Quick take a peek at the bottom of your plate, bowl or mug. Do you see the Pfaltzgraff marking?

Chances are you might. These dishes seem to be everywhere.

At least that's the case for me and a few of my co-workers.

When we heard the news that the company was closing retail outlet stores and the local distribution center, we all started talking about how all of our dishes were made by that company.

I remember eating off Pfaltzgraff dishes as a kid in my parents house. What do you remember about the company? Leave a message in the comments section and let us know!

Posted in Consumer issues Economic Outlook Jessica Milcetich The working world

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See that picture? Students are seeing a whole lot less of that for college in central Pennsylvania.

A private student loan agency in Carlisle is limiting student loans it allocates from here on out, and a newspaper to the north of us is reporting the business isn't taking any new loan applications.

No matter what anyone says about race or gender glass ceilings still lingering in America, the 800-pound gorilla remains having the money for a good education. (Financial disparities are part of the race and gender ceilings, and in the end, money talks.) And like everything else in America, the degrees we buy - like hammers to smash through the glass - are bought on credit.

Credit woes aren't just something confined to people who were snookered on a bad mortgage or who ran up credit card bills at the mall, although sadly, that's part of what's caused the problem. And now kids can't afford college.

The situation with CampusDoor, I'm worried, will get worse. Do you know of anyone who is having problems with student loans this year? Are you worried education will become less available to those groups historically locked into class structures, and locked out of social mobility?

Posted in Brent Burkey Economic Outlook The working world Your money

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Our short week is about to come to a close, so here's your headlines before you head out.

Obama pays a visit

No, it's not your eyes, those packages are shrinking.

Coupons can save you big bucks.

And make sure you catch this week's podcast, where the biz staff talks about thrifty entertainment options.

Posted in Consumer issues Economic Outlook Food prices Jessica Milcetich On the job Week in Biz Your money

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The hurricane was bearing down on Louisiana over the weekend, and gas prices around York County went from about $3.39 to $3.45. It's a smart move to spread out the pain of a Category 4 storm smashing into oil rigs and upping oil prices in its wake.

But then the rigs pretty much got missed, and oil prices began to fall. At last count, they were down to about $106 per barrel.

So watch out for gas prices to drop, even below that $3.30 range where prices settled for a bit. If they don't, let us know.

Posted in Brent Burkey Consumer issues Economic Outlook Gas Prices Your money

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Just looking at the AAA fuel gauge report and gas prices are already creeping up in the past few days. Do we thank Gustav?

Posted in Cathy Hirko Consumer issues Economic Outlook Gas Prices The working world Your money

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My family stopped using a phone landline three years ago. And we are part of a growing market if you read Jess Milcetich's story on the reasons you either keep or ditch your landline. We did it too to save money. But the story made me revisit our cell-phone plan.

Posted in Cathy Hirko Comcast Consumer issues Economic Outlook Technology The working world Your money

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Another holiday weekend is upon us so before you head off to the beach or your backyard barbecues, here's a quick run down of what you might have missed this week.

Incomes drop a whole bunch.

Local grocery store closing.

Direct bus service to New York canceled.

Blame it on Gustav.

And of course you'll want to check out this week's podcast from the business staff. What can you expect to hear? All about shiny things and dumb people.

Posted in Consumer issues Economic Outlook Gas Prices Jessica Milcetich On the job The working world Week in Biz Your money

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After I read Brent Burkey's local story on how York's smaller coffee shops were still buzzing in this economy, I remembered my trips to the local java places in downtown York.
Whether it was a caffeine fix or an excuse to get out the office and take a walk on George Street in York, there's something about local shops -- and not only coffee shops -- that make you feel more connected to the community.

Posted in Cathy Hirko Consumer issues Economic Outlook Food prices Office life On the job Your money

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Story in the Times this morning about a contract becoming official for the Chinese to start developing an Iraqi oil field. It's based on a contract originally signed with Saddam.

So with oil prices going up again and our troops freeing up that oil from despotism, U.N. sanctions against the regime and whatnot, do you think we should get that oil ... and get it at a discount?

Or is it only fair that the free market play out?

Posted in Brent Burkey Consumer issues Economic Outlook Gas Prices Your money

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My dad told me at a young age to go to college for the same reasons I imagine a whole lot of York County tells their kids:

Get a better, more stable job than working in the factory ... and financial security.

From the bottom of the labor pyramid that supports this country, where I'm proud to say my father is, the view is that if you can get through college, you'll be on easy street.

Well, yes and no. College degrees might on average earn someone more over a lifetime, but it's far from easy street. Especially for those who took huge loans because mom and dad couldn't pay for college.

Some of those horror stories appeared in today's New York Times.

So a question for those York County parents sending their kids back to college this year: Are you worried about repaying the loans you and your children have to pay for college? And do you still think a college degree is worth the cost in today's economy?

Posted in Brent Burkey Consumer issues Economic Outlook The working world Your money

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