Along with the major economical and social shake-ups, the recession may have also changed the romance game.
If you went out with your sweetheart last night for Valentine’s Day, chances are you split the check. “Going Dutch” on the bill in 2011 is considered more acceptable by women, thanks in no small part to the recent economic turbulence, according to a nationwide survey by Citi.
The survey found that 61% of women say it is more acceptable to split the check when on a date due to the current recession. The survey also found that most Americans who usually spend on their partners on Valentine’s Day weren’t planning to break the bank on it this year. Hart Research Associates conducted the telephone survey of 2,002 adults nationally from January 10-17, 2011.
Jonathan Clements, director of Financial Guidance at Citi Personal Wealth Management, said the survey represents the mood the recession has created among American consumers, however, it remains to be seen if the economic climate has created a true fundamental shift in the spending habits of Americans.
“The jury is still out,” Clements said. “One of the issues out there is whether the recession will be a wakeup call for our generation, in the same way the Great Depression was for our grandparents. You have to wonder if what people say [in a survey] is what they actually believe. You may say it’s ok to split the bill, but how will you react when your date proposes to actually split it?”
The survey also found that 55% of Americans without a spouse or significant other reported that they are paying more attention to a potential mate’s spending and savings habits now, more so than they had been before the recession. Additionally, 75% of Americans said their spouse or partner knows everything about their spending and saving.
The survey found that 49% of Americans claim the economy has had an impact – 18 % said the effect was major, 31% said it was minor — on their social life.
Spending and saving are like diet and exercise, Clements said. While they are important ingredients to someone’s well-being, it is common to slip up. Whether or not a spouse, significant other, or potential mate is privy to this information depends on how bad the slip is, and what the relationship dynamics are like.
“If you slip and you’re in a relationship, you may be reluctant to admit it, just like you are reluctant to admit that you didn’t exercise this morning and ate a whole bar of chocolate,” Clements said.
Ahead of todays awaited FOMC Meeting Minutes outline the housing sector will most probably release mixed data since that its improvement so far remains mainly gradual due mainly to the ongoing high jobless levels across the U.S soil while that prices pressures still remain well controlled and the countrys industrial production continues on expanding increasingly.
If truth be told todays major release is the Minutes of FOMC Meeting outline since that it gives out to traders and overall investors data and progress recorded during the period starting from the day the last meeting was held and ending along of course with more details regarding the present economical conjuncture of the superpower which as we know has an impact on the global economical revival.
Now mixed data is to be most probably posted out by the Department of Housing and Urban Development with on one hand the housing starts; the beginning of the foundation of homes, will most probably rise to 560 thousand units or 2.1 percent from 529 thousand of units or -4.3 percent.
While that on the other hand the building permits; a permit required for new construction, or adding onto pre-existing structures and in some cases for major renovations as they are accounted when they are granted, are forecasted to plunge and come in around 540 thousand units or -9.1 percent from 635 thousand of units or 16.7 percent.
As for the inflation pressures, the PPI index will be released today, which as we know measures price change from the perspective of the seller and in other words it is a measure of inflation, having the PPI of last month forecasted to plunge faintly to 0.8% from 1.1% and to 3.5% from 4.0% for the year ending January while the PPI Ex Food amp; Energy will most probably remain at 0.2%, indicating once again that inflation continue on being well controlled as already forecasted by the Federal Reserve.
Moreover the industrial sectors conditions of the worlds leading economy continue on expanding gradually with last month capacity utilization, which measures how much resources are being used by US factories, to rise slightly to 76.3%, while the industrial production could have faintly plummeted to 0.7% from 0.8%.
Content Provided by : ecPulse
Tags: Daily Forex News, US Economic Data, US retail sales, USD analysis
I think the cold weather is over, and I know that I am over it. A few consecutive cold, gray days and I start trying to figure out how to make a living running a little bar and grill on a beach.
The bad news is that I dont think we can, not if we want to live in a house, too. The good news is that its almost springtime in Memphis. Ive looked at the 15-day forecast on Accuweather and the historical forecast for March.
Go get your pedicure. The lowest high for the remainder of the month is 59.
Asparagus! Strawberries! Radishes from the garden!
I cant wait for the culinary switch, which is probably the only reason I like a change of season (otherwise, Id take summer year-round). Last week, I made a so-so batch of chicken and dumplings, and an excellent and very frugal pot roast.
It started with the basics: Chuck roast, potatoes, carrots and onions cooked low and slow in a sauce of beef broth and tomatoes. It tasted like a nice Sunday roast, and we enjoyed it thoroughly.
I was going to turn leftovers into a cheaters boeuf bourguignon, adding wine, mushrooms and pearl onions. But I thought of my grandfathers excellent vegetable stew, so I divided the leftovers instead. We had the boeuf bourguignon (really, it was beef stew with wine) one night, took a break, then on to Grandaddys vegetable stew.
