Soaring ratings for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

This year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade brought in over 22 million viewers for NBC.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

NBC's telecast of the annual New York City parade averaged 22.6 million viewers between 9 a.m. and noon Eastern -- the second-largest audience for the parade in the past decade.

The largest audience came last year when 25.2 million tuned in. (That spike was a surprise because the parade's ratings are pretty steady every year. In 2012, the average audience was 22.4 million.)

In a press release, NBC noted that the parade -- which was hosted by Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, and Al Roker -- was one of the highest-rated telecasts on TV this season, beating "every primetime non-sports telecast on the Big 4 networks."

NBC works with Macy's to produce the "official" telecast of the parade. CBS broadcasts an "unofficial" version along the parade route; ratings for the show weren't immediately available on Friday.

After the parade on Thursday, NBC televised another Thanksgiving tradition, the "National Dog Show Presented by Purina," and it averaged 10.3 million viewers for the network, down slightly from 10.7 million viewers last year.

And NBC's primetime NFL offering of the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Seattle Seahawks netted the Peacock a preliminary audience of 17.7 million viewers, also down slightly from the year before.

First Published: November 28, 2014: 5:44 PM ET

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Should you sell stocks? Check junk bonds first

Junk bonds provide an early warning sign for Wall Street.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Dramatic swings in the junk bond market often provide a valuable warning to investors. During times of turmoil, investors pile into ultra-safe U.S. government debt and rotate away from far riskier junk bonds.

That swing away from junk bonds often happens shortly before stock market downturns.

"High yield does provide useful sell signals to equity investors," Barclays analysts concluded in a recent report.

Related: Is it time to sell stocks?

Barclays combed through the past dozen years of data. The warning signal they found is a 30% or greater increase in the spread between Treasuries and junk bonds before a dip.

History is a guide: Consider 2002. The "spread," or gap between the yields of junk bonds and Treasuries, spiked in July that summer after WorldCom defaulted on its debt and US Airways signaled it was filing for bankruptcy.

Investors who sold stocks based on the turbulence in the high-yield debt market would have escaped a 14% nosedive in the S&P 500 over the next 10 days.

"Had equity investors heeded the warning being sent from high yield, significant losses may have been avoided," Barclays wrote.

While the stock market bounced back from that 2002 episode pretty quickly, the same can't be said about when the sell signal was triggered five years later.

Related: OPEC's message to US shale: Drop dead

Junk bond spreads surged in June 2007 as two Bear Stearns hedge funds dropped a bomb on investors about massive losses in subprime mortgage assets.

Despite the alarm bells ringing in the credit markets, the S&P 500 set all-time highs as late as the fall of 2007. But then stocks began a long descent as it came to light that many more firms had similar subprime mortgage problems.

Many investors clearly wish they listened to that early warning from junk bonds.

Barclays said equity investors should "position defensively" the next time junk bonds start to go haywire. That doesn't necessarily mean dumping stocks altogether. After all, the stock market eventually bounced back from each of the sell-offs Barclays examined.

Instead, lower volatility sectors like consumer staples and utilities could provide investors with cover during a potential storm. The analysis found that after the sell signal was triggered, these sectors outperformed higher-turbulence ones like materials and energy.

What is the signal now? Few people have been positioning defensively these days. Despite a tumble in the energy sector on Friday, the S&P 500 capped off a strong month of November during which it rallied 2.5%. Tech stocks did even better, driving the Nasdaq 3.5% higher.

So what are junk bonds saying about the stock market these days?

Just like the tumbling VIX volatility index, junk bonds are indicating "things have stabilized over the past few weeks," said TD Ameritrade chief strategist JJ Kinahan.

"As we all know, that can change at any moment," he said.

If it does, chances are junk bonds will offer some early clues.

First Published: November 30, 2014: 9:22 AM ET

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Black Thursday? Thanksgiving sales numbers growing

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Spending was up nearly 24% on Thanksgiving, and slipped about 7% on Black Friday, according to early Black Friday estimates from Shoppertrak, which monitors spending at and visits to brick-and-mortar retail stores.

Americans spent $12.29 billion over the two-day period this year, a slight dip from $12.35 billion a year earlier.

"We've seen an increase in Thanksgiving shopping over the past few years at the expense of Black Friday," said Bill Martin of Shoppertrak.

People were more willing to trek to stores on Thanksgiving: Visits were up 27% on Thursday compared to 2013. Black Friday visits were down 5.6%, according to Shoppertrak.

But Black Friday is still king. Shoppers spent nearly three times as much -- $9.1 billion -- on Friday than on Thursday, it estimated.

The trend was similar online, with shoppers increasingly willing to buy on Thanksgiving. Online sales were up 14.3% on turkey day compared to last year, according to IBM's Digital Analytics Benchmark report, but just 9.5% on Black Friday, less than expected.

Shoppers also are using their phones and tablets more than ever -- both to buy and comparison-shop while in stores, IBM found.

Sales on mobile devices were up more than 28% from Black Friday last year, accounting for more than one in four online sales transactions Friday, IBM found.

IBM had projected online shopping would climb 15% for the period from Thanksgiving through Monday. It projected year-over-year growth of 13% on Black Friday.

Gas prices drop could mean happier holidays

Wal-Mart (WMT), the world's largest retailer, said it shattered sales records on Thanksgiving, posting its second-biggest online sales day. The company said its site saw over 500 million page views, and 70% came from mobile traffic.

Overall, the National Retail Federation projected spending this season will climb 4.1% to $616.9 billion. It estimated online sales would grow between 8% and 11%.

Last year, holiday sales climbed 3.1%, according to the NRF.

Related: 24 hours with a Black Friday worker

The preliminary reports from Shoppertrak and IBM give an early peek at some of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Black Friday isn't the one-day event that it used to be, when malls and department stores threw open their doors at midnight.

Nowadays, there's round after round of "door busters" and a slew of online sales that begin days before Friday. And most major retailers advertise "Black Friday" deals that actually begin Thanksgiving Thursday evening.

First Published: November 29, 2014: 7:05 PM ET

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America's dual economy

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

If you're a glass half-full type, it's easy to point to the fact that the economy is expanding again and unemployment is at a six year low. Gas is back under $3 a gallon, the stock market is at an all-time high and this year's job gains are on track to be the best since 1999.

America is certainly better off than it was during the financial crisis, and the nation looks a lot stronger economically than Japan and Europe.

America has added 2.3 million jobs in 2014

But there's a glass half-empty side of this economy, too.

Wages aren't rising for most Americans. A middle class family is actually bringing home the same income as it did in 1995, and millions of people want full-time jobs but are stuck in part-time positions.

