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The average gallon of self-serve regular in L.A. is now $4.587, down from $4.608 a week earlier.
LA Biz Observed archive
Mark Lacter covered business, the economy and more here from 2006 until his death on Nov. 13, 2013.
The entire LA Biz Observed archive — more than 10,000 blog posts by Mark —
remains online and available.
June 2008
At last check, its stock was trading around 75 cents a share, and there's growing concern about the company's solvency.
Oil is up, markets are flat, SAG contract about to expire, and they're still talking at the ports.
Factoring in DVR viewing, the median age does drop, according to a new report, but only to 49.
Mid-May to mid-June home sales in OC were down, but by just 4.2 percent from a year earlier.
The two companies are in a dying business because big cell phone operators now do much the same thing.
At last check, the Dow was down 20.2 percent from its intraday high set in October. And there's no place to hide.
The Tribune CEO says that newspapers have been "insulated from reality" - namely what readers want.
Market trying to calm down (but oil is up again), KB takes big hit, IndyMac stock under a buck, and new domain flavors.
Not just celebrities, but real people. Says one Countrywide executive: “Angelo would call in and say, literally, ‘My maid needs a loan.’”
South Korea's CJ CGV chain plans to open a 648-seat, three-screen theater near Western Avenue in November.
As part of the Countrywide purchase, Bank of America will eliminate 7,500 positions over the next two years.
There's a pretty strong case for stocks being oversold after several weeks of losses - and today's 358-point plunge.
The Dow reached its 2008 low this morning, and then kept falling, on a bunch of icky news.
Ralphs goes discount route, Villaraigosa pushes sales-tax hike, Angelo chokes up, and Air Force missteps revealed.
Let's be honest here: This is a crummy property being put on the market at a lousy time.
The mortgage company is accused of engaging in deceptive advertising and unfair competition by pushing borrowers into risky loans.
There's nothing nefarious about Ralphs pulling back on its double-coupon policy. It's just business.
Countrywide to be sued, lots more millionaires, waiting for the Fed decision on rates, and American tests Internet.
A federal judge has ruled in favor of the steakhouse owner (Zwiener) in a lawsuit brought by the celebrity chef (Puck).
Today's news speak volumes about why it's so hard to figure out what's going on.
The Bev Hills-based chain is looking especially at China and India, where the hotel biz is in its infancy.
The L.A.-based cell phone company that was started by Sky Dayton might be sold to Virgin Mobile.
L.A. home prices still falling, naming rights for the Coliseum, Ralphs clips coupons, and Obama holds Hollywood fundraiser.
The Ninth Circuit jurist is being represented by an L.A. lawyer in a pending judicial misconduct inquiry.
Don't get excited - they're down less than a penny a gallon, to an average of $4.608 a gallon in the L.A. area.
He is expected to be placed on five years’ probation and pay $12.2 million in penalties for lying to the feds.
Oil prices steady, Hanks supports AFTRA deal, newspaper ad revenues plummet, and Americans give more to charity.
The idea would be for the league's little-seen cable channel to form a partnership with the Disney-owned sports network.
The jobless rate in L.A. County was 6.7 percent in May, up sharply from the revised 5.9 percent level in April.
The feds have the emails, and the emails are pretty damning. But should these two guys be singled out in the subprime disaster?
Gasoline hike not as sharp, Ford numbers are worsening, Live Nation's chairman to leave, and Geffen the manipulator.
The state fell from second to fourth place in a new ranking by the Milken Institute.
July 1 is the target date for completion of the mortgage company's sale to Bank of America.
The private equity giant has agreed to pick up an OC-based home health care provider for $1.6-billion.
Additional space would provide more of a one-stop shopping experience - as opposed to a place to stock up on soda.
We're told that the Tribune COO was meeting with publisher David Hiller and other honchos.
Two former hedge fund managers arrested, Americans driving less, Delta reduces LAX service, and mortgage bill watered down.
It shapes up to be a decent-sized infusion for the economy, provided that voters don't oppose the court decision this fall.
Kind of depends on what newspaper you're reading. How about the talks have entered a serious but inconclusive stage?
Government auditors say the Air Force made a bunch of errors in the awarding of a huge contract for aerial refueling tankers.
FedEx glum on economy, aerospace giants await government ruling, port contract may be near, and more flights to Palmdale.
The disastrous housing market has not badly damaged the job market – and that’s why the nation has avoided a downturn.
The Indian-based Reliance ADA Group would provide $500 million to $600 million in equity, the WSJ reports.
The conduct of the chief judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gets an airing tonight on KCRW.
The problem continues to be generating enough cash to meet the terms of the loans that were arranged last year.
In these tough times, you'd think that all job candidates would act professionally during interviews. And you would be wrong.
That's what L.A. bizfolks would prefer, though a $15.2 billion state budget deficit might require some compromises.
