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PODCAST: Best Buy closes stores, Prada profits jump

Arguments for and against the legality of the Affordable Care Act wrapped up yesterday in the Supreme Court, and today, in our weekly Attitude Check, we look at how the average American feels about the law. The value of Mega Millions drawing has soared to a half-billion dollars. Lottery officials report strong sales in the 40-plus states that take part in the drawing, but if you go into a pool with co-workers, you might want to take a few precautions.

Shoppers wait in line at a Best Buy store on November 24, 2011 San Diego, Calif. The company has announced that it is closing 50 big box stores after losing almost $2 billion over the last few months.
Shoppers wait in line at a Best Buy store on November 24, 2011 San Diego, Calif. The company has announced that it is closing 50 big box stores after losing almost $2 billion over the last few months.
Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

Good economic news this morning. The number of people filing for unemployment fell last week, to the lowest level since 2008. And the economy grew 3 percent last quarter, the fastest growth we’ve seen since early 2010.

Leaders from five of the world’s fastest growing economies are meeting in India today. That would be Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The BRICS, as they’re called, are considering doing more business using their own currencies to insulate themselves from fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar.

Best Buy said today that it is closing 50 big box stores after losing almost $2 billion over the last few months.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said today that the U.S. economy and European economies will diverge this year, as the U.S. grows and Europe shrinks.

H&M reported profits this morning. They came in lower than expected. The discount clothing mecca blamed high fabric prices and markdowns.

It appears a lot of devils are wearing Prada. The Italian fashion house said this morning its profits jumped 72 percent last year.

More parents are taking out student loans for their kids kindergarten tuition. The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money reports loans to pay for private kindergartens are up 10 percent from last year. And tuition isn’t cheap. It’ll cost you about 10,000 dollars to rub elbows with the exclusive block-stacking set.

To the U.K. where a parrot named Chico was stolen over the weekend. But the owner says it’s possible the thieves won’t want to keep the bird around for long. That’s because, the bird’s favorite activity is singing a classic hit by the band Queen. Yup, Chico loves her some Bohemian Rhapsody. The owner tells the Sun newspaper, “I don’t think the people who have her will appreciate her squawking ‘Scaramouche’ at them all the time.”

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