There's no denying the rich are getting richer and the rest are stagnating.

The fact is there is truth in both sides -- the result of a slow-burn recovery from the worst financial crisis in generations.

Why voters hate the Obama economy

Here are the three key stats to that drive home America's dual economy:

1. Lucky to be employed.

On Friday the government reported another strong month of job gains. The unemployment rate is 5.8%, not far from what most economists think is typical rate of around 5% when the economy is humming along.

But the improving number masks the fact that the U.S. has 2.9 million people who have been out of work for half a year or more. That's double the number of long-term unemployed than before the recession.

Even more troubling is that the U.S. has over 7 million people who are working part-time but want full-time employment.

2. Wages aren't growing.

Americans are spenders. We like to buy things and that powers our economy. But people can't make purchases if they don't have money. That's why it's so worrying that U.S. wages aren't getting any bigger.

Wages today are about the same as they were just before the recession.

In the past year, wages went up about 2%, but that is just ahead of how fast costs have been rising so the gains are basically canceled out.

The complete list of companies that are open and closed on Thanksgiving

3. More gains went to Wall Street than Main Street.

The one area that has bounced back since the end of the recession is the stock market. It bottomed out in March 2009 and has been on an incredible tear ever since.

The S&P 500 -- the benchmark index that has a lot of funds that mimic or track it -- is up nearly 200% since that 2009 low point.

But the catch is that only half of Americans have any money in the stock market. So all those gains have only exacerbated the "have versus have not" economy.

Wealthy whites are the most likely to own stocks. And since the rich own more stocks, they benefited more.

First Published: November 7, 2014: 4:43 PM ET

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Madonna's 'Material Girl' look hits the auction block

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Several iconic pieces from Madonna's career and personal life are on the auction block, including the Marilyn Monroe-inspired dress, stole and jewelry featured in the 1984 "Material Girl" music video.

The dress is expected to go for $40,000-$60,000 and $4,000-$6,000 for the stole when the items go up for auction starting Friday in Beverly Hills.

Julien's annual Icons & Idols: Rock 'n' Roll auction has 700 items up for bid, including John Lennon's glasses, a T-shirt worn by Kurt Cobain, a guitar from David Bowie and belongings from Elvis Presley, Lady Gaga and more.

Remember 'Easy Rider'? That bike just sold for $1.35 million

But Madge is a top attraction of the auction, with 140 of her items up for sale, including a personal day planner, the inauguration dress she wore when she played Eva Peron in the movie "Evita" and her wedding dress and shoes from her marriage to Sean Penn. You can also get her signed, expired American Express credit card and the baseball uniform she wore in 1992's "A League of Their Own."

The deep pink satin gown had a starting bid of $20,000

"Very little of her stuff comes to auction now," said Martin Nolan, executive director of the auction house.

He said Julien's is looking to set records with the two-day auction that allows people to bid in-person, over the phone and online.

Bids come from all over the world, according to Nolan, but the face of bidders have changed significantly since 2005. "Back then, it was what we call fanatical people, the huge fans that would bid on items. Now, you still see some fans, but they don't have the big dollars that are needed. Museums are big buyers."

Men are buying up these $1,200 sneakers

The starting bid for Madonna's day planner circa 1988 was $1,000

A large portion of the items from The Queen of Pop up came from a private investment firm in the U.K. "They got together and pooled their money in 2007 and chose her as their blue chip icon," said Nolan. "They've now decided to liquidate their Madonna portfolio."

So how strong of a return on investment are celebrity-worn collectibles? In 2005, Julien's held a 200-lot auction of Marilyn Monroe's items that brought in $1 million. Today, Nolan said it would have sold for $10 million. "And that's being conservative." A skirt purchased in that auction for $1,500 sold for $50,000 two years ago.

First Published: November 7, 2014: 5:11 PM ET

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Berkshire earnings take a hit on Tesco losses

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

That's because the investment company took a massive $678 million charge for its investment in Tesco (TESO), a British grocery chain that has seen its shares plunge this year. The grocer has been struggling amid increased competition and an accounting scandal in which it admitted to overstating its profit forecasts.

Berkshire is one of Tesco's largest shareholders.

Related: Warren Buffett's huge grocery bill

Despite the individual investment losses, Berkshire's portfolio is still ahead for the year.

The company said it earned $4.6 billion, or $2,811 per Class A share during the third quarter. That's better than Wall Street was expecting, but still down 8.6%, from the same period last year. Profits for the first nine months of the year, however, are doing better than they were this far into 2013.

The company's Class A shares closed Friday at $214,970 a piece. Berkshire's more accessible B-shares, which are worth 1/1500th of their pricier counterparts were flat in after-hours trading.

Next quarter might be a rough one as well. Berkshire lost big money late last month on shares of Coca-Cola (KO) and IBM (IBM, Tech30) after both companies delivered disappointing earnings. Coca-Cola, which is one Berkshire's largest investments, subsequently cut executive pay following some Buffett grumbling.

Warren Buffett loses $2 billion, but there's good news

First Published: November 7, 2014: 8:05 PM ET

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Toys R Us will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Stores will open at 5 p.m. on Turkey Day, an hour earlier than some of the other retailers hell-bent on launching Black Friday deals a day early.

Kohl's (KSS), Sears (SHLD), and Macy's (M) will open after Toys R Us, at 6 p.m.

While some stores continue to move up opening times, making them earlier and earlier, Toys R Us is opening the same time as last year. And it will stay open for 30 straight hours until 11 p.m. on Friday.

Related: 7 fantasy gifts for 2014

JC Penney (JCP)is also opening at 5 p.m. And Kmart is catering to the early birds by opening long before anyone sits down to Thanksgiving dinner: 6 a.m.

Not every chain is following the trend. Costco confirmed last month it will continue its tradition of closing on Thanksgiving, saying its employees "deserve" the chance to spend the holiday with their families.

Nordstrom (JWN), Neiman Marcus and Gamestop (GME) will also be closed on Turkey Day.

First Published: November 7, 2014: 9:24 AM ET

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Russia's currency won't stop falling

LONDON (CNNMoney)

The ruble is hitting record lows against the dollar after falling by about 30% since the start of the year.

It plunged by about 10% this week alone, after the Russian central bank said it would reduce its support for the currency, allowing the ruble to trade more freely.

"The ruble was always likely to fall following the decision by the central bank earlier this week," said Neil Shearing, chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics. "But the scale of the fall is likely to have set alarm bells ringing among policymakers."

Pressure on Putin is mounting as tumbling oil prices, a sanctions stand-off with the West and continued tensions with Ukraine weigh heavily on the currency.

