Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia saw something in September that not many places across the country have seen; an increase in home prices. Unfortunately, while the prices increased, the median sale price did fall a bit.

Sales were up almost 19% in September in the area from just a year ago; with the median sale price declining almost 5% to $371,568.

Houses in D.C. are also selling for most of what the owner is asking. The average sale price in the area was 92% of the asking price.

Seeing any area, particularly a large metro area gaining in sales of homes is a pretty good (and not outrageous) sign that the economy is doing a bit better than it was a year ago. Then again, a year ago, credit had completely frozen as the subprime crisis really took off.

As banks have begun to lend again, more homes have started to sell. As the homes start to sell, prices will gradually begin to rise again. The rise will be in areas where there are jobs and every list that I’ve read says the jobs are in Washington D.C. due to the amount of government jobs as well as all of the large companies that are headquartered there.

When I was in Maryland over the summer, it didn’t seem like the recession had hit there as bad as it looked in other parts of the country I have seen in the last year. For example, while Chris and I were in St. Louis in August, restaurants were basically empty at dinner time. It’s not like we were going to obscure places either. The only restaurant I noticed was busy the entire time we were there was a Cheesecake Factory in one of the larger malls in the area. In Maryland, everything was always busy it seemed. Shopping centers were full of cars usually and there weren’t a lot of empty businesses making it look like a ghost town.

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What have you done to be more environmentally conscious?

Question:

Being environmentally conscious is something that I have talked about more than a time or two on this blog. What are some of the ways that you’re doing your part to help the earth?

Answer:

Personally, I should be doing more, but the things I have done are putting CFL lights in my house, recycling plastics, not purchasing plastics that can’t be recycled whenever possible, reusing containers from restaurants rather than just throwing them away, driving less, and using less electricity whenever I can.

Another thing I do, because it can be a hassle to recycle every single plastic bag I get from the store is, if I forget my reusable bags, I will not get a plastic bag, especially if it is just a couple of items.

Just like at a funeral, at the beginning of the recession people were mourning. The clothes told the story: people would be wearing black and other drab colors while going to work. It was like that for the past year, ever since the fall of Lehman Brothers. Now, that things are finally starting to perk up a bit, those who have jobs are starting to wear colorful clothes again.

Men’s ties are being seen as an economic indicator. Because men’s ties are a cheap way to change a wardrobe, it is typically the first thing that outwardly indicates that, not only are these guys going out and buying clothes, but they are buying bight colors again.

This is just one of the many economic indicators that have been noted in the past few months. Another, and funnier in my opinion, indicator was the underwear index. Men were going out and purchasing more underwear and that was supposedly an indicator that the economy was going to perk up a bit more.

Another indicator is piles of garbage outside restaurants. The piles indicate that people are eating out again, which is one of the signs that the economy (really) is picking up again. Anytime people have disposable income to go to a restaurant and eat it is a good sign for not only the restaurant but the overall economy as well.

While a lot of data was used to compile this information, of course, some of it could be misread messages. Men could be wearing bright colored ties because it’s warm outside and they want to reflect the weather. Restaurants are using promotions to bring people in the doors more now than ever. Men need underwear and if they haven’t bought any new undies since the fall of Lehman Brothers, then perhaps it is time for them to get some new underpants.

I would like for the recession to see an end as much as everyone else, but are we grasping at straws by putting money into studies like this one?

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Yesterday, due to the overwhelming response, many restaurants stopped giving the chicken away for free. And today the president of KFC issued an announcement on YouTube of all places apologizing for the inconvenience and says that KFC will be issuing a rain check for anyone who has a coupon and was not able to redeem it.

So, how do you market something like Starbucks in the current economy? Looking at the company’s performance over several years leading up to the recession, it was doing very well. When times were good the company over expanded and is now facing the problems with it. With consumer spending down, consumers aren’t willing to spend their money on something they can make at home for less (and also don’t have to make an extra stop on the way to work).

I believe that it is time for Starbucks to adapt to the current economy and reflect it in its prices and offerings. Other restaurants have adapted and understand that right now consumers want less expensive offerings (or something they would consider a “deal”) not premium prices.

The only good news is that the peanut butter in question was only sold to food service companies and not by grocery stores.
From the AP:

The salmonella bacteria that has sickened more than 400 people in 43 states has been conclusively linked to peanut butter, state health officials said. Health and agriculture officials said last week that they had found salmonella bacteria in a five-pound package of King Nut peanut butter at a nursing facility in Minnesota. The peanut butter was distributed to establishments like hospitals, schools, universities and restaurants and not for retail sale to consumers, King Nut said.

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Recently, I went searching for open positions related to my field of study (marketing and communications) for when I graduate in May. Even when searching through the countless positions on websites like Monster.com, most positions for my major requires years of prior experience. I also visited a college career fair, and most of the companies were not looking for business graduates, but were more interested in pharmacists. Unfortunately, four or five years of sitting through endless lectures and classes devoted to the very position they are seeking does not count toward any experience.

