Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Tue, Mar 31 1992 Date: Tue, 31 Mar 92 05:49:46 EST Message-ID: 03-31 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update March 31, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network SCHOOL DAYS SHRINK, AND GROW: The five-day school week has been U.S. tradition for so long it's almost sacrosanct. But a handful of schools have been altering that hard-and-fast concept. About 100 districts now send their pupils to school just four days a week. Some schools keep longer hours. And an increasing number of schools are opening their doors a sixth day to give students extra time for learning. (For more see special School package below.) PORSCHE CUTS STAFF: Another sign that European carmakers are continuing to suffer from stalled sales: Porsche has announced that it's cutting its U.S. workforce 26%. That affects 68 workers from its corporate staff of 259. Porsche North American President Fred Schwab says the U.S. recession has hurt areas that were Porsche's strongest sales region. The luxury tax also has hurt sales. MORE COMPUTERS IN SCHOOLS: Fewer students now have to vie for computers as there are more of the machines in school these days. Quality Education reports that in grades K-12 public schools there are only 18 students per computer in the 1991-92 school year. The number has dropped every year for about the past decade; in 1983-84 there were 125. TRAVEL TAXES BEING DISCUSSED: As the World Council on Travel and Tourism holds its second annual meeting in Hong Kong Tuesday, members are discussing travel taxes. Increasingly, world governments are trying to close budget gaps by raising taxes on air travel, hotel stays and car rentals. Lipman says governments are "shooting themselves in the foot"; as prices are "pushed too high, travelers will go elsewhere." GAME TICKET PRICES OUTTA HERE: Economists say inflation is under control but try telling Major League Baseball. Though consumer prices are rising at an annual rate of about 3%, baseball's average ticket prices are up 7.7% over last year. The new average ticket price: $9.41. According to a survey by the Chicago newsletter Team Marketing Report, 21 baseball teams have raised prices. REGULATION MOVEMENT STRONG: The move to regulate cable television continues as even cable's chief proponent admits changes are needed. "There is a very real sense that" some aspects of cable regulation "need adjustment and even I would agree with that," according to James Mooney of the National Cable Television Association. The House is working on a bill to re-regulate cable and the Senate has passed a bill. NBC TRIES AGAIN: After 17 failed attempts to jump into the news magazine format so popular today, NBC is giving it another go. But "Dateline: NBC