This year's dramatic devaluation creates problems for Russian consumers and companies since it becomes far more expensive to import goods, and to pay off debts denominated in foreign currencies.

Inflation in the country is running well above 8%, and the central bank warned that it doesn't expect the outlook for prices to improve significantly anytime soon.

Related: Oil trades at $80, but Russia is budgeting for $100

It has been jacking up interest rates all year -- most recently last week when it raised the key borrowing rate to 9.5% from 8% -- but with little effect.

"We suspect that another large increase in interest rates may be needed to stabilize the ruble," said Shearing, adding rates may have to rise to about 12%.

A move of that magnitude would further depress Russia's stagnant economy, and alone may not do the trick. The central bank could be forced to spend billions of dollars more from its reserves to buy rubles.

Related: Norway's new banknotes are art

First Published: November 7, 2014: 8:55 AM ET

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Detroit close to bankruptcy exit

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A ruling from a federal bankruptcy judge is due Friday, but the final outcome is now all but certain.

"I think if you look at the complexity of Detroit's finances and how far gone it was, this case has gone as well as anyone could have hoped," said Ted Gavin, an expert in municipal bankruptcies.

Here's what the bankruptcy has meant for Detroit -- and where its turnaround stands:

Detroit will shed most of the $11 billion in debt. Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr, who has overseen city finances for most of the past two years, has reached deals with just about all of the city's creditors.

It will have $1.5 billion to spend over the next 10 years to improve essential services. That includes investments in police, fire and sanitation departments. The city will also fix its fleet of 88,000 street lights, 40% of which are broken.

Other federal funds will be used to remove the blighted buildings that occupy much of the city.

The worst-case scenarios avoided for city employees and retirees.

Pension payments to the city's 23,000 retirees were trimmed, but not slashed.

Civilian employees had their benefits reduced 4.5% and they lost their cost of living increases.

Police and fire department retirees only had to give up half their cost of living increases.

The retirees voted overwhelmingly to accept the cuts.

Related: I bought a house in Detroit for $1,000

The state of Michigan and various private foundations and companies stepped up with hundreds of millions of dollars of assistance to save the retirees from deeper benefit cuts.

Donations also allowed the Detroit Institute of Arts to avoid selling off its artwork, as some creditors demanded.

The city has enjoyed something an economic turnaround during the reorganization process, helped by a rebound in auto sales and a boom in office and apartment construction in the downtown area.

But Detroit still has only 40% of the population it had in 1960. Jobs in the metro Detroit area are down more than 20% from where they stood as recently as 2000.

Related: I've been priced out of downtown Detroit

The city spent nearly $90 million in fees to attorneys, accountants and other professionals on the bankruptcy case through the end of June, with tens of millions more in bills yet to come.

First Published: November 7, 2014: 9:10 AM ET

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Luxembourg: The tax haven at the heart of Europe

A report on Luxembourg's role as a tax haven will make uncomfortable reading for the country's former prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker -- now the EU's top official.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

A report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, representing a team of 80 from 26 countries, claims that companies such as Pepsi (PEP) and AIG (AIG) obtained assurances from Luxembourg that plans to minimize tax would be viewed favorably by officials.

"These legal secret deals feature complex financial structures designed to create drastic tax reductions," the ICIJ report stated.

IKEA, Deutsche Bank (DB) and Abbott Laboratories (ABT) also feature on the list of about 340 companies which took advantage of controversial arrangements to slash the tax they pay on hundreds of billions in profits funneled through Luxembourg.

In some cases the rate of tax paid was less than 1%.

Apple (AAPL, Tech30) -- under scrutiny for its tax arrangements in Ireland -- is there too, as is Amazon (AMZN, Tech30).

European regulators recently began a probe into whether Amazon received illegal state aid from Luxembourg for over a decade, thanks to a preferential tax deal. A unit of Fiat (FCAU) is facing a similar investigation.

The ICIJ report comes at a sensitive time for the EU. The consortium analyzed leaked documents covering at least 548 tax rulings made from 2002 to 2010, when the EU's top official -- Jean-Claude Juncker -- was prime minister of Luxembourg.

"In many cases Luxembourg subsidiaries handling hundreds of millions of dollars in business maintain little presence and conduct little economic activity in Luxembourg," the ICIJ said.

Many companies appeared to be using Luxembourg simply as a mailbox address, it added, citing three buildings apparently home to more than 4,000 firms.

"Luxembourg is like a corporate version of extraordinary rendition, a place where companies can do their dirty work that would not be permitted at home," said Crawford Spence, professor of accounting at Warwick Business School.

PricewaterhouseCoopers helped the companies obtain the advance tax rulings, according to the ICIJ.

PwC, Luxembourg officials and spokespeople for some of the companies named in the report denied any wrongdoing in statements to the ICIJ.

Related: What now for taxes after Republican sweep

Related: Treasury acts to stop overseas tax 'inversions'

First Published: November 6, 2014: 8:45 AM ET

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Housing for retirees: Unaffordable

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Sadly, though, my dad's plan may be harder for many other seniors to pull off. A study from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University found that affordable housing remains a huge challenge for seniors — and it's going to get worse as the baby boomers age.

And if you, Mr. 20-something, think this a moot point for you, you're wrong. Your taxes, your city, your commute and very likely your own parents are in these crosshairs, too. Listen up.

Related: Baby boomers aren't moving out of their homes

Let's start with the boomers. Thanks to them, 18 percent of the U.S. population will have hit 65 or older by 2030, according to the Pew Research Center. The wave has already begun, with the oldest boomers hitting that milestone in 2011.

Related: Study abroad, get married

Already more seniors are living longer in their single-family houses, the Harvard researchers found, but the cost of housing remains one of the biggest obstacles to quality end-of-life care, with millions of seniors paying more than 30 percent (the rate considered financially sustainable) of their income for housing — and cutting back on food and medical care to do so. Many seniors who still rent or haven't paid off mortgages are implicated.

The Numbers

• 13.4 million people over age 75 will live alone by 2035.
• One in four has a serious medical impairment.
• 70 percent of people over age 65 will need long-term care as they age.
• The median income for seniors in their 80s remains less than $30,000 — no matter how well-off they started.

Related: Foreign countries offer U.S. retirees discounts and tax breaks

In sum, a lot of aging people want to stay in their homes, but will live alone, with little income and big needs.

The study finds that one of the biggest needs as boomers age will be for subsidized housing, giving those who can't work anymore a reliable roof — but we as a nation aren't set up for that.

"We're a country where we'll have a lot of older adults facing hunger, having inadequate housing, being isolated," says Vivian Vasallo, the vice president for housing with the AARP Foundation, which commissioned the study.

