Junked: 'Cash for Clunkers' not as successful as Feds hoped

Junked: 'Cash for Clunkers' not as successful as Feds hoped: "

Filed under: Shopping, Transportation

Even though last summer's Cash for Clunkers program was rated a success by some, a new report obtained by the Associated Press says the economy might not have fared as well as hoped under 'Clunkers.'

Wednesday, the AP dug up Federal numbers that showed many of the trades didn't increase fuel efficiency all that much. Many of those trading in gas-guzzlers opted for similar (but brand new) petroleum chuggers that got only a few more miles to the gallon than the clunker.

The Federal data showed the Clunker most often traded in was the Ford 150 pick-up truck. But more than 8,000 of those sent to the scrap pile were replaced with a brand new pick-up truck, netting the consumer the incentive of $3,500 to $4,500 to up their fuel efficiency by no more than three miles at best.

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Is Your Fancy Food Truck Hurting the Poor Hot Dog Man?

Is Your Fancy Food Truck Hurting the Poor Hot Dog Man?: "

Rachel Pincus's Flickr

Just as Tyra Banks discovers gourmet food vendor trucks, Blackbook has joined the growing backlash against their trendy proliferation. It's yet another article that looks at the turf wars between the arriviste artisanal food trucks and the old-school hot dog and kabob guys. But at least this one comes with a clever neologism: 'vendrification,' which is what happens when the new upscale trucks start 'shaking up the culinary terrain of the streets.'

By casting a sympathetic eye toward the struggling hot dog vendor, writer Katie Robbins signals the shift in foodiot attitude toward the gourmet trucks. Just as artsy hipsters can't tolerate certain neighborhoods once enough frat boys move in, we expect a post-Tyra food truck future to include bearded bespectacled types 'keeping it real' by queuing up for kebab. Or maybe people will just keep eating what tastes good.

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