Is B.C.'s economy insulated from a U.S. recession?

While Midwestern cities, including Cleveland and Detroit, were the hardest hit areas last year in terms of foreclosures, it seems the trend has now moved on to other areas. The booming city of Las Vegas is now considered to be at the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis in America, a shift that began at the end of 2007.

According to statistics compiled by CNNMoney.com and RealtyTrac, seven of the top 100 worst-hit zip codes from December 2007 were in Sin City. Subprime mortgage loans were particularly prevalent in Las Vegas, and typically default at far higher rates than traditional, fixed-rate mortgages.

The hardest hit zip code was 89031 in North Las Vegas, with a total of 741 filings in December. These filings include default notices, auction notices, and bank repossessions. read more

Priorities matter in how we spend our money

News of former PM'' who's currently bidding for ''MCFC'' with price tag of some BT,7 billion does seem like alot wealth that most of us smaller folk could only dream of. Could build a few Hospitals and Schools upcountry where he's once grass roots voter's live for much less than BT,7billion,.still gives them pride to know that the Former PM could be a Football team Mogal soon. Or do you mean the criminal graft cases againist he's wealthy Wife land deals,..plus news a few months ago of the difficult time she had to transfer BT 400 milloin out of Thailand. The Baht at a 9 nine high exchange rate,.what great timming transfer funds too. Many here have answers to place this Nation back on track,..after the Former PM quick fix deals which created a mini TRT boom,..which if correct much was due to highest ever personal debt levels and use of credit cards,.all the low interest Car loans and i may add pushed along by GE and some more up market types TV Stars personalities,.short term stuff. read more

Microfinance Boosts the Poor

Federal Reserve officials are wrestling with a chicken-and-egg problem.

Must falling prices for fixed-income securities, now roiling global credit markets, stabilize before prices in the U.S. housing market, matching would-be buyers and sellers of homes, find a bottom?

Or must housing prices reach their low point before credit markets relax and make home mortgage loans more readily available?

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