The next 10 years are crucial for planning how we as a nation age, she says — before the boomers hit and our social services and safety nets shudder.

What are your plans?

This article originally appeared in Ozy. CNNMoney and Ozy are partnering to tell the story of the "Real Economy."

First Published: November 6, 2014: 9:12 AM ET

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Facebook launches Ebola fundraising campaign

Facebook is launching a fundraising campaign to help groups fighting Ebola.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The social network, whose founder Mark Zuckerberg announced a personal $25 million donation to help battle the deadly disease, will make it easier for others to donate as well.

But while Zuckerberg and some other billionaires and companies have made some big donations, small donations from the general public have lagged far behind the $1 billion the United Nations estimates it will take to fight the crisis.

Zuckerberg's donation went to the Centers for Disease Control Foundation. But Facebook is seeking donations for three other groups: the International Medical Corps, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Save the Children. Facebook's 1.3 billion users will see a message at the top of their news feed with an option to donate to those groups.

The company will also team with UNICEF to provide information through Facebook to people in targeted regions about Ebola symptoms and treatment. Additionally, it will team with NetHope to provide communications services to medical and aid workers in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Related: Paul Allen pledges $100 million to fight Ebola

"In times of crisis, people turn to Facebook (FB, Tech30) to learn about what's happening, share their experiences and offer support," said the company's statement. "If not addressed, the Ebola epidemic could become a long-term global health crisis. Together with our partners, we're hopeful that by offering people the tools they need, we can all help fight this disease."

More information on its efforts is available at facebook.com/fightebola.

First Published: November 6, 2014: 9:04 AM ET

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The Star Trek communicator is real -- and it's now on sale

Onyx is the real-life Star Trek communicator badge, just like the one Captain Picard and his crew wore on the Enterprise.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A company called OnBeep has made the Star Trek communicator badge a reality (well, except for the spaceship part). It even looks like the real deal.

Onyx, OnBeep's communicator, clips to your shirt and connects to your cell phone with Bluetooth. It then lets you add other Onyx users to your network and communicate with them instantly with a press of a button. (They have to press a button to answer.)

Founder Jesse Robbins believes Onyx will be popular with first responders and event staff who can't look down at their phones to place calls or respond to text messages.

"Cell phones are terrible for short messages and real-time communication, because they take you out of moment," Robbins said.

Communicator technology has technically been around for two decades. Nextel's nationwide push-to-talk technology debuted in 1996, turning cell phones into extremely long-range walkie-talkies. But texting and unlimited cell phone minutes killed push-to-talk, and Sprint (S) shuttered the Nextel brand last year.

Related: Lowe's channels science fiction in new holoroom

But instant voice communication is making somewhat of a comeback. Apple (AAPL, Tech30) just introduced voice messaging as part of iMessage, and Facebook's (FB, Tech30) WhatsApp recently added voice to its texting app as well.

OnBeep thinks Onyx can also help revitalize digital voice tech, which Robbins calls "the most powerful way of communicating when you're not face-to-face." Robbins envisioned "countless" uses for the technology, including families and friends staying in touch.

For example, spouses might use Onyx when one person goes to the supermarket and doesn't want to call home a dozen times to ask if the pantry is stocked with various products.

But the audience for Onyx might be limited. The badge goes on pre-sale Wednesday for $99 (and $195 for two). That's not going to break the bank, but it's expensive enough that you'll really have to want it to buy it. And you'll have to convince your friends, family or coworkers to buy Onyx too -- it only works if you have other Onyx owners to talk to.

Even if it doesn't take off, we can add Onyx to the growing list of Star Trek-inspired technology. There have been several attempts to build a tricorder, a holodeck, a food replicator and -- the Holy Grail -- the ask-and-answer computer system.

Yet only a small number of these Star Trek innovations are actually available today. There are doors that open automatically when you approach them. Now we can add communicator badges to the list.

We'll let you know when warp drive is here.

First Published: November 5, 2014: 10:12 AM ET

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Dow hits new record after GOP win

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

As soon as the market opened Wednesday morning, the Dow leaped to a new all-time high of 17,481.3. The S&P 500 is near record territory as well.

The biggest celebration this morning is in the energy sector. Utilities and energy companies surged. Devon Energy (DVN) EOG Resources (EOG) and Chesapeake Energy (CHK) are the top gainers in the S&P 500, with plenty of others in the sector not far behind.

The reason?

"In the run up to the 2016 elections, we think the GOP will want to focus on a few issues they could quickly pass through Congress and get onto President Obama's desk," writes Bob Doll, chief equity strategist at Nuveen Asset Management.

Related: The stocks most likely to benefit for a GOP win

Those top issue are likely to include pushing through approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and making it easier to export liquified natural gas. This would be a huge win for energy companies, since other countries often have higher prices for natural gas than America.

First Published: November 5, 2014: 10:04 AM ET

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Voters say yes to paid sick days

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Voters approved ballot measures Tuesday which gives workers paid sick days to recover from illness or take care of a sick child or parent.

Businesses with at least 11 employees in Massachusetts now have to grant up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year. The measure also bars employers from punishing workers for taking sick time.

It's a huge victory for low-wage workers. Two thirds of workers at the bottom 25% of the pay scale -- the country's lowest earners -- do not receive paid time off for illness, according to the Labor Department. Three quarters of part time employees are not paid when they miss work due to illness. Worse, some lose their jobs.

In Massachusetts alone, the new law will benefit nearly 1 million workers who couldn't take sick time, according to a statement from Yes on Question 4, an advocacy group that campaigned for sick days in the state.

In New Jersey, voters in Trenton and Montclair also backed a similar plan. A similar measure also passed in Oakland, Calif.

Related: San Fracisco votes in $15 minimum wage

The gains come on the heels of a string of wins this year for advocates of paid sick days. There are now three states and 16 cities that have laws mandating paid sick days, up from one state and six cities in 2013, said Ellen Bravo, director of Family Values @ Work, a grassroots group that campaigns for the issue.

In April, New York City started requiring businesses with more than 15 employees to offer paid sick leave to workers. Similar policies are in place in Connecticut as well as San Francisco, Seattle, Jersey City, N.J., and Washington, D.C.

Related: Income inequality is stealth issue in midterm elections

"The impetus for these bills is that no one should be punished for taking care of child or a parent or following doctors' orders," said Bravo. "No one should be forced to work sick or lose pay for being sick."

Advocates say that paid sick days also prevent workers from spreading contagious diseases.

The biggest critics of mandated sick leave policies are employers in the restaurant and retail industries. They argue that such laws encourage absenteeism and hurt business.

