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A reasonable question, but one that the online retailer refuses to disclose.
LA Biz Observed archive
Mark Lacter covered business, the economy and more here from 2006 until his death on Nov. 13, 2013.
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January 2012
Well, that's the good news.
The state needs to scrape together $3.3 billion by March.
Tomorrow is the day that more than 400 of them are scheduled to go out of business.
You figure they would have had plenty of practice by now.
Former global Marketing Officer at Procter & Gamble, will be at the next Live Talks Business Forum.
Drop in consumer confidence, Peter O'Malley still in the Dodger bidding, Greuel gets Hollywood money, and Kaiser nurses on strike.
That several million dollars have been raised tells you something about big-city politics.
He says the sale is too intertwined with the team's TV rights deal.
Blame the recession - specifically funding cuts and greater demand.
Yes and no. A total of 5.6 million people moved their accounts over the past 90 days, a nearly three-times increase from the same period a year earlier. But of that amount, only 11 percent cited the Occupy-related campaign called Bank Transfer Day. Javelin Strategy and Research says that the percentage is "certainly not the massive departure banks might have feared." But the amount of switching, whatever the explanation, is certainly higher than usual, and...
Some charts really do tell the story.
Asking price is too high for showbiz firms being sought.
Consumer spending turns sluggish, Pep Boys bought by L.A. firm, Kerkorian considers showbiz properties, and Brown dispute cost estimates for bullet train.
He's one of the few people who had some idea of how the numbers are supposed to add up.
That includes a mandate to have 1.4 million electric and hybrid vehicles on state roads by 2025.
Not for a while, judging by this.
What could become the mother of all public offerings will formally get underway as early as Wednesday, reports the WSJ, citing sources. The company is currently looking at a valuation of $75 billion to $100 billion. It would take several months before Facebook actually becomes a public company. Facebook's IPO, which people familiar with the matter earlier said could raise as much as $10 billion, has been hotly anticipated as a defining moment for the...
The Senate maps drawn by a citizens commission can be used in this year's elections.
A growth rate of 2.8% is not the kick-start that the economy requires.
Economy moves modestly, pension shortfall shrinks a bit, consumer sentiment improves, and Ari Emanuel's parking squabble.
It's all in the way stoplights are timed.
An interesting take on what's going on.
One of those positive stories that's not getting as much notice as it should.
It isn't pretty.
The purple and gold top the NY Knicks, according to Forbes.
Better poll numbers for Obama, council redistricting madness, Amgen buys big biotech company, and Rosie ratings plummet.
"We expect DVD subscriptions to decline steadily for every quarter forever," says the CEO.
The stock is up over 6 percent today, to $447 and change.
That's the takeaway from this morning's announcement that short-term rates are expected to remain close to zero through at least 2014. That compares with the Federal Reserve's earlier forecast of mid-2013. By keeping rates so low, the Fed is hoping to spur spending and growth. From the NYT: The decision means that the Fed does not expect the economy to complete its recovery from the 2008 crisis over the next three years. By holding rates...
Midnight to 5 a.m. is the fastest growing time segment for U.S. sales at McDonald's, which helps explain why nearly 40 percent of the company's U.S. outlets are open around the clock. Burger King has several hundred of its stores open 24 hours a day. From the WSJ: Pat Treffiletti, a franchisee who owns four McDonald's in Albany, N.Y., was taken aback when a student in a college class he addressed a few years ago...
The airport saw a 4.7 percent increase in passengers last year.
It's not that he did anything wrong - it's that he doesn't believe what he gets away with is wrong.
Interest rates on hold, more bad reviews for bullet train, McCourt gets skewered, and telenovelas in English.
SF's unemployment rate in December was 7.6 percent, while Imperial County had a rate was almost 27 percent.
California voters like the idea of the rich paying more taxes, but nearly two-thirds oppose raising the sales tax.
Frankly, not much, other than the fact that he's a super-rich guy.
And for a very simple reason: Hollywood pays lawmakers a lot better.
Still unclear why it's happening.
Another blow to the local cruise business.
Romney's taxes, weak returns for Calpers, Happy Hour at Starbucks, and Silicon Valley's average salary tops 100K.
Geez, Walt must be spinning.
From now until election day, it's all about gas prices, the stock market and the jobless rate.
Another reminder of the city's bureaucratic ineptitude.
Gift-giving during the holidays.
Good luck trying to explain this away during a debate.
