Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 28

Sunday, IXhtiiiImt 6, 2(H)!) South Jersey 6B usmess Local News Editor Leon Tucker (856) 486-2401 Obama to promote new job ideas latest figures, and the Jobless rate Inched down to 10 percent. Putting that in perspective, he said in the address, "For those who were laid off last month and the millions of Americans who have lost their Jobs in this recession, a good trend isn't good enough." Job losses in the U.S. have been the worst since See JOBS, Page 8B and that his address is meant only as one step in a debate that's sure to keep going. Obama said in his Saturday radio and Internet address that the country is emerging from an "economic storm" and that he's working to put people back on the payroll after a painful recession. Two years of drastic job cuts all but ended in November, according to the By WILL LESTER Associated Press WASHINGTON In his latest job creation effort, President Barack Obama is trying to find practical and politically feasible ways of spurring hiring amonj skittish employers.

Among the ideas expected in his economic speech Tuesday is an expanded program that gives people cash incentives to fix up their homes with energy-saving materials, senior administration officials have told The Associated Press. Obama is leaning toward new incentives for small businesses that hire new workers and new spending on roads, bridges and other public works, the officials said. The president also is open to a federal infusion of money to cash-strapped state and local governments, considered among the quickest and most effective though expensive ways to stem layoffs. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the package and Obama's speech were being developed. The officials emphasized that Obama probably won't mention in his speech every job idea he wUl eventually support, Saudi oil minister.

Prices are 'perfect' ii i UrAtfM'-VI Associated Press file Greg Inman waits In a checkout line with other Black Friday shoppers at Toys Us In Camp Hill, Pa. ifimpWra mum MA aft stop GM Europe chief seeks German aid BERLIN The new president of GM Europe said Saturday that he was still hoping for German government financial assistance to restructure Opel, but added that even if Berlin fails to come through it will not mean more layoffs in the country. Nick Reilly, who was named president of GM Europe on Friday after previously serving as president of GM International Operations, said in a conference call that Adam Opel GmbH was not going to be able to come up with the $4.97 billion it needs on its own. "There is a belief out there that GM has sufficient money in the U.S. that it can spend in Europe," Reilly said according to a transcript of the call provided by Opel.

"That is not the case." The remarks come after German Economy Minister Rainer Brued-erle on Friday was critical of GM, saying that the company only wants to put 20 percent of its own money toward the restructuring costs and that he thought General Motors "has a lot of resources." Apple in talks to buy Lala.com LOS ANGELES Apple Inc. is in advanced talks to buy online music retailer a Silicon Valley startup that has threatened "the end of the MP3" with its fast song-streaming application. The app, which is not available to the public, allows users to buy the right to stream songs from a digital locker for an unlimited time on their iPhones for just 10 cents each. The song quality is lower than what Apple's iTunes songs offer, but "intelligent caching" allows tracks to load and play in seconds, with playback possible even outside of cell phone coverage. The model undercuts prices charged on iTunes, where songs generally cost 69 cents to $1.29.

Voters approve W.Va. table games CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. A measure to let the Charles Town Races Slots install roulette wheels and craps tables alongside 5,000 slot machines passed Saturday as voters showed they were willing to gamble on the promise of 500 jobs and a positive ripple effect on the local my. A roar went up in a ballroom above the casino about two hours after the polls closed, and track officials declared victory. With all of Jefferson County's 32 precincts reporting, the unofficial vote was 6,2794,343.

"We're thrilled. We're relieved. And Monday, we're going to start delivering on our promises," said John Finamore, a senior vice president of the thoroughbred track and casino's parent company, Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gaming Inc. "I can't wait to start filling those $45,000 jobs we promised." Both sides had hoped for strong turnout, mobilizing many of the county's 33,000 registered voters. Associated Press By TAREK EL-TABLAWY Associated Press CAIRO Saudi Arabia's oil minister said Saturday that current global oil prices are "perfect," as several key Arab OPEC members indicated the group was unlikely to change output levels when it meets later this month.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which supplies roughly 35 percent of the world's crude, has held its quotas unchanged since last year's record 4.2 million barrels per day in cuts. "The price is perfect," said Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naimi, whose country sits atop the world's largest proven oil reserves and is OPEC's most influential member. Speaking on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, Naimi said the market is stable and "volatility is at a minimum." Since last December, OPEC has focused on boosting compliance with output quotas of its 12 member states. The group's approach has helped oil prices rebound to almost $80 per barrel recently, after they collapsed last year as the world's worst recession in decades sapped demand for crude. The benchmark crude oij contract for January delivery settled at $75.47 a barrel on Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, hitting a seven-week low on high global inventories and the strong dollar.

