Unilever (UL +0.1%) complies with a "request" from China to postpone planned price increases on...

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davidingeorgia Comments (2682)
 
Yes, government price controls always work so well. Gerald Ford always credited that idea with winning him the presidency in 1976.
1 Apr 2011, 01:58 PM Reply Like

wyostocks Comments (5343)
 
It was Nixon who first imposed them. What a fiasco that was.
1 Apr 2011, 02:00 PM Reply Like

davidingeorgia Comments (2682)
 
Yeah, but he didn't have to campaign on the idiotic idea. :-) Ford does at least get credit for the W.I.N. buttons? Or is my memory worse than usual today?
1 Apr 2011, 02:06 PM Reply Like

SA Editor Stephen Alpher Comments (493)
 
WIN was Alan Greenspan's idea. Another gift from the Maestro to American society.
1 Apr 2011, 02:07 PM Reply Like

davidingeorgia Comments (2682)
 
I'm guessing the Chinese gov't won't be having any buttons made up for this time around.
1 Apr 2011, 02:16 PM Reply Like

wyostocks Comments (5343)
 
Stephen, according to Don Rumsfeld's book, the WIN idea is credited to Bob Hartmann, who was Ford's chief speechwriter.
Afterwards, Carter had a version of price controls but they were "voluntary".
1 Apr 2011, 02:41 PM Reply Like

SA Editor Stephen Alpher Comments (493)
 
Should have been clearer. Greenspan was the head of the Council of Economic Advisors and gave his support to the imbecilic campaign.
1 Apr 2011, 02:46 PM Reply Like

spald_fr Comments (2457)
 
[It was Nixon who first imposed them. What a fiasco that was.]

Don't forget it was Nixon who established the EPA and opened up China to the West. Now, the Chicoms are b*tching about detergent pricing and sh*ting up their environment.
1 Apr 2011, 04:51 PM Reply Like

Pandemonium Comments (44)
 
The C in China must stand for control...

Imagine what would happen if they started panic buying gold. What bubble?
1 Apr 2011, 02:10 PM Reply Like

minecanary Comments (216)
 
Panic buying of soap and noodles? Is there a sudden shortage of pasta presses or something? Too much soap being diverted to Japan for the cleanup? Methinks the Commies are a little too worried about public unrest. More importantly, will they reciprocate when we complain about the skyrocketing price of kung fu films...
1 Apr 2011, 02:12 PM Reply Like

Pandemonium Comments (44)
 
I don't know about kung fu films skyrocketing in price: it seems to me that's becoming China's number one export product. There's loads of movies about fighting warlords in whatever dynasty nowadays. The stream keeps pouring unabatedly.

My question is: would this have been a news item a few years back?
1 Apr 2011, 02:17 PM Reply Like

inthemoney Comments (981)
 
You can store noodles, soap, rice for a looooong time, with 10% a year inflation it is a smart thing to do.
1 Apr 2011, 02:48 PM Reply Like

wyostocks Comments (5343)
 
Beter ROI than some stocks that I've owned.
1 Apr 2011, 02:57 PM Reply Like

Rhianni32 Comments (1810)
 
Stop and think why would they be panic buying over increases of food and cleaning products? If their budget is so tight that any price could be crippling then they would have to be careful.
4 Apr 2011, 08:19 AM Reply Like

minecanary Comments (216)
 
99 percent of investing is just big picture common sense
1 Apr 2011, 02:16 PM Reply Like

Tony Petroski Comments (6373)
 
Mr. Canary makes a good point. "Panic buying of soap and noodles?"

The copywriter had the wit to write "That's one way to lick inflation."

As for Unilever, an outfit I always associated with soap, I hope they package their soap in different boxes from the noodles.
1 Apr 2011, 02:17 PM Reply Like

Duude Comments (3274)
 
At least up to just a few years ago, one could still buy the equivalent of a $.07 bowl of hot noodles on the streets of Shanghai. I'm curious what that $.07 bowl goes for today. Cheap to us but only fair market to much of the population.
1 Apr 2011, 02:31 PM Reply Like