Consumer prices decline, but inflation threat rises
By Xiumei Dong Consumer prices eased in February as gasoline prices continued to fall, but prices for non-energy items maintained their upward trend, offering further evidence that inflation remains a threat. The consumer price index, which measures what Americans pay for everything from cereal to car insurance, declined 0.2 percent in February on a seasonally […]
Meet some of Trump’s supporters
By Xiumei Dong and Jack Adams On March 11, Trump supporters from across the Chicago area gathered to see their candidate at the UIC pavilion. But they were disappointed. Protesters managed to shut down the rally, causing enough chaos for Trump to cancel his appearance. Before that happened, we spoke to a few Trump fans […]
Where dreams are made of carbon fiber
By Xiumei Dong and Iacopo Luzi Composite Envisions LLC, located in Wausau, Wisconsin, produces carbon fiber composite materials for customers around the world. As the company moves to a bigger factory, 29-year-old founder Cory Thorson, who became rich as a teen-age entrepreneur, said he is excited about the emerging opportunities. “More space, more employees, more […]
Volkswagen targets new demographic as it looks past emissions scandal
By Xiumei Dong Volkswagen AG, still reeling from a scandal that tarnished its reputation last year, is taking aim at some new demographic groups: younger drivers worldwide and Chinese car buyers. “Volkswagen is changing,” Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars, told the audience at a high-profile auto show in Geneva this week. […]
Home Depot sales climbed as U.S. housing recovers
By Xiumei Dong Home improvement retail giant Home Depot Inc., helped by the improving U.S. housing market and favorable weather conditions, reported stronger-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results Tuesday. For the quarter ended Jan. 30, Home Depot reported a net income of $1.47 billion, or $1.17 per diluted share, a 6.7 percent increase compared with net earnings […]
Hyatt’s earning land just short of analyst estimates
By Xiumei Dong Hyatt Hotels Corp. turned in fourth-quarter earnings that, while slightly below analyst forecasts, underscored how the hotel chain is currently benefiting from having a smaller international presence than its rivals. Net income dropped to $37 million, or 26 cents per share, from $182 million, or $1.20 per share, in the year-ago quarter. […]
Buenos Aires Celebrates the Money in the Year of the Monkey
By Xiumei Dong [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/247565029″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a day that’s typically filled with celebrations, cultural activities and quality family times. When the traditional holiday is imported to a foreign country like Argentina, it is the golden period for small Chinese vendors to […]
Size matters at the Chicago auto show
By Xiumei Dong With the drop in oil and gasoline prices, the auto industry is increasingly betting on larger size cars including SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks. At the Chicago Auto Show Thursday, Ford, Nissan, and Hyundai all introduced new lines of SUVs or crossovers. “The trend is undeniable. Since 2010, small SUV sales have been up […]
Groupon’s new leadership sparks hope
By Xiumei Dong Groupon Inc. is stepping up big this Valentine’s Day with promotion specials that offer lovers the chance to buy land on Mars. As the Chicago company restructures its leadership team, analysts see a slight hope for the stock in 2016. Four analysts rate Groupon a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and […]
To get more out of your travel dollar, experts point overseas
By Xiumei Dong A family trip to Europe, an exploration of Canadian national parks, or a wildlife adventure in Australia: These were some of the trips Americans had in mind last weekend as the dollar is strong. The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show returned to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in suburban Rosemont, mixing travel lovers, […]