The odds are not in their favor either. In the second quarter of 2008 the Labor Department gave the unemployment rate for those in the 20 ? 24 year old group (the age range is the most likely for new graduates). Unemployment had risen from 7.7% last year to 9.8% this year.

Most colleges require students to intern and/or take career counseling to give them an idea of what to expect after graduation, but they still do not guarantee a job after graduation.

So you are a new graduate and cannot seem to stand out of the crowd? Here are a couple of tips to make you and your resume more noticeable to potential employers.

- Network. Networking helps you stand out to an employer. If you are currently a student, become involved in plenty of events and groups related to your major.
- An impressive resume. Making your resume stand out is not as hard as it may seem. Little things such as adding a picture of you or using positive phrases can add luster to an otherwise vanilla resume. An example of a use of positive language is instead of saying you have no experience in a certain area, saying that you are willing and open to learning is obviously more constructive. Employers are always more open to someone who is willing to conform to their job descriptions, rather than a position having to conform to an applicant.

Student loans are creeping up and you still have not gotten the position to build your career on? Some people have begun to take a more unconventional attitude on job hunting: Create their own career by starting their own business. Once thought to be something only highly experienced professionals do, new graduates are starting businesses related to their fields of study.

If you have the ambition to start your own business, either a new graduate or someone who just has some new or great ideas, here are a few pointers that may help you start:

- Since you are probably bogged down with debt (thanks to student loans), try to limit your start up costs. Internet companies generally have very low startup costs, as long as you have an idea as to what you?re doing. Starting a business with a friend can also limit your costs and you will have more than one person working toward a goal.
- Remember those old textbooks that you could not or did not sell? Some of them have some great ideas in them. I have kept marketing books just because I thought in the future they could come in handy.
- Have a business plan. If you have a business plan, even a simple one, you always have a reference point. Eventually we all hit road blocks, like writing essays and having an outline, a business plan can keep you in order.
- Finally, do not give up and work hard to achieve your goals. Getting through college was not easy (or cheap), so do not be discouraged if your business does not take off immediately. Successful businesses take patience, time and a LOT of hard work.

It is not hard to become discouraged by the declining job market. Plenty of people I know are working in fast food restaurants while waiting to land ?the job.? When the economy is good, graduates may get multiple offers with competing salaries, but now these offers are not landing in people?s laps like they once were. An applicant must do more to be noticed in today?s job market. So good luck graduates, I will be seeing you in May.

In a KFC commercial a family goes around a grocery store to see if they can make a meal for $10…the same meal they can purchase at KFC for $10. The answer is a short no.

An Applebee’s commercial promotes a new special where 2 can eat for $20. The meal includes an appetizer to share.

Even Outback is getting in on the fun. They are promoting a $9.99 meal with a sirloin steak.

Even with rising food prices, restaurants may be seeing that smaller profits are easier to deal with than no profits.

Each year the parent company of both Red Lobster and Olive Garden said they raise prices 2 – 3 % to keep up with market prices. In 2009, they will begin raising prices by 3% or more to compensate for rising food costs.

These restaurants have definitely seen better days with their profits declining all year…really no one can afford to take a family of four out for $17/a plate pasta right now. I just made a huge pot of spaghetti for dinner that cost $7 total. It not only fed my husband and I, but there are plenty of left overs. This is just more economical and it doesn’t take that long to prepare.

Instead of raising prices, perhaps these restaurants should offer lower cost meals with smaller portions. Have you SEEN the calories in the Olive Garden’s dishes?

I’m not meaning to cause alarm, because some of you have much more to worry about in these troubling times, but here’s some tips to keep your identity safe in the mean time.

Shred all documents. I bought a cross cut paper shredder from Wal-Mart for $20…prior to that many of our personal documents would be torn into maybe 4 or 8 pieces and thrown into the trash. That was obviously not the best option.

Never EVER respond to an email asking for personal information, by now most people know this. However, there are some emails that can look particularly legitimate. For example, the IRS is looking for your information via email and you filed online. They won’t ask for personal information through an email. Call them instead to make sure.

And one little thing you can do: Cover your card number when you pay for something in a check out line. I’ve seen people try to take pictures of my credit card number, but I keep the numbers covered with my index finger and always scan it myself. At the same time, I have to trust wait staff at restaurants, perhaps I shouldn’t (recently a waitress in a Memphis restaurant was caught with a scanner that would scan and save card numbers).

Just remember this is still going on, even if your mind is elsewhere. Keep a watchful eye on your credit.

Anyway, I read an article today that said Yum Brands reported a 4 percent higher profit in the 2nd Quarter. They say it is because foreign markets are getting in on Taco Bell and other restaurants. I think it’s because, in my opinion, Taco Bell is one step above dog food. The meat they put in the tacos are close to the stuff that comes out of the Pedigree can. I know, I fed my dogs that stuff earlier.

The article DID say that operating profits in the US fell by 12%. So, maybe my theory is wrong. I think Yum should go into another market in the States…vending machines for acid blockers. That would influence me to eat more in some of their stores. Really, I still wouldn’t go…Every time I end up going to Taco Bell or KFC because Chris wants to go so badly, they really mess up my order. They are really good at doing things badly. Maybe it’s just here.