Last week, Questar Gas -- the retail gas distribution subsidiary of Questar Corporation (STR) -- asked the Public Service Commission of Utah to allow it to reduce natural gas rates by a total $6.7 million (or about one-half of one percent). If approved by the state's top utility regulator, the rate cut will lower the typical Utahn’s annual bill by about $3.50 starting Oct. 1. The latest proposal by Questar Gas (the utility that provides most Utahns with natural gas) follows earlier reductions of 6% in November 2008 and 16% in May 2009, thereby considerably easing the fuel burden on the state’s population this winter. Management cited lower natural gas costs as the reason for seeking the rate decrease.  Questar Gas is making the request as part of its ‘pass-through’ rate case that allows the utility to adjust rates to reflect changes in gas costs. ...

V-Shaped Bottom or Second Valley? The truth can earn you 79%.  Watching economists attempt to find consensus can be like watching a burlap sack full of cats – lots of sound and apparent action, but precious little benefit.

Unfortunately, you eventually have to open the sack full of angry cats to find out how it all comes out. And then there’s that part about going to jail (or hell) because you put cats in a burlap sack.

Not that I would ever do something like that. This is really just one of those mental exercises. But I do watch economists a lot. I guess someone has to.

The One Real Question

The big argument this week: “The V-shaped bottom” versus “The Second Valley.” I guess we should open the sack a bit and see who’s winning.

Adherents to the former believe that we have seen the worst that fate (or rather our own stupidity

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These days, times are tough in the middle market of the retail business. Luxury companies like Louis Vitton are doing just fine, as the rich keep spending regardless of the economic climate. And discount retailers like Wal-Mart are benefiting big-time from tight budgets in the lower and middle classes as consumers look to cut costs on discretionary items as their gas and food bills soar. But the middle men - companies like American Eagle Outfitters, The Gap, and Tween Brands - are suffering as their customers choose low cost alternatives, or make do with last year’s wardrobe. View the TWB WikiChart on Wikinvest On Tuesday, Tween Brands announced that it will shift its focus from its more established Limited Too stores to its newer, cheaper Justice Brand. In response, investors crushed Tween’s stock price - it fell 17% in that day’s ...