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#1 Most Expensive U.S. City To Rent a Car (11 3 23)
Anthony Hazzard
November 03, 2023
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Barbie grossed nearly $1.5 billion in theaters. Find out what the movie did for Mattel’s toy sales and what it mean for the future of the movie industry later in this email.
💵 Today’s Top Stories
 | The rental car shortages during the early stages of COVID-19 are gone. Yet prices in some cities have increased by more than 40% in the last year. In one city, the average rate is $702! Read more. |
 | Interest rates are topping out. So Clark says it’s a great time to look at five-year CDs. Here’s Clark’s take on what and where you should buy in the current CD market. Read more. |
 | Whether you’re driving, working in the yard or washing dishes, listening to free audiobooks can be a great experience. Here’s where to find your favorite genres. Read more. |
 | A loyal Clark podcast listener reports all her spam or scam emails to her service provider. Is she helping or just spinning her wheels? Read more. |
 | The IRS didn’t increase the contribution limits as much as last year (when inflation nearly reached double digits). Still, you’ll be able to put more money into tax-advantaged retirement accounts in ’24. Read more. |
 | If you use Mint to budget and track your finances, change is afoot. Intuit is shutting down Mint on Jan. 1. A new company will inherit its budgeting tool software. Read more. |
🧸 The Next Movie Trend: Toys?
Quick: Name the top-grossing movie of 2023.
If you guessed Barbie, you’re correct. Barbie earned more than $1.4 billion worldwide, edging out The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Mattel’s doll sales fell for three consecutive quarters entering the movie premiere, including declines of well more than 20% in Q4 of 2022 and Q1 of 2023.
Gross sales increased a whopping 27% in Q3 (which ended Sept. 30). The company seems poised for another good quarter of doll sales with Halloween and Christmas coming in this quarter.
Mattel Inc. stock, trading at $16.00 on March 15, hit $22.32 on Sept. 1.
CEO Ynon Kreiz proclaimed he’d “turn the storied company into an IP-driven machine, essentially creating a Mattel cinematic universe” when he took over in 2018.
Now 14 different Mattel properties are being developed into feature films, including Barney, Polly Pocket, Hot Wheels and American Girl – not to mention the potential for a Barbie sequel or the potential for other toy companies to copy Mattell’s strategy.
The true bottom line? Expect to see a lot more movies built around toys.
For those who remember Paul Harvey’s radio program, “now you know … THE REST of the story.”
📊 Stat of the Day
💸 17.94%: The average tip percentage in the United States. Millennials tip the most at 18.18% and California leads all states at 22.69%. If you’re working a job that depends on tips, you may want to avoid Illinois (14.22%).
💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
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🎙️ Podcast
Do you pre-rinse your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher? You may be throwing money down the drain! Clark and Christa discuss creative ways to save money on your water bill. Also, we are being asked to tip almost everywhere. Is it out of control? And what are the rules? Share your opinion in the comments below.
☎️ Need Money Help?
The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.
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