Michael Raynor, co-author of "The Innovator's Solution" and a director at Deloitte Consulting, will be featured at the next Live Talks Business Forum on Thursday morning at the City Club. He'll be in conversation with Karen Kerr, Senior Director of New Ventures and Alliances at USC. Breakfast starts at 7:45 and the program at 8:15. For free tickets, click here....
Dodger bidding begins, LAX expansion delays, layoffs for JC Penney, and little urgency on pension reform.
The basic explanation is an improving economy coupled with pent-up demand.
Bob Iger's compensation totaled $31.4 million in 2011.
Everybody will be paid off once the team is sold. The Chapter 11 reorganization plan is set for court approval on April 13. From the LAT: The Dodgers say they intend to exit bankruptcy by April 30, the same day by which outgoing owner Frank McCourt has to satisfy two obligations: (1) close the sale of the team, under his agreement with Major League Baseball; (2) pay his ex-wife Jamie $131 million, under his divorce...
It's the lowest level in almost three years and fourth-lowest in the state.
He's leading 32-26 in the latest Clemson University poll.
The reality is that all taxes should be raised, not lowered.
California's unemployment rate in December was 11.1 percent, down from 11.3 percent the previous month.
Anti-piracy votes postponed, Hollywood hoping to cut deal, former GE lending unit under investigation, and mayor eyes China for funding help.
Nice to see that Chrysalis will receive $200,000 from a group of downtown businesses.
Deputy Chief of Staff Matt Szabo does not preclude the possibility.
But what about the city's deficit - not to mention its institutional stagnation?
A real milestone in the migration to digital content.
Frank and Jamie were on hand this morning to complete the paperwork.
Southwest did say that it's reducing the amount of recline.
Jobless claims tumble, Kodak files Chapter 11, big lease for Port of Long Beach, and Ticketmaster moves to Facebook.
The cable network will be rebranded as AXS TV.
It's the predictable but still stunning fallout to today's protests.
Seems that debt is fine and dandy, except in the cases when it's not.
Everyone is saying pretty much what you'd expect them to say.
Contracts were allegedly awarded to companies controlled by the official's brothers,
The deal is done, reports the LAT.
His faulty calculus is almost as distressing as the no-new-tax mantra we hear from the right.
Quite a few firms in the region doing quite a few deals.
Not much for flourishes, the governor spoke about the need to raise taxes and reduce the budget.
Here's a copy of the text....
Previewing Brown's address, Calpers downsizes portfolio, new councilman for 15th district, and Sundance gets underway.
The Think Long Committee will not pursue its tax overhaul plan this year.
One of those end-of-an-era stories - and yet one that isn't all that surprising.
He was turned down by all the studios.
Freedom of expression is winning out over protection of content.
This is truly insane.
It's still cheaper for shippers to use L.A. or Long Beach rather than NY and New Jersey.
Still no sign of a significant turnaround in December.
Weak bank earnings, more homeless receiving welfare, doubts on rail alternatives, and rocket mission delayed.
If you've yet to hear about SOPA and PIPA, get ready for an quick orientation.
They still have to present the plan to the two boards.
Apparently it's a cheaper way to go than hiring a helicopter.
Room rates in L.A. County averaged $148.72 in November, up 2.8 percent from a year earlier.
Carnival takes hit from cruise accident, "VIP" loans linked to local congressmen, and L.A. office market picking up.
That would effectively shut down all marijuana dispensaries in L.A.
Besides single notch downgrades of France, Austria, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia, S&P has announced two notch downgrades for Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, and Spain. Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands maintain their AAA status. Germany and Slovakia are the only Eurozone nations without negative outlooks. From the S&P statement (via Business Insider): Today's rating actions are primarily driven by our assessment that the policy initiatives that have been taken by European policymakers in recent weeks may...
Other downgrades could be imminent for Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
The deal that has been talked about for months finally gets done. Sale price is $412.5 million.
That was his simple and succinct tweet Thursday night, adding that, "[we] learned lots of valuable expensive lessons." In case you've missed it, the News Corp. chairman is now on Twitter and his every tweet is getting examined closely. News Corp. bought MySpace in 2005 for $580 million, and then saw the bottom fall out before finally unloading the L.A.-based social networking site last year for $35 million. (The Wrap)...
An amazing scene, on all sorts of levels.
B of A may pull back, consumer sentiment on the rise, American is being eyed by two airlines, and council considers marijuana ban.
The hedge fund billionaire's L.A. state of mind.
Not just insensitive, but politically nonsensical.
The current system is a mess, but at least it's better than before deregulation.
Yet another reminder of how the experts can get it wrong, big time.
State lawmakers have come to rely on one-time windfalls.
