51° P/SUNNY, Latest columns from John Hielscher
Business headlines
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Shoppers slack off
Dismal sales figures for the holiday shopping season are probably a sign of worse to come for merchants in 2009 -- not only more sharp discounts and cheaper groceries but probably fewer stores.
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Loan plan gets nod
Idea is to let bankruptcy judges alter home loans to reduce foreclosures
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A little bit of health, a little bit of heart
In latest ads, juicemaker appeals to consumers'
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Orange juice gets a lift with a big USDA purchase
The federal government is buying more than 31,000 tons of Florida orange juice to donate to free school lunch programs and others in need throughout the country.
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Gas up 20 cents in week but crude oil falls again
Gas prices climbed again Thursday in the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice market, pushing the market's average up nearly 20 cents in the last week.
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Business briefs: Mortgage rate holds steady at 5.125%
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA -- The average rate for a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage on a owner-occupied, single-family home with 20 percent down on Thursday afternoon was 5.
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Business buzz: Village Fish Market completes expansion
The Village Fish Market & Restaurant in Punta Gorda recently completed renovations that include a new lounge with full liquor license and an increase in dining capacity.
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Corporate report
Walgreen Co. -- The drugstore operator said it will cut 1,000 jobs by mid-year, or about 9 percent of corporate management, through a combination of voluntary buyouts and layoffs.
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Playing to win Venice's top job
"Survivor" similarities: Candidates on this tropic isle are very motivated
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Debate on sprawl rolls on
In recent years, newcomers to this mostly rural hamlet have increasingly moved into subdivisions where roads and rooftops have replaced livestock and crops.
More columns from John Hielscher
- Consumers worry about their banks 12/8/2008
- Christmas spending wanes with economy 12/1/2008
- Insurance firm looks to buy struggling bank in Florida 11/24/2008
- Small business loans see a drop-off this year 11/17/2008
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Hundreds still owed money by IRS 11/12/2008
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Hundreds still owed money by IRS 11/10/2008
PDF - Fees for using ATMs and bouncing checks reach new heights as banks look for revenue 11/3/2008
- Bank in Southwest Florida being sold to distant buyers 10/27/2008
- A little financial perspective: Plenty of banks aren't failing 10/20/2008
- Insurance firms feel homeowners' wrath 10/13/2008
- Regulators are ordering BankUnited to shape up 10/6/2008
- Three local banks receive monitor's lowest rating 9/22/2008
- FDIC official checks out Insignia during a visit 9/15/2008
- Workers' comp insurance 9/8/2008
- Banks in Florida endure another difficult quarter 9/1/2008
- Insurer isn't giving up on attempt to raise rates 8/25/2008
- Departing state regulator 8/18/2008
- Veteran treasury professional joins Venice bank 8/11/2008
- First Bank names new official 8/4/2008
- Bove chugs on despite suit from BankAtlantic 7/28/2008
- First Priority called weak, again 7/21/2008
- Rumors flying about the future of Wachovia 6/30/2008
- Banks' plight not as bad as it seems, analysts say 6/23/2008
- Fifth Third Bank reaches out 6/16/2008
- Declining rates worry insurance executives 6/9/2008
- Customers unhappy with banks 6/2/2008
- Riverside Bank reverses course on expansion and closes branches 5/26/2008
- GunnAllen Financial disciplined for scheme led by a rogue trader 5/19/2008
- After a bit, Wachovia is looking 'snake-bit' 5/12/2008
- With last regulator's approval, 5/5/2008