Got some advice for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke? Just call 202-452-3206. A friendly voice will tell you, “Hello, you have reached the Federal Reserve Board. . . . To leave a message for members of the board, including Chairman Ben Bernanke, press 2.”
But fans of Bernanke, be warned. The next prompt instructs, “To leave a recorded comment for Chairman Greenspan or any other members of the board, please record your message after the beep.”
Alan Greenspan ended his term as Fed chairman on Jan. 31, 2006. At press time, neither chairman had responded to a message left on the machine.
Sorry, Mom.
Mom has always said it’s the thought that counts. Kids might actually be listening this year, says Tracy Mullin, president and chief executive of the National Retail Federation.
Of the 84.2 percent of consumers who plan to celebrate Mother’s Day, only 29.7 percent plan to buy jewelry, compared with 32.8 percent the prior year. They plan to spend an average of $138.63, compared with $139.14 in 2007. But gift-givers collectively are expected to spend almost $3 billion on a special dinner or brunch, $1.2 billion on consumer electronics and $2 billion on flowers, according to the survey of 8,180 consumers from April 1 to April 8.
Plumped up.
Furrowing your brow over the economy? Allergan Inc. (AGN) says sales of its Botox skin-care treatment, which treats wrinkles and fine lines, jumped 18 percent, to $315.5 million in the first quarter, largely due to international growth, suggesting people worldwide are still spending to keep up their looks even as they’re paying more for food and fuel.
But Jefferies Research analyst Peter Bye notes that growth was a bit slower than expected and says investors are worried about slowing U.S. spending on beauty treatments. He rates the stock “hold.”
The Associated Press