I cooked the remaining beef and sauce until it was greatly reduced, then added lima beans, corn, potatoes, onions and carrots, filled the pot with half beef stock and half water, and let it cook for about an hour or so.
It tasted so much like the country stew he used to make, when hed toss in a small piece of meat, sautĂ it to render the flavor, then just keep adding vegetables.
It was delicious, and the whole pot probably contained less than a half-pound of beef. We ate it for two dinners, and though it really was economical, I felt a little guilty when we were done. Grandaddy wouldve stretched it out a week or more by adding different vegetables.
Anyway, the season of stews and chicken and dumplings is behind us for now. Lets rejoice by bringing out the grill this weekend.
Kudos, to the Chef
Ryan Trimm, co-owner and chef of Sweet Grass in Cooper Young, is up for a prestigious award. Food amp; Wine magazine, which named Restaurant Iris chef/owner Kelly English among Best New Chefs 2009 (and awarded the same designation to Jose Gutierrez more than 20 years ago) yesterday launched a new category: Peoples Best New Chef.
Trimm is in the running in the Southeast category.
I have no clue how they picked me, Trimm said. They called me and said one of their editors or reviewer came to the restaurant and loved it, and then they told me I was one of the chefs.
For Trimm to win, Memphians will have to get behind him and vote: Remember, this is peoples choice. Cast your vote at
I just feel wonderful to be among these guys, Trimm, 31, who just opened his restaurant in April 2010, said. One of them. Josh Hopkins, helped train me when I was in Charleston.
Well keep you posted on the tally at whiningdining.com. Voting ends March 1.
Soup Sunday
Youth Villages 22nd annual Soup Sunday happens from 11 am to 2 pm Feb. 27 at FedExForum, 191 Beale. More than 60 varieties of soup, gumbo and dessert will be served, and the money goes to a good cause.
There will be live music, space to dance and plenty of childrens activities.
The VIP Souper Party features all the soups and foods of Soup Sunday, plus adult beverages, cooking demonstrations, live music and more in the Opus Restaurant.
Tickets are available at the door or at youthvillages.org (click on events). Entry is free for children ages 4 and under. Advance tickets bought online are $5 for children ages 5-10 and $15 for adults and children 11 and older. Advance VIP Souper Party tickets are $15 for children ages 5-10, $40 for adults and $70 for couples.
At the door, prices are $10 for children ages 5-10; $20 for adults and children 11 and older; $20 to the VIP event for children ages 5-10 and $50 for adults and children older than 11.
Thursday wine and cheese selections
This week, Jason Severs, chef/owner of Bari, and Elizabeth Mall with Delta Wholesale will pair the Italian cheese Formaio Ciok with a 2009 Inama Soave Classico. Bari at 22 S. Cooper definitely has the cheese, and you can pick it up for $7 per quarter-pound. Lucchesis is supposed to have it, but thats unconfirmed at press time.
Next week, Angela Moon with Kirby Wines amp; Liquor has PJ Valckenberg Dornfelder Red 2009, a slightly sweet German red, to match Alyce Mantias cheese pick: Cambazola, a German blue.
See you online at 7 pm Thursday at whiningdining.com.
Recipe of the week
Lily, our 9-year-old foodie, went grocery shopping with me this weekend, and as we strolled the aisles of the Kroger at Poplar and Kirby, we talked about cooking.
She asked me for a pasta salad that uses curly pasta and has a little mayo but no mustard. I know she likes basil and found out yesterday that feta is her favorite cheese, so heres an adaptation of an easy recipe I found online.
Contact Jennifer Biggs at biggs@commercialappeal.com or 529-5223. Her blog is whiningdining.com.
Presto Pasta Salad
3 cups cooked rotini pasta
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
3/4 cup pesto
1/4 cup sliced green onions
2 store-bought jarred roasted red peppers, chopped
1/4 to 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Combine all ingredients except the feta in a large bowl. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, then top with the feta just before serving. Serve well chilled. Serves 2 to 4.
Source: Adapted from cookeatshare.com
JAKARTA: The Indonesian military (TNI) has decided to accept an offer of two F-16A/B Fighting Falcon fighter planes from the United States, TNI Chief Marshall Agus Suhartono said Monday.
He said the TNI had informed the Defense Ministry that they accepted the US’s offer, and were currently waiting for confirmation from the US.
According to Agus, accepting the offer was far more practical than purchasing new planes.
“The TNI had scheduled the procurement of six advanced F-16 fighter planes from the US by 2014. However, from a cost perspective, it would be more economical if we accepted the grant of two F-16s,” he said, as reported by Antara news agency.
Agus said the two planes could be upgraded in the future to match the technology of the latest series of F-16s, the F-16 C/D Block 52.
“We will upgrade the avionic systems, including the weaponry systems,” he said. — JP