Related: Berkeley now has a soda tax of 68 cents per two liter bottle

A 2012 study by the National Federation of Independent Business, which represents small businesses, suggested that the law in Massachusetts could result in $8.4 billion in economic losses to their businesses over five years.

Efforts by the group and the National Restaurant Association have led 10 states to pass bans preventing cities from approving paid sick leave.

The law in Massachusetts does grant employers some protections.

Employers are allowed to require "certification," such as a note from a doctor, from employees who use sick time for more than 24 hours at a time.

The law says workers should also make a "good faith effort" to give managers advance notice when they need to take sick time, but employers are not allowed to prevent workers from taking sick days if they have not received certification in time.

First Published: November 5, 2014: 9:54 AM ET

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Botox isn't just for women: Why so many men are 'Bro-tox' obsessed

More than 385,000 men got Botox, or 'Bro-tox', in the U.S. last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

But now, more men than ever are flocking to the injectable line-filler, hoping 'Bro-tox' will knock a few years off of their appearance.

More than 385,000 men in the U.S. got Botox injections last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That's a 310% increase from a decade ago.

While creases have always graced men's faces, dermatologists say there are a number of reasons why so many men are going under the needle now.

A large part of it has to do with the fact that these kinds of aesthetic procedures are becoming more acceptable across the board, according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons president Dr. Scot Glasberg. About 5 million women went for injectables last year, plus a bevy of female stars and famous men from Simon Cowell to Patrick Dempsey have copped to getting them.

Related: This doctor cures hangovers for $250

But Glasberg said that the financial meltdown has also played a significant role in the rise of men coming in, especially since most of the patients he's seeing are in their 40s or 50s.

"With the slowdown in 2008, there's been an element of wanting to look a little younger to get a job more easily," he said. "First impressions are everything in an interview."

No surprise, given that older workers have had a much harder time getting jobs back since the recession.

Almost two-thirds of unemployed workers 55 and older said they were actively searching for a job for more than one year, compared to just one-third of younger workers, according to a survey by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.

And according to the AARP Public Policy Institute, two-thirds of workers between the ages of 45 and 74 say they have seen or experienced age discrimination on the job.

Dermatologists say that something a bit closer to home is also motivating men. Dr. David Colbert, a sought-after New York City dermatologist and founder of Colbert MD Skincare, said that he's seen a huge uptick in men coming in for Bro-tox thanks to the women in their lives.

Related: Five-star stays in...hospital suites

"The thing I hear the most is, 'my girlfriend or wife says I need to get rid of that line,'" he said. "But I also get guys who see their wife looking so great that the husband will start asking some questions."

Another driving factor is that the procedure is quick; it can be done during a lunch break, as many men do. Colbert said that there's very little downtime, especially for men, who he said tend to bruise less than women.

But sticking needles in your forehead, near your eyes and along your jawline can be painful, and it does require men to come back every four to six months for maintenance.

"I would definitely say women hands down win in terms of who handles the pain better," Colbert said. "And men don't come back as regularly, either. They need to be prodded to come back in."

First Published: November 4, 2014: 9:50 AM ET

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3-D-printed organs are on the way

An Organovo engineer oversees the tissue-printing process.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

California-based biotech firm Organovo (ONVO) is set to begin selling 3-D-printed liver tissue by the end of the year, part of the growing movement to bring the technology to the medical field.

Organovo can't yet print a fully functioning liver. But the company has already been working with a handful of laboratories to manufacture live liver tissue, offering scientists a new way to conduct research.

"This gives researchers the kind of tool that they just haven't head in the past," said Michael Renard, executive vice president at Organovo. "They can't do the kind of experiments on a person that they can do with this tissue in a lab setting."

Related: The next frontier in 3-D printing is human organs

Within the next few years, Renard says 3-D-printed tissues could also be used in patient treatment, to replace small parts or organs or encourage cell regeneration.

So how do you print human tissue?

The process starts when scientists grow human cells from biopsies or stem cells. They then feed the cells into special printers that can arrange them three-dimensionally by cell type in the way that they'd appear in the human body.

Once the cells have been printed in the right arrangement, they begin to signal to one another, fuse and organize themselves into a collective system.

Renard didn't want to speculate on when the printing of whole organs might become a reality, but many researchers are excited about the possibility and its implications for transplant procedures.

The technology has already been used to make functioning prosthetics and replacement bones. But organs, which comprise many different types of living cells and need nourishment from the circulatory system, are a more difficult proposition.

Related: 3-D printed drones

That hasn't stopped scientists from trying, however. Harvard researchers are at work trying to print functioning human kidneys, while a team at the University of Louisville is trying to produce a 3-D-printed heart.

There's still a lot more research to be done -- and regulatory approval to be secured -- but researchers at Organovo and elsewhere are feeling optimistic.

"We believe this technology could very much be transformational," Renard said.

First Published: November 4, 2014: 9:50 AM ET

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Oops. Ford recalls cars to fix 'improper' recall

The Mercury Grand Marquis is one of the Ford Motor cars being recalled to repair a fix made in a previous recall.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Ford said Tuesday it is recalling nearly 40,000 cars to repair a problem that it created when fixing a previous recall.

The cars at issue are the Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Marquis. They have a steering shaft that could break, causing a loss of steering. Ford (F) said it is aware of one accident in one of the cars it had fixed, but said no one was injured.

The previous recall covered 355,000 cars. It was announced in August and owners were notified of the problem in October. Ford said that after making the repairs, it discovered the way it had fixed them was "improper."

Related: Fix for exploding airbags may be more deadly than the problem

Ford also announced four other recalls Tuesday. One covers 135,000 Ford Flex and F-150s with a passenger seat airbag problem: It may not deploy for an adult because the safety system mistakenly thinks no one, or a child, is sitting there.

The company also recalled 27,600 Ford Transit Connect cars to fix a problem with fuel lines that could lead to a fire; nearly 1,000 F-150s for a brake pedal position problem; and about 90 Transit vehicles for a problem with its fuel filter that could lead to engine stalls. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries.

Related: Ford says recalls will cost $500 million to fix

First Published: November 4, 2014: 10:09 AM ET

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Why retailers are afraid of Apple Pay

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

That's why Wal-Mart (WMT), Target (TGT) and others created a rival app: CurrentC. It's expected to be slower and clunkier than tap-to-pay technology like Apple Pay, but CurrentC makes processing payments cheaper for retailers.

When you swipe your card at stores, retailers have to pay credit card companies between 1.5% and 3% of every transaction. With CurrentC, retailers might get away with paying a tenth as much.

