 in federal court, the states charged that the companies from 1995-2000 had conspired to inflate the price of CDs, costing consumers millions of dollars. The suit claimed that the majors and retailers illegally used minimum advertised pricing (MAP) policies to raise CD prices; this resulted in a reduction of discounting and competition among...