Ministers from several key Arab OPEC nations, however, indicated that they were satisfied with the current market situation and said it was unlikely the group would change quota levels at its Dec. 22 meeting in Luanda, Angola. I "No, no, no, I don't expect anything," said Shukri Gha-nem, the head of Libya's National Oil Corp. who serves as the North African nation's See OIL, Page 8B DEVELOPMENT A consumer group contends one of the holiday season's must-have toys is unsafe. San Francisco-based GoodGuide named the robotic Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters on Saturday as one of the top-selling toys with low ratings.

It says it found a higher-than-allowed level of a chemical called antimony, which can cause health problems. The group assigned the toy a rating of 5.2 on a 10-point scale. The toy's maker, St Louis-based Cepia LLC, insists in a statement that its product is safe and has passed rigorous testing. By EILEEN SMITH Courier-Post Staff In the battle for toy sales, retailers are taking their swords to prices and wooing consumers with deep discounts on princess toys and fantasy video games. At Toys Us, price tags on Transformers were sliced in half to $19.99 last week.

And it's game-on in video sales, with Wal-Mart knocking $10 off such popular titles as Rock Band: Beatles and Lego Rock Band, now priced at $40. "The only thing that isn't on sale is Zhu Zhu Pets," said Jonathan Sa-met, co-publisher of "The Toy Insider," referring to the battery-powered hamsters that scurried from obscurity to the top of the toy heap. "They started out at $7.99 and now people are selling them for $40 on eBay." This year, the killer Associated Press file Black Friday bargalrvseekers crowd a Target Tennessee. Target says tt will match any competitor's prices. category is a price range rather than a make of toy.

The sweet spot: toys priced at $30 or less. "Parents are buying more lower-priced products so they can put more packages under the tree," Samet said. That sounds good to Darcell Rodgers of Phila es on playthings ranging from designer Barbies to scooters. Target isn't toying with consumers, either. The discounter says it will match prices with any competitor.

Wal-Mart has prom-See RETAIL, Page 8B delphia. "The more bargains you can find, the more presents you can buy," she said. Last year, Wal-Mart was the go-to place for the lowest prices on toys. This year, Wal-Mart is duking it out with Toys Us, which is slashing pric- If a gift is in the cards, exercise caution in purchase KEY POINTS Eileen Smith Y.r ri' VnspaftyJ frjgy $40, a discount of 30 percent CVS will reward buyers of $25 online gift cards with a bonus card good for an additional $5. The bottom line: look for gift cards that offer value beyond their face value.

Don't buy gift cards be-cause you don't feel like shopping for Aunt Tilltf when you know she woulc) really prefer something you chose just for her. And if you truly are stumped as to what to give; a nice check trumps a gift card every time. Eileen Smith offers common-sense insights on personal finance and career enrichment in her Sunday col-' umn. Reach her at (856) 486-2444 oresmithcourierpostonline.com I love the crackle of paper as I unwrap a present someone picked out just for me. And, hey, who doesn't enjoy a big bow? The tangible delight of an honest-to-goodness gift is only one of the reasons I'm not an advocate of gift cards.

Last year, consumers actually spent less on gift cards, $24.9 billion in 2008, compared to $26.3 billion iri 2007. The National Retail Federation, a Washington, D.C.-based trade group, attributes that shift in sentiment to concerns regarding fees and expiration dates. This year, more card issuers are removing those hurdles, ditching the fine print. Gift cards aren't worth anything if the recipients do not or cannot use them. Look for gift card offers that sweeten the deal beyond the face value of the card.

who might not honor the card. Still, there are occasions when gift cards are a great choice, especially when you want to give someone you love the gift of a wonderful experience. That could be dinner at your favorite restaurant or Italian lessons or a weekend getaway at a romantic inn. One year, as Christmas Eve descended, myhus- If you receive a gift card, redeem it pronto. Don't underestimate the appeal of a box that contains an actual gift band stood in line at a spa with a bunch of other guys, all waiting patiently to buy gift cards for mannies and peddies, massages and other goodies.

I received a package of facials, which I think is a very cool gift. There also are gift cards that enable shoppers to stretch their dollars through add-ons and discounts. Costco offers a $57.50 Ci-nemark Theatres card for But there is still a wild card element in all this that can be summed up in two words: Circuit City. With the demise of the electronics giant, consumers realized that gift cards could be worth less than, well, plastic. That's one reason why you should redeem a gift card, quick like a bunny, if you receive one.

The hard truth is that delightful jewelry boutique could close or be sold to a new owner.