If the AFTRA deal is ratified, there would be pressure on the Screen Actors Guild to cut bait and get what it can.
L.A. tops for congestion, gas prices up 20 cents in one week, Midwest floods will boost prices, and "Soul Train" is sold.
The sweetheart deals that Countrywide Financial gave to U.S. senators and other big-wigs needs some looking into.
The L.A. real estate company is looking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars by selling Park Place.
The 91-year-old billionaire apparently will offer support for the automaker's management and its turnaround strategy.
In most cases these are not permanent reductions, but they could have an impact on local visitor counts.
A mortgage lender giving breaks to U.S. senators would seem to go beyond the usual Hollywood swag.
The FDA is focusing on Florida and Mexico as the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened people in 23 states.
After losing out on a big contract, CEO Jim McNerny must decide whether further protests are in the company's best interest.
Inflation, gas prices and foreclosures all take off, economists iffy on recession, and Jackson in talks for lengthy Vegas gig.
The newspaper business has far more problems than one billionaire owner who thinks he knows more than he does.
The media companies weren't happy with Guild President Alan Rosenberg pronouncing that a deal is unlikely by June 30.
At last check, 228 people in 23 states have come down with a rare strain of salmonella.
It's June, which means weddings, which means big trouble. At least it does for my favorite super-sleuth.
Americans keep spending, details on Countrywide VIPs, 99 Cents Stores was robbed, and Lakers score in ratings.
In the world of celebrities, yes. But the amount of money made is often quite different from the acclaim received.
A disagreement between CEO and chairman over "360 deals" that has name-brand artists receiving huge amounts of cash.
Sam Zell is promising lots more maps, graphics, lists, rankings and stats. That will surely turn things around.
Why would the legal team representing Bratz maker MGA insist that the other side not stay at its hotel?
Markets fall on inflation worries, SAG's attack on AFTRA, Bratz designer erased data, and new Queen Mary dispute.
American is charging $390 round-trip between NY and L.A. - and the airline is spending nearly $500 per passenger for fuel.
City and county officials apparently delayed voting on a construction schedule for at least seven weeks.
His plans to increase productivity at the LAT and tighten up news holes have generated the predictable outcries.
World financial markets are shaky, SAG goes after AFTRA, Oxy CEO has hefty death benefits, and LAT flap over magazine.
The developer of the massive project now has until Aug. 15 to begin construction across from the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The good news is that the price of crude fell $4.19, to $134.35 a barrel. Of course we've seen that before.
Some relief for markets, IRS goes after Anschutz, Councilwoman Wendy Greuel is disgusted, and AC/DC coming to Wal-Mart.
How else do you describe a union that's wasting time attacking another union instead of dealing with the studios?
Arjun Murti, who has been predicting a big jump in crude prices, sees the possibility of $5.75-a-gallon gasoline.
The Countrywide CEO treating some borrowers better than others may be legal, but sure doesn't look good.
Oil and gas prices spike, differing cost estimates from writers strike, big numbers for upfronts, and calculating Bratz royalties.
The U.S. unemployment rate soared to 5.5 percent, while the separate payroll survey showed a loss of 49,000 jobs.
Stocks and home values helped contribute to a $1.7 trillion drop in the net worth of U.S. households.
Zell & Co. want to eliminate 82 pages a week. They also say that productivity is lagging.
The former Broadcom co-founder is charged with conspiracy and securities fraud - as well as distributing controlled substances.
Shoppers hit the discounters, housing inventory declines, L.A. to sue Time Warner Cable, and studios may owe actors.
Folks at the Times say that it's part of an overall cutback within the Features section.
Would you believe a "Six Flags Fun Park" videogame that you play at home? An L.A. company is developing it.
It's gotten so crazy that folks are buying seats for next season just to have priority for the Finals.
The jobless rate remained fairly low for most of 2007, but the slower economy is finally having an impact.
Oil prices keep falling, Ed McMahon defaults, no more Ted airline, and SAG cuts 300 waiver deals for producers.
Two big Hollywood names, Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun, will be developing an entertainment Web site.
They've reached a four-year deal with Fox that will give the top stars nearly $400,000 an episode.
Traffic has soared in recent months, but what happens after the elections are over?
Review of newspaper Web sites finds the navigation "primitive" and "clumsy," but the content is good.
GM thinking small, why Wachovia CEO got the boot, SAG talks to resume, and no more Kinko's.
The landmark Century City property is being sold for $366.5 million. No word on what the new owners have in mind.
L.A. is near the top of the pricing chart, although a little relief might be near.
Fire doesn't impact Universal schedule, SATC's up-and-down weekend, Hilton raids Starwood, and Semel goes after IMG.
Why on earth is the former president spending so much time with the Bev Hills playboy?
Mark Lacter
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.The multi-talented Mark Lacter
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