Pasadena Chamber of Commerce

LA Times reports Obama wanting to change how bailout funds are given out. He’s talking about making sure it goes to homeowners and small businesses. Obama vows a better bailout Asking that Congress free up the rest of the $700-billion relief fund, the president-elect promises to aid homeowners and small businesses, working behind the scenes [...]

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From the London Times opinion section some common sense advice for business. January 10, 2009 Hard times demand desperate measures by Patrick Hosking Trying to take the temperature of the economy is a fool’s game. Surprisingly resilient noises from J Sainsbury, Next and Debenhams earlier in the week have been drowned out by the latest [...]

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A local slant on the unemployment rate rising from the Star-News. Nation’s jobless rate rises to 7.2 percent By Kevin Smith, Staff Writer Posted: 01/09/2009 06:01:12 PM PST The nation lost a jaw-dropping 2.6 million jobs last year in the biggest decline since World War II, and prospects aren’t expected to look up any time soon. [...]

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Thank you New York Times. Report Outlines a High Life for Advocates of Avocadoes By JESSE McKINLEY Published: January 10, 2009 SAN FRANCISCO — Luxury suites. Shopping sprees. Four-star hotels. Such was life in the high-flying world of the California Avocado Commission. That, at least, is the image presented by a blistering report released last [...]

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Bar and restaurant owners unhappy about happy hour patronage? Bars and restaurants are getting toasted by happy hour Email Picture Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times Rene Castillo, right, of Gardena, has drinks with co-worker Terry Jongewaard of Los Alamitos during happy hour at Yard House in Long Beach. “I am drinking more domestic [...]

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I used to see his name all over Los Angeles. Fred Sands talks about his success to the LA Times. Knowing when to get in, and out Email Picture Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times Fred Sands foresaw the last two real estate downturns. “The idea that everyone is supposed to own a home is [...]

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Which restaurants are closing after the New Year rush? Which stores will survive into 2010? Will commercial landlords begin to lower rents to stave off vacancies? Will loyal customers continue to support our local businesses? Is there anything that can be done on a local level to stave off the recession’s impacts? What can we [...]

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Seems no one is immune. From the NY Times: Waterford Wedgewood is in Receivership Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Customers browsed at the Wedgwood factory in Stoke-on-Trent, England, on Monday. ‘High manufacturing costs, declining demand for luxury goods in the current economic downturn, and a weak dollar overstretched the finances at the Irish maker of luxury crystal [...]

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Bad news follows bad news. From the LA Times via Associated Press: Bankruptcy filings jump by one-third in 2008 Associated Press 1:56 PM PST, January 5, 2009 ALEXANDRIA, Va. — U.S. consumer bankruptcy filings jumped nearly 33% in 2008 amid a recession that’s expected to keep filings rising into the new year. Overall consumer filings [...]

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As demand for alternative energy grows, prices should fall. LA Times reports: Sempra solar energy project makes advances in costs Email Picture Sempra Energy Construction supervisor Jorge Uribe examines solar panels used in Sempra’s Nevada project. An analyst says a Sempra Generation project powering California homes beats conventional sources on cost-effectiveness. By Marla Dickerson January [...]

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