More money heading to Mexico, report questions Brown's budget numbers, Fox seeking stake in Dodgers, and Apple stores coming to Target.
Here's a good example of why the state should not be so reliant on tax revenues from the very wealthy.
Government officials have been bothered by the flashy, sexy formats of game shows.
Despite heavy lobbying by developers, council members decided it wasn't a good idea.
Who said things weren't turning around?
Rich guys have money on their hands and it's actually a pretty good business.
Redevelopment would be costly to continue, Fox and Dodgers settle differences, Raiders eying L.A., and OJ prices might be going up.
The bigger question, of course, is by how much.
She drew 1.6 million viewers for the second program in her series, "Oprah's Next Chapter." That's a 45 percent jump from the series premiere, which featured Steven Tyler. From THR: Next Chapter also improved among the network's favored women 25-54 demographic, adding 18 percent from the previous episode for a 1.3 rating. The series also built on its audience in the second half hour, growing from 1.5 million to 1.6 million. The premiere of Oprah's...
December turned out to be a lousy month on the tax collection front.
Property has been sold to Ross Stores Inc., which is already at the location.
Other stuff that we buy is actually cheaper than it was last year.
Program to compensate victims of Deepwater Horizon accident squeezes out lawyers.
Deciphering what actually happened could be an important clue in understanding the U.S. economy.
Actually it was Gingrich accusing Romney of "pious baloney." Still nutty.
Consumer credit back up, gas prices keep climbing, Tiffany sales weaken, and big payday for Jobs' successor.
It's not all that surprising to have differing revenue estimates.
You have to look at several factors to understand what's happening.
The airline, now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, had only been offering flights to Dallas - and that route wasn't profitable.
I'm not sure there's a place these days for massively expensive and lengthy public works projects.
The Franchise Tax Board is requiring that property taxes be split between deductible and non-deductible portions.
Several owners objected to this idea because it upends the current NFL business model.
Wall Street gets pay cut, Lions Gate, Summit inch towards deal, windfall for L.A. County retirees, and L.A. bankruptcies take tumble.
Greater supply and lesser demand - and city officials keep march on.
Just take on as little as possible.
Well, specifically, 2004's American Jobs Creation Act.
Payroll report may actually be understating the strength of the recovery.
Republican candidate's explanation for the drop in unemployment.
Weak December for Best Buy, gas prices heading back up, Burkle's show business plays, and Taft building sold.
The gap between the state jobless rate and the national jobless rate remains very wide.
Budgets are never to be taken seriously at this early stage.
Here it is....
Or else he'll make $4.8 billion in cuts to public schools.
He told a documentary producer that he had said everything he wanted to say.
This counterintuitive trend has had criminologists scratching their heads for several years now. Various theories are being offered, including the simplest: There is little or no correlation between crime and the economy. From the New Republic: Consider, after all, the two big crime epidemics in the twentieth century--the first took root in the late 1960s, during a period of healthy growth; the other came during the economic doldrums of the late '80s and early '90s....
The best-performing carrier last year was Alaska Airlines, with Delta a surprising second.
The Peck's Bad Boy of liberal media is at it again. Does anyone still care?
Stocks slump: Traders remain fixated on Europe, despite better-than-expected job news. Dow is down about 100 points. Jobless claims fall: Weekly filings for unemployment insurance were down 15,000, to 372,000. That's 11 percent lower than the same time last year. December jobs report comes out Friday. (AP) Private hiring surges: Employers added 325,000 new workers in December, according to ADP, far surpassing expectations of a 178,000 gain. From Reuters: "The number is stunning," said Wayne...
Check out the chart - it's revealing and scary.
Perhaps more significant: California was the seventh most popular moving destination.
Investors are paying a bit more attention about the first week of trading.
In 1997, the company had a market value of almost $30 billion. Today, it's down to $145 million.
Left unclear is whether this means a move out of L.A. or simply a new destination out of L.A. (possibly Hawaii).
Strong year for Chrysler, gas prices on the rise, Obama to name consumer agency chief, and Oprah has good and bad news.
No indication what his role would be in the Dodger organization.
Tale of two cities.
Stocks typically go up in election years, but...
GOP wackadoodles running the government is about the best hand that Obama has for winning reelection.
Feature production was up 5.7 percent, and TV was down 2.7 percent.
Other venues will be considered after the 2013 show.
At some point businesses will have to stop being on the defensive.
This is the division that makes Marks-A-Lot pens, HI-LITERS and other pens and labels.
Wall Street off to a strong start, mayor defers payments, B of A cuts of small business credit, and Super Bowl ad time sold out.
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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