Medill Money Mavens

Rent everything and the kitchen sink

Vacancy rates are up, as are the number of perks landlords willing to dole out. Consider asking for free parking.

Chicago rental vacancies are up and rent rates are down, according to Reis Inc. To be exact, in the fourth quarter 2009, vacancies hit 6.7 percent (up 1.3 percent [...]

American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale: A look at the three battling apparel competitors

If we compare the fourth quarter earnings results of the three apparel competitors we can see that Abercombie & Fitch Co. is struggling compared to its two competitors. Both American Eagle Outfitters Inc. and Aeropostale Inc. have benefitted from consumers turning to more low-cost clothing apparel. Abercrombie & Fitch kept its [...]

How are Chicagoans saving money?

Saving Techniques

How are your fellow Chicagoans saving money? Jeniece Pettitt talked to people in Daley Plaza to find out.

Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov a good bet for investors

Polyus Gold's stock price has seen a slight bump on the London Stock Exchange. If they are able to merge with another company, the price could surge.

When a team is 7-57 and challenging for the worst record in the 64-year history of the NBA, it’s hard to see much hope on [...]

Will Slim’s prominence require increased security?

Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim is the richest person in the world with a net worth of $53.3 billion, according to Forbes magazine's annual list.

Investments Down Under are looking up

Jacquelyn Ryan/MEDILL

If you’re feeling unsure about the U.S. stock market, try looking Down Under.

Australia has managed to successfully weather this global recession. The economy is so strong, in fact, that the Reserve Bank of Australia raised the cash rate, Australia’s overnight inter-bank interest rate, on March 2. The Australian Securities Exchange, the [...]

Children suffer due to recession and state budget crisis

At the Voices for Illinois Children’s recent “Illinois Kids Count 2010 Symposium” at The Standard Club in Chicago, a panel discussion revolved around the topic of families in a time of economic crisis.

It was a gloomy outlook for children in the state as Illinois deals with high unemployment, poverty and enormous deficits.

Illinois [...]

Cubs tickets too steep? Try Chicago’s independent teams

Major League baseball’s opening day is less than a month away. Chicago Cubs and White Sox fans are as excited as ever to see their teams take the field in early April, but they may be planning to do so from the comfort of their own homes.

In the current economic climate, baseball fans are hesitant [...]

Book review: ‘KFC in China’ and its ‘Secret Recipe for Success’

Warren Liu's "KFC in China" not only highlights the exciting growth potential in the world's third largest economy, but also reveals how the American fast food giant managed to become the largest restaurant chain on the other side of the world.

It may be a fantasy, but the money is real

BY MICHAEL BELLER - MEDILL NEWS SERVICE It’s no secret that people have had to cut back across the board during the economic downturn. In the sports world, that's led to lower attendance and plummeting net gate receipts, the best measure of revenue garnered by teams and leagues from people going to games. In the first quarter of the current NBA season, net gate receipts were down 7.4 percent from the previous season. MLB attendance plunged 6.6 percent to 73.4 million, and the attendance at NCAA college football games dropped 1 percent from 2008, the first time in five years there were less fans through the turnstiles