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SOME PLAINTIFF LAWYERS are looking for warm water, as in the Gulf of Mexico, to replace tobacco as the horn of plenty for their courtroom clients. Forbes says a federal judge in August granted legal standing to a global warming lawsuit against the U.S. government, brought by a coalition of environmental groups and cities. Since the government provided loans and insurance to oil companies, utilities and others that emit carbon dioxide, the argument goes, why not sue for damages from the global warming these companies produced? But making these cases stick won't be easy, Forbes says. "In the case of Katrina, lawyers would have to link the force of the hurricane to climate change, and climate change to carbon emissions."
THE DECADELONG HOUSING BOOM is showing signs of slackening, BusinessWeek says. "Prices are off their peaks in a few markets, such as Manhattan; the rate of price increases has slowed in hotbeds such as California and Florida; and houses are staying on the market longer." At the same time, Americans' finances are so stretched that they're spending more than they earn, the magazine says, which means the savings rate is negative.
TIMES ARE TOUGH for many credit card borrowers. Interest rates are rising, banks are looking to squeeze extra profit from each account and the industry's grace periods have contracted. Consumer Reports summarizes many of the new pitfalls for card holders and offers tips, including to mail your payment when you get your bill to avoid late fees, and to request a better interest rate. Many banks will lower your rate if you have a good payment history, decent credit score and spend regularly. Also, don't be afraid to complain. Calling the card issuer can help if you get slapped with a late fee or rate increase.
A RELIC from restaurant history appears to be making a comeback. Bloomberg Markets says the sommelier, the restaurant wine expert, has become a glamorous job again with the focus this time on fun and approachability. "Forget that old image of the haughty, tailcoated dragon of yesterday's dining rooms, who acted as though he were testing diners' wine credentials before letting them order the best bottles." Says Richard Betts at Aspen's Little Nell restaurant: "My job here is to help people enjoy their lives."
THIS IS THE SWEET SEASON for the nation's retailers. Candy begins moving off store shelves this month, ahead of the toys, electronic gadgets and other goods that American shoppers gobble up closer to the holidays. The National Retail Federation projects that Americans will spend $3.3-billion on Halloween this year, up 5.4 percent from $3.12-billion last year. That's just a prelude to the $435.3-billion Americans will spend during the late-year holidays.
Compiled from Times wires and Web sites.