Home Market Trends in U.S.A

An interesting graph that I saw in New York Times shows a history of home prices in this country from nineteenth century onwards. According to the graph, the market price of homes have been appreciating at an average rate of 5% but in the last decade home prices show sharp upward and downward spikes. In the first part of the last decade home prices showed unprecedented highs and some cities saw prices appreciating by as much as 20 to 25%. Then began the sharp downward trend.
Experts have been arguing about how much of the bubble and bust has been caused by the subprime crisis. Alan Greenspan's policy of loosening the credit markets certainly contributed to the bubble. Fueled by the increased liquidity due to securitization of mortgage market, lenders have been giving loans right and left, most of them to borrowers with doubtful credit history. When the bubble burst, most of these borrowers defaulted and thus resulted the first recession in U.S in the twentieth century.
Hopefully the home prices would pick up their upward trend soon enough.

Kellog Recalls Cereal

The Kellogg comapny, makers of the popular brands of breakfast cereal including Kellogg's, Keebler and Pop-tartsissued a recall notice for select packages of Kellogg'sCorn Pops, Kellogg's Honey Smacks, Kellogg's Froot Loopsand Kellogg's Apple Jacks.

The company issued a voluntary recall after some customersof an uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell. TheBattlecreek, Michigan based company warned customersagainst eating the recalled cereal since the products do not meet their quality standarsbecause of possibletemporary symptoms like nausea and diarrhea. The recalledproducts pose no serious health hazards, according to thecompany.

David Mackay, president and chief executive officer,Kellogg Company apologized to the customers and assuredthem that the company is "working diligently to ensure thatthe affected products are rapidly removed from themarketplace". The recalled products were distributednationwide. Products distributed in Canada are not affectedby the recall.

Following are the products which are affected by therecall. Only products with the letters KN following theBetter If Used Before Date are included in the recall. The recall does not affect products with a KM designation.

Kellogg's® Apple Jacks®
•UPC 3800039136 1: 17 ounce package with Better if UsedBefore Dates between APR 10 2011 and JUN 22 2011
•UPC 3800039132 3: 8.7 ounce packages with Better if UsedBefore Dates between JUN 03 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg's® Corn Pops®
•UPC 3800039109 5: 12.5 ounce packages with Better if UsedBefore Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
•UPC 3800039111 8: 17.2 ounce packages with Better if UsedBefore Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
•UPC 3800039116 3: 9.2 ounce packages with Better if UsedBefore Dates between APR 05 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg's® Froot Loops®
•UPC 3800039118 7: 12.2 ounce packages with Better if UsedBefore Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
•UPC 3800039120 0: 17 ounce packages with Better if UsedBefore Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
•UPC 3800039125 5: 8.7 ounce packages with Better if UsedBefore Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg's® Honey Smacks®•UPC 3800039103 3: 15.3 ounce packages with Better if UsedBefore Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Concerned customers can contact the Kellogg ConsumerResponse Center at 888-801-4163 from 8 am to 8 pm Easterntime for clarifications and for replacement coupons.

Apple Overtakes Microsoft as the largest Technology Company

Apple Inc finally overtook Microsoft as the largest Technology company. The market capitalization of Apple Inc on May 26, 2010 was $222 billion, while that of Microsoft was $219 billion. Read the whole story at Apple Overtakes Microsoft.

So finally, Apple is the new Microsoft.. The question is, will it use the same monopolistic tactics that Microsoft used?