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Recession Briefing: Booze Gets Pricier

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Americans’ love affair with top-shelf booze cooled last year as the recession took a toll on high-priced tipples. People drank more liquor but turned to cheaper brands, according to a report by an industry group. (Washington Post)

On Tuesday night, a new New York City reality TV show, “Job Hunt,” kicked off, starring actual job seekers. The 10-part series, which runs on the NYC Life network, tries to help New Yorkers get back on their feet if they are out of work. (Christian Science Monitor)

The number of car dealerships in the United States has been shrinking since the 1940s, and the Big Three’s recent troubles have hastened the slide. So what happens to the abandoned showrooms? Many stay vacant, but others see opportunity in the empty space. Here are some of the best examples of “recycled” dealerships in North America. (The Big Money)

The overall amount of money invested in soldiers, weapons and war has been largely unaffected by the global economic downturn, a think tank said today. The total amount of money spent on world defense budgets rose from $1.3 trillion to $1.55 trillion between 2006 and 2008, and likely continued to climb further in 2009. (Associated Press)

Unemployment rose in most cities and counties in December, signaling that companies remain reluctant to hire even as the economy recovers. The unemployment rate rose in 306 of 372 metro areas, the Labor Department said Tuesday. (Associated Press)

While U.S. search firms and hiring managers rarely admit they have such tallies, a growing number keep unofficial blacklists of undesirable applicants. These individuals often remain untouchable for years. (Wall Street Journal)

Even as the bank bailout is winding down, another huge bailout is starting, this time for the Social Security system. A report from the Congressional Budget office shows that for the first time in 25 years, Social Security is taking in less in taxes than it is spending on benefits. (Fortune)

Following the “sea of red” for employment reports for much of the last two years, U.S. nonfarm payrolls are set to move back into positive territory in 2010, and perhaps as early as January, writes Rick MacDonald, with the Feb. 5 release of the month’s employment report. (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

President Obama’s proposed budget rests on a series of gloomy economic projections, which suggest that the administration does not foresee a quick leap out of the deepest downturn in generations. (Washington Post)

The Obama administration’s new proposal to stimulate the economy would send money to smaller banks, with the hope that they would then lend it to small businesses. But because the program would rely on incentives rather than directives, those banks could conceivably end up using the money for other things. (Huffington Post)

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Tags: booze, entertainment, jobs, Small Business