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The new American mantra: Keeping down with the Joneses. Frugality will be in style this holiday season, and retailers and manufacturers have planned accordingly. El Segundo-based Mattel says 80 percent of its toys this season will cost less than $30, compared with 75 percent last year. At Wal-Mart, 100 toys will be priced at $10 this season, compared with just 10 at that price point a year ago. (Bloomberg, WSJ)
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Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted
until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.