Eye-Level Shoponomics

No matter how retailers arrange goods on their shelves—horizontally, vertically, by block, margin, market share, or otherwise—the area at and 15 inches below eye level is always the prime real estate in every aisle of large supermarket chains, department stores, convenience stores, and even small, mom-and-pop shops. This is where brands, usually more expensive goods, are strategically placed—making them the easiest for adult shoppers to browse and reach without stretching or stooping.

How Much Does It Cost to Own a Car?

When it comes to purchasing a car, many people look solely at the vehicle’s brand, color, sticker price, and fuel economy. However, if you want to ensure that your shiny new toy doesn’t create financial strain months or years after purchase, you must consider all the costs you may incur over the time you own the car. Understanding those costs should help you make an informed and financially sound decision on whether to buy a new or used vehicle, lease or finance, and which model and options to choose.

To Buy or Not to Buy: That is the Question

Looking to cut back on unnecessary or excessive expenses? Cultivate the habit of mentally categorizing your spending. Before making a purchase, assess whether it falls into one of three categories:

1. Essential,
2. Nice-to-have, or
3. Wasteful.

Steer clear of “wasteful” purchases, carefully consider “nice-to-have” items, and explore more affordable alternatives for your “essentials.” The objective is to ensure you are spending less than you earn.■

Source: Elder, A. (2020). What Does It Really Mean to Live Beyond Your Means? MEL Magazine.

Stamping Up: Why the Price of U.S. Postal Stamps Keeps Rising

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is a significant entity both in terms of revenue and workforce size. If it were a private company, this federal government agency would rank 43rd in the 2021 Fortune 500 list. In the fiscal year 2023, USPS reported operating revenue of nearly $80 billion, with approximately $25 billion stemming from its First-Class Mail service. Single-piece letters alone generate over $7 billion in revenue, with costs totaling about $4.5 billion. Despite the fact that its mail service is hugely profitable, USPS continues to raise the price of postal stamps.

Overtime Pay

For most employees in the United States, working hours within a single workweek are typically divided into two categories: normal and overtime. Different pay rates apply to each category of working hours. Whether you are entitled to overtime pay depends on your job description and your regular rate of pay.

U.S. Labor Laws: Weekends? Never Heard of Them

Long gone are the days when a typical workweek lasted six or seven days, and most people had to work upwards of 16 hours a day, 100 hours a week, just to put bread on their table. Since Roosevelt’s New Deal, the 40-hour workweek has been the norm for the vast majority of workers with full employment in the United States. Yet, in 2024, the country’s workforce of 167 million included nearly 8 million Americans who held more than one job in order to make ends meet and ensure adequate living conditions, with some working long hours not unlike their 19th-century predecessors.

Whatever their motivation for working, most Americans probably do not fully grasp the extent to which national and state labor laws shape their weekly routine. Specifically, for over 130 million full-time employees in the United States, the concept of the “week,” as a recurring series of workdays regularly interrupted by days when one does not need to go to work, is a direct consequence of government regulations on fair compensation for labor.

Sensible Driving Saves Fuel

Apart from your vehicle’s mechanical condition, your driving habits play a significant role in its fuel economy. You can improve fuel efficiency by up to 40% through efficient driving practices and travel strategies.

Trimming the Fat: Can Decluttering Your Trunk Improve Fuel Economy?

How much gasoline can you save by decluttering your car trunk? The short answer: not much.

Standardized tests for full-size gasoline vehicles indicate that for every 100 pounds of weight reduction, you can improve fuel economy by up to 0.8% in city driving and 0.7% on the highway. For diesel engines, the improvement is 1.2% and 0.8%, respectively. These figures might seem promising, but they quickly become unattainable when considering factors such as the vehicle’s payload and driving speed.