That drop in costs is huge. Consider Wal-Mart, which earned $4 billion in profit on $119 billion in sales last quarter, a profit margin of just 3%. Cutting down on swipe fees could amount to hundreds of millions -- even billions -- more dollars in profit.

"This isn't a battle being fought over security or ease of use," noted John Zurawski, an executive at Authentify, which secures payments. "It's a battle being fought over interchange fees that merchants pay."

Apple Pay runs on credit card networks. If it grows popular, Visa (V) and MasterCard (MA) would get stronger and fees would stick around. That's something retailers have been fighting for years.

By contrast, CurrentC runs on an old, little-known payment network called "the automated clearinghouse." It's cheaper for shops to process payments, because the system is generally slower. (It's the one used for direct deposit and social security benefits.)

"This is an effort by large retailers to see if they can invent a mobile payment solution that gets them out from what they perceive to be the financial industry's control," said Jason Kratovil, a bank lobbyist in the nation's capital.

These retailers are also rejecting Apple Pay out of fear that Apple's newer, safer payment system will let banks charge stores even more money for every swipe, according to Cherian Abraham, a mobile payment expert with Experian (EXPGF).

"Retailers have always looked at contactless payments with suspicion," Abraham said. "They're worried that as volume picks up, they'll see higher rates."

Related: Apple Pay rival CurrentC just got hacked

Then there's customer data. Shops want it. Apple Pay doesn't give it to them.

With Apple Pay, store registers never get your credit card number -- only an anonymous payment token. This chokes off the number one way retailers get customer data for tracking purchases and directly marketing to you afterward.

Meanwhile, CurrentC is at its core a coupon-and-rewards app. That gives companies lots of detailed information about what you buy and who you are.

CurrentC was developed by the Merchant Customer Exchange, a consortium of retailers that includes CVS (CVS) and Rite Aid (RAD). Joining MCX forces retailers to reject Apple Pay, which is why CVS and Rite Aid ditched it last week.

On a call with reporters this week, the group's CEO, Dekkers Davidson, said its members invested significant time and money to develop the alternative. They're not turning back now.

Related: Apple says it may lose Irish tax break

First Published: November 3, 2014: 9:28 AM ET

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What's next for Jon Stewart?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Could what's next be a straight newscast instead of satire?

He's certainly not ruling it out.

Stewart, who was approached by NBC about moderating "Meet the Press," told New York magazine that he's contemplating his future. His "Daily Show" contract is up in a little less than a year.

He confirmed that he met with NBC News executives about "Meet the Press," but "spent most of it telling them what a crazy idea I thought it was."

When the interviewer, Chris Smith, said to him, "And the truth is that you're holding out for Brian Williams' job," Stewart jokingly responded, "That's right. No. I want to be the first male host of 'The View.'"

But then he added this: "Which is not to say that at some point maybe there will be another iteration of this conversation."

This conversation ... about leaping from Comedy Central to a network that makes the news rather than laughs about it? Potentially. Stewart has dropped hints about it before.

When Smith asked whether the 2016 presidential election might motivate Stewart to stay at "The Daily Show," Stewart said yes, but added, "part of the thing to remember is this is not the only process by which you can work material, and sometimes it's more important to step back and reconfigure a conversation than continue the same conversation because you know how to do it."

This might all be bluster ahead of contract renewal talks between Stewart's representatives and Comedy Central. But Stewart sounds like a man who's ready to try something different.

His protégé Stephen Colbert, meanwhile, already knows what's next: Colbert is ending his Comedy Central show in December and is preparing to take over "The Late Show" on CBS next spring.

First Published: November 3, 2014: 10:12 AM ET

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How one government spends your taxes

The U.K. government is sending out letters to tell individuals where their income tax is being spent.

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Twenty-four million British taxpayers are about to find out as they receive personalized summaries that break down exactly where their hard-earned cash goes.

The program, considered one of the first of its kind by experts, aims to improve transparency and make the government more accountable for its spending.

Each person will get a chart showing, pound for pound, how the taxes they pay on their income are used.

About 25% goes towards welfare programs -- the biggest area of government spending -- including support for children and families, people with disabilities, pensioners and the unemployed.

Nearly 19% of tax money is funneled into healthcare, and roughly 5% towards defense.

"It's good for people to think about how their money is spent," said George Bull, a senior tax partner at accountancy firm Baker Tilly.

Related: Who pays the most income taxes?

A worker making £30,000 ($48,000) per year -- or slightly more than the average wage -- will see that they pay £6,781 in income taxes each year. Nearly £300 goes towards criminal justice, while £114 is spent on "culture" programs including libraries and museums. Nearly £80 goes to overseas aid.

The new initiative may upset some people who disapprove of certain types of government spending.

"You pay your taxes, the government chooses how to spend them," said Bull. "The government doesn't send these out to give you a choice about how your taxes are spent."

The smallest item outlines how much each taxpayer contributes to the European Union. For a person making £30,000, they'll pay £51 a year.

Britain's relations with Europe have become increasingly strained in recent years. Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold a referendum in 2017 on whether the U.K. should remain a member of the EU, if he is re-elected next year.

First Published: November 3, 2014: 9:53 AM ET

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What makes a recruiter reject your resume in seconds?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Three-quarters of human resource professionals said it takes them less than five minutes to review a resume before deciding whether a job applicant makes it to the next round, according to a recent survey from the Society for Human Resource Management.

And that may be generous.

Five minutes sounded like an eternity to some of the recruiting managers who spoke to CNNMoney.

"I thought it would be a lot less. [Often] an initial screen takes 30 seconds," said Doug Arms, a vice president at staffing firm Kelly Services.

So, basically, think Tinder for talent.

Hiring managers and recruiters say there are telltale signs that help them weed out candidates at first glance. These are the resumes that can make an applicant seem, among other things, careless, immature or just not worth pursuing relative to the competition.

And here's the thing: Anyone, regardless of education or experience, can fall into these traps.

"I see it at every level for every type of job I've ever hired for," said Alison Green, an HR consultant in the Washington, D.C., area who runs AskAManager.org.

Here are seven of the biggest resume killers that hiring pros say they see all the time:

Using a ridiculous email address: Your college friends may know exactly why hairofthedogdude@yahoo.com is fitting for you, but recruiters and hiring managers may not be so amused.

"It just shoots your credibility," Arms said.

Making spelling errors and grammatical mistakes: Time to admit it, your mother was right. "If you can't be trusted to proof your resume, why should I trust you with details once you're on the job?" Arms said.

Including crazy fonts, colors and other graphics: Creativity is desirable in many jobs. But resumes that look like art projects are not.

"Keep the document simple and clear. If it takes too long for us to figure out where people work and what they do, they won't get too far," said Maryanne Rainone, managing director of Heyman Associates in New York.

