Valentine’s Day: By the Numbers

Valentine’s Day is so much more than the chance to let someone know how much you love them. It’s also an entire industry that supports businesses with hundreds of thousands of employees. Billions are spent annually on flowers, candy, jewelry, balloons and cards for Valentine’s Day, making it one of the sweetest days of the year for many retailers. Take a graphic look at Valentine’s Day…by the Numbers.

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The Global Problem of National Debt

Although the United States’ economic woes remain the most commonly discussed since the great collapse of 2008, the U.S. Is far from the only country experiencing tough times. Here we take a look at how the U.S. stacks up against many other countries in a variety of different debt-related categories, as well as how the debt was accumulated in the first place. Some of the results may surprise you.
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The Highest Global Inflation Rates

While those of us in the U.S. may complain about the increasing cost of living, many countries in the world have a much higher rate of inflation. While the U.S., Canada, the UK and Spain have inflation rates below 3%, Zimbabwe has the most shocking inflation rate in the world at 12,563%.
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Nexus One vs iPhone, Droid & Palm Pre – Total Cost of Ownership

Today is Nexus One launch day and we decided in typical BillShrink fashion, we would take a look at the overall total cost of ownership of the Nexus One vs. iPhone vs. Droid vs. Palm Pre. This is the first time that any phone has been available for purchase unlocked and available for purchase at a discounted rate with a T-Mobile Contract.

As the smartphone wars continue to heat up the Nexus One is entering a marketplace that is currently dominated by the iPhone 3GS with and gaining popularity of the Droid by Verizon Wireless.

So, here is what you’ve been waiting for, our total cost of ownerships comparison of the Nexus One up against the rest!

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The World’s Most Profitable Companies

Where in the world are the most profitable companies and exactly how much money are they raking in? In 2008, the most profitable public company on the planet made enough profits to give every American citizen $146.81. Those same profits could have bought each child on the planet $45 worth of holiday gifts. However, that didn’t happen and for most of the top companies, profits in 2009 will not come anywhere close to that level.

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ATMs: The Hidden Cost of Convenience

ATM fees were not originally passed on to bank customers, but banks have transformed convenience fees into big business. Here’s a look at how the ATM machines and networks have become sophisticated money makers for banks and how you can avoid contributing your hard-earned money to this $2 billion per year segment of the banking industry.

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The 2009 Holiday Smartphone Gift Guide

The holidays are just around the corner.  If your best friend, spouse or relative is hungering for fast Internet, GPS navigation, high-res photos and instant Twitter updates, then a cable-knit sweater this year just won’t do. We’ve selected the perfect smartphone for everyone on your holiday shopping list, from the gadget loving techie, to the always connected communicator, check out the graphics below for our holiday smartphone gift ideas.

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Government Spending: State by State

For the fiscal year 2009, some states got a larger slice of available government money than others. Here is a state-by-state breakdown of which states got the most government money per capita and which states received the least.

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