California among 5 states with highest average car repair bills

Meanwhile, back in the US, USA Today reports jobless rates rose in 25 states, D.C. Unemployment rates rose in 25 states and the District of Columbia in January, but almost half the states posted rates significantly lower than the national 7.9%, the government reported Monday. Unemployment fell in eight states and 17 states had no change from December, the Labor Department said in its monthly report on the labor market in all 50 states.

Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, Economizer, Technology

Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, Economizer, Technology

Car repair costs are on the rise, according to auto repair Web site CarMD.

Governments — from sovereign nations to states and localities — are measured on their ability to manage their finances and pay back what they owe. In issuing credit ratings, agencies such as Standard & Poor's 500 index evaluate criteria such as financial management, budgetary performance, and debts and liabilities.

The Census Bureau just unveiled the latest updates to state by state population trends. The data looks at what happened to the United States between July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2012. 

The California Homeowner Bill of Rights that became a law at the start of the year has helped bring down the national foreclosure rate, according to RealtyTrac's latest foreclosure report.