Related: These resume lies are whoppers

One exception might be candidates for graphic arts jobs. Yet even in these cases the place for displaying your design skills is not the resume itself, but rather the link to the site displaying your portfolio or attachments to your work.

Not using keywords: Terms particular to the job you want and the relevant skills you have should feature prominently on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Pay attention to the words in the job description, Arms said. "Ask yourself first: 'Do I satisfy the criteria?' If so, is that reflected on your resume?"

Some employers use software to search for keywords when they are sorting through hundreds of applicants' resumes. Recruiters also use keywords to find potential candidates through LinkedIn (LNKD, Tech30) and other sites.

Kelly Dingee, director of strategic recruiting at Staffing Advisors in Maryland, suggests thinking broadly about which words to use.

If she's trying to recruit for a development officer position, for instance, she'll search not just for that job title but for words like "philanthropy," "fundraising" and "major gifts."

Stating everything but your accomplishments: Listing your day-to-day responsibilities (e.g., managing a Web site, organizing conferences) in your current and past jobs won't distinguish you from the pack.

Instead, hiring managers should be able to tell at first glance what you've accomplished (e.g., doubled sales, increased audience reach by 30%, negotiated the company's biggest deal, etc.).

Writing too much: Writing a book is an impressive feat, but your resume shouldn't read like one.

Recruiters won't read paragraph after paragraph. They'd much prefer short, bulleted points.

Forgetting to include dates: The years that you worked at every job you held should be easily scannable.

Otherwise, "it looks like someone is trying to hide something," Rainone said.

First Published: November 2, 2014: 9:34 AM ET

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GOP win could spark party on Wall Street

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

A Republican takeover of the Senate would relieve investors who have been hoping for (and betting on) more pro-business policies.

"If the Republicans blow it, that could be a problem," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at S&P Capital IQ.

If the GOP pulls off the victory, these three sectors will celebrate the most:

Related: Wall Street predicts GOP mid-term victory

1. Energy: A Republican takeover of the Senate could reignite Wall Street's love affair with the energy sector, which has been battered lately by tumbling oil prices.

Consider that Halliburton (HAL) fell 14.5% in October alone, and Hess (HES) was down 10%.

In a recent poll of money managers and brokers by ConvergEx Group, 90% of respondents said energy stocks will benefit from a GOP midterm victory.

The logic is thus: Republicans will push for more lenient environmental policies that could help fossil fuel companies, or at least block tougher regulations by Democrats.

That's especially true for coal stocks that have been hurt by proposed rule changes by the Environmental Protection Agency. One proxy for coal stocks, the Market Vectors-Coal ETF (KOL), has slumped 7% over the past year while the overall market rallied.

A GOP Senate could also raise the pressure on the White House to loosen restrictions on energy exploration, especially key projects like the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

"You have a lot more history of Republicans being friendly to the energy industry. The XL pipeline left a sour taste in people's mouths," said Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at ConvergEx.

Related: What happens if Republicans win the Senate?

2. Financials: If the GOP takes over the Senate, and thus control of the powerful Senate banking committee, the rules should tilt more in favor of banks.

That would be a relief for a sector that has lived under the cloud of the Dodd-Frank reform law, which has handcuffed the activities of big banks and increased regulatory costs for smaller ones.

Eighty-eight percent of respondents in the ConvergEx survey said the financial sector would benefit from a Republican win.

"There is a concern that Democrats have put in excessive regulation that diminishes banks' return on capital, particularly for smaller, regional banks. The big money center banks are in a league of their own," said Colas.

Related: Halloween treat as stock market soars

3. Industrials: Republicans tend to support more defense spending by the federal government. That's music to the ears of defense companies like Lockheed Martin (LMT) and Boeing (BA) that make up a chunk of the industrial sector and rely on lucrative government contracts.

Defense stocks have already benefited from increased military spending sparked by the recent military efforts to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

"Energy and defense companies tend to be GOP pet projects," said Stovall.

Multinational industrial stocks like Caterpillar (CAT) could also benefit from more aggressive trade policies written by a Republican-controlled Congress, Colas said.

The lone wolf sector: If Democrats manage to keep the Senate, the health care industry will cheer.

A divided Congress would have a difficult time repealing ObamaCare, which has benefited certain parts of the health care industry like hospital operators, HMOs and even some drug makers.

"Maybe we can fine tune the Obama health care plan, but the Republicans have been talking about getting it repealed. Why upset the applecart? It would be a reinjection of unquantifiable uncertainty," said Stovall.

Don't forget about earnings: Of course, the midterm election isn't the only event that could move stocks this week. Investors get more corporate "report cards" from companies like CVS (CVS), Walt Disney (DIS) and Whole Foods (WFM).

Nearly 350 S&P 500 companies have already reported earnings for the third quarter, with an impressive 75% of them beating Wall Street's expectations, Capital IQ said. That's pretty solid and reinforces optimism about the health of Corporate America.

The focus will shift back to the U.S. economy when the government releases its closely-watched jobs report for October on Friday.

First Published: November 2, 2014: 9:20 AM ET

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Branson: The dream of space tourism lives on

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

"We are determined to know what went wrong and are working closely with authorities to get that information," Branson said Saturday at a press conference in the Mojave Desert, near the site of the accident.

From CNN: 1 dead, 1 injured in SpaceShipTwo test flight failure

Branson continued to express sorrow for the loss of life. But he also addressed a question on many people's mind: Will Virgin continue its space tourism business?

"We're going to learn what went wrong, discover how we can improve safety and performance and then move forward together," Branson said. "Four hundred engineers who work here and most people in the world would love to see the dream living on."

Commercial flights were set to start in 2015.

The Virgin Galactic spaceship that exploded Friday cost nearly $500 million to develop.

Virgin has sold more than 700 tickets to space already, each costing more than $250,000, for future flights. Several celebrities have already signed up, including Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher, Leonardo DiCaprio and Stephen Hawking.

Anyone who has bought a ticket and is now nervous about space flight will be able to get a full refund, Branson assured. The company has received more than $80 million from bookings.

The special plane is called SpaceShipTwo, and it was designed to carry six passengers.

Virgin Galactic has planned for years to sell trips to transport passengers about 62 miles above Earth -- the beginning of outer space -- and let them experience a few minutes of weightlessness before returning.

Friday's mission was SpaceShipTwo's solo flight number 35, according to the company. A specialized jet carried it into the air and then the crafts separated at 50,000 feet.

They disconnected normally, but within minutes, the spaceship experienced "an in-flight anomaly," Virgin Galactic said.

