As another sign of our rapidly changing economic climate, Boca Raton-based Office Depot has fallen from the S&P 500 index of large-cap companies, joining other companies listed in the S&P Midcap 400 index.  

According to today’s Miami Herald, Office Depot’s fall from grace “comes as little surprise.” Office Depot has faced stiff competition not only from fellow office [...]

Yesterday President Obama proposed a pay freeze for federal workers, and strong reactions to his announcement have been expressed around the country. Aired this morning on a national news channel was a video blog from an angry government worker. He argued that if the government wants skilled workers and supervisors, then the government needs to [...]

After the owner of Loehmann’s was unable to work out an extension with creditors, the company filed for bankruptcy yesterday (see Forbes.) Loehmann’s is currently owned by Dubai-based Istithmar World, which purchased Loehmann’s from Arcapita Bank (formerly named ”First Islamic Investment Bank”) for $300 million in 2006. Loehmann’s has been selling discounted designer clothing since it [...]

A holiday food drive is underway at a number of Whole Foods Market locations around the country. For example, shoppers at the Whole Foods Market West Orange can donate food to the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges, and donations made at any Whole Foods Market in Las Vegas will go to the Three Square [...]

When a homeowner’s finances are running on empty, how does a foreclosure defense attorney get paid? Peter Ticktin of the Ticktin Law Group in Deerfield Beach came up with a creative solution: if their law firm successfully works to have a foreclosure dismissed and the existing mortgage/liens reduced, then the client will take out a [...]

After years of publishing popular magazines such as the National Enquirer, American Media announced financial restructuring plans that include Chapter 11 bankruptcy, per the Palm Beach Post.  

Based in Boca Raton, American Media also publishes other entertainment magazines such as Globe and Star, as well as Health and Fitness magazines such as Flex and Shape. A November 1, 2010 [...]

Despite continuing economic concerns and high unemployment numbers, American retailers are expected to enjoy a significant boost in Halloween-related business in 2010. The anticipated $5.8 billion in revenue (per an NRF survey) would mark a return to 2008 sales after many people in the United States cut back on spending in 2009. Some analysts point [...]

Each year, billions of dollars in international trade are processed through the Miami Customs District, which includes airports and seaports from the Keys up to Palm Beach County. Last month, the Miami Herald celebrated the area as one of a handful of customs districts that enjoyed business growth between 2009 and 2010. More specifically, per [...]

In Miami, almost everyone who bought a condo this year at the Viceroy are from offshore (e.g., Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela.) In Seattle, Asian investors are purchasing real estate without even seeing the properties in person. In Phoenix, an unprecedented number of Canadian investors are taking advantage of local deals, outnumbering California buyers for the [...]

Small business owners have been grumbling over banks’ unwillingness to approve business loans/lines, and their position was supported by Bernanke’s suggestion to stop paying banks any interest on money that should be in the hands of business owners. In a recent effort to unclog the lending pipeline, a new bill that just passed in the [...]