June 29 - July 5, 2008

Friday, Jul. 4
The high price of gasoline and airline tickets is good news for Disneyland, Universal Studios and other local destinations.
Thursday, Jul. 3
Allstate has ranked the average frequency of getting in an auto accident in various cities. At least we beat Philly.
It's a newspaper's second-biggest expense, after labor, and the price has hit a 12-year high.
The Tribune CEO is out with another one of his "Partners" memos outlining all the good stuff that's going on.
Another weak jobs report, port operators getting nervous, Schumer gets reamed, and ground beef returns.
Wednesday, Jul. 2
The median home price in May was $239,940, a 17.3 percent drop from a year earlier, and a four-year low.
The loss of 150 newsroom jobs is bad, but there's also the slashing of 7,000 jobs at American Airlines.
About 250 positions will be eliminated, including 150 newsroom jobs. That's 15 percent of the editorial staff.
A man has been arrested near Tom Bradley International Terminal after supposedly claiming he had a bomb.
Will your Starbucks close, IndyMac calming down, Hollywood marches on, and Ralphs pulls ground beef.
Tuesday, Jul. 1
June was an ugly month for most all the automakers - and L.A.'s numbers are likely to reflect that sluggishness.
The Times joins 19 other papers now available on Amazon's portable electronic gizmo. Except you have to pay.
Eli Broad not only believes that the U.S. is in a recession, but that it's the worst recession since World War II.
Aside from oil and videogames, the first six months have been a mess for the stocks of Socal-based companies.
Just spotted a guy driving a white Porsche Cayenne and talking into his cell phone.
IndyMac says it's not near collapse, SAG gets "last and final" offer, MySpace heading to Playa Vista, and Live Nation's new mega-deal.
Monday, Jun. 30
The average gallon of self-serve regular in L.A. is now $4.587, down from $4.608 a week earlier.
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.
© 2003-2015   •  About LA Observed  •  Email the editor
LA Observed blogs
News & Chatter
LA Biz Observed
The funeral for Mark Lacter will be held Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12 noon at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 90045. Reception to follow.
More From Mark Lacter:
Native Intelligence
Business Guides for Companies – Effective business articles that will improve your business.
SoCal Sports Observed
After 22 years of loyalty, Baylor is unceremoniously shown the door.
Bill Boyarsky
Echo Park blog
Jenny Burman
Before I lived in Echo Park, there was a tiny 1920s bungalow-cottage-standalone house on N. Occidental in Silver Lake. I...
Malibu blog
Here in Malibu
I don't know why it's taking me so long to choose the new platform for this blog. Well, that's not...
We get email