The plane was designed and built by Mojave-based Scaled Composites, a subsidiary of defense contractor Northrop Grumman (NOC).

The project operates under the wing of The Spaceship Company, a venture that's jointly owned by Branson and Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments PJS.

"Space is hard and today was a rough day," Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said Friday.

The deadly accident marked the second time in a week that a private U.S. space company suffered a major loss. On Tuesday, a NASA contractor -- the Orbital Sciences Corporation (ORB) -- blew up its own unmanned Antares rocket when it started to malfunction. It was bound for the International Space Station with 5,000 pounds of supplies and experiments.

The space community showed signs of solidarity after Friday's explosion.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, sent his sympathies over Twitter to the families of the pilots and the Virgin Galactic team.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden also offered condolences.

"Space flight is incredibly difficult, and we commend the passion of all in the space community who take on risk to push the boundaries of human achievement," he said.

--CNN's Jason Hanna and CNNMoney's Octavio Blanco, Katie Lobosco and Jose Pagliery contributed to this report.

First Published: November 1, 2014: 2:38 PM ET

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NBC is developing a reality show with Virgin Galactic

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The network declined to comment. But according to Deadline, NBC is now "gathering information on the situation" regarding the reality series.

During a test flight, a "serious anomaly" caused Virgin's commercial space craft to explode over the Mojave Desert, killing one and seriously injuring another.

The show -- which was announced last year -- is an exclusive series between NBC, Virgin founder Richard Branson and reality TV super-producer Mark Burnett.

NBC described the show as an elimination competition in which normal people would compete with one another for "the ultimate prize" -- a flight into space on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo.

The series would also have "unprecedented access" to Virgin Galactic's Spaceport America facilities in New Mexico, where contestants would train for their winning flight, according to a press release issued last year.

Related: Virgin Galactic spaceship explodes

Virgin Galactic's plan for the $500 million spaceship is to transport passengers 62 miles above Earth where the planet meets the onset of space.

The flight reportedly would cost guests upward of $250,000 and celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Stephen Hawking have signed up for tickets.

For Burnett -- the producer behind reality hits like "Survivor" -- "Space Race" is another attempt to accomplish his dream of using a TV show to send everyday people into space.

"I am thrilled to be part of a series that will give the everyday person a chance to see space," Burnett said last year. "NBC has come on board ... so that viewers at home will have a first class seat."

First Published: October 31, 2014: 6:40 PM ET

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Americans pay more for slower Internet

South Koreans benefit from the world's most cost-effective high-speed Internet.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

That's one of the conclusions from a new report by the Open Technology Institute at the New America Foundation, which looked at the cost and speed of Internet access in two dozen cities around the world.

Clocking in at the top of the list was Seoul, South Korea, where Internet users can get ultra-fast connections of roughly 1000 megabits per second for just $30 a month. The same speeds can be found in Hong Kong and Tokyo for $37 and $39 per month, respectively.

Related: Has Verizon's new tech site banned controversial topics?

For comparison's sake, the average U.S. connection speed stood at 9.8 megabits per second as of late last year, according to Akamai Technologies.

Residents of New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. can get 500-megabit connections thanks to Verizon (VZ, Tech30), though they come at a cost of $300 a month.

There are a few cities in the U.S. where you can find 1000-megabit connections. Chattanooga, Tenn., and Lafayette, La. have community-owned fiber networks, and Google (GOOGL, Tech30) has deployed a fiber network in Kansas City. High-speed Internet users in Chattanooga and Kansas City pay $70, while in Lafayette, it's $110.

The problem with fiber networks is that they're hugely expensive to install and maintain, requiring operators to lay new wiring underground and link it to individual homes. Many smaller countries with higher population density have faster average speeds than the United States.

"[E]specially in the U.S., many of the improved plans are at the higher speed tiers, which generally are the most expensive plans available," the report says. "The lower speed packages---which are often more affordable for the average consumer---have not seen as much of an improvement."

Google is exploring plans to bring high-speed fiber networks to a handful of other cities, and AT&T (T, Tech30) has also built them out in a few places, but it will be a long time before 1000-megabit speeds are an option for most Americans.

Related: FCC calls timeout on Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger

First Published: October 31, 2014: 5:52 PM ET

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How I taught my kids to invest

The Ellerbroek family.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

That's the message Angie Ellerbroek is instilling in her three children. They are all under 12-years-old, but they already own stock.

"We're middle class of the middle class," Angie, who lives in the Midwest, told CNNMoney. "We live within our means. We don't buy new vehicles."

Angie and her husband were frustrated that their childrens' saving accounts were making a mere 0.17% a year in the bank. In other words, nothing.

They had worked hard to save up a bit of money for their kids -- about $1,500 for each child. In the fall of 2011, Angie had an epiphany: It was time to put the savings in the stock market.

"I explained everything to the kids before investing their savings, and they were on board," she said.

Related: Who's getting rich off the stock market?

Each child started by putting money into one stock -- something they had a connection to.

"I bought Apple (AAPL, Tech30) for my son because he loves computers. I bought Disney (DIS) for one daughter because she loves Disney movies. And for my youngest I bought Honeywell (HON)because she was sick and taking spoons of honey for her cough, and we have a Honeywell thermometer," she explained.

Angie also got into the action, purchasing shares of Toyota (TM) since she believed it was a strong brand in 2011 and the recall crisis seemed to be behind it.

Related: Is Apple the perfect stock?

Investing is now dinner table conversation -- and a fun game as the entire family follows the market. While the Ellerbroeks have a friendly competition going to see who has gained the most each week, the reality is everyone is doing very well -- certainly better than they would have if they kept their money in the bank.

The daughter invested in Disney has the most bragging rights. She is up over 140%. The son in Apple is up 85% and even got to experience a stock split earlier this year. The youngest daughter is up close to 70% -- roughly on par with the S&P 500 return since her initial investment.

Bringing up the rear is mom, although Angie isn't complaining about her 67% return either.

"Regardless of our unrealized gains, it's been a good lesson for the kids to watch their investments," Angie said.

The family has since diversified the investment portfolios somewhat, although they don't see the kids' funds as particularly risky since the plan is to keep the money in the market for a long time.

Angie knows the benefits only too well. An aunt who worked hard for UPS (UPS) and didn't have any children of her own would occasionally gift her nieces and nephews stocks. Angie received her first one when she around age 10 or 12.

"When I grew up and used it, I had about $80,000 that had accrued and split so many times. That helped us buy our first house," Angie said.

It was a better lesson about money -- and the power of investing over time -- than any she has learned in the classroom. Now her kids are learning too.

First Published: November 1, 2014: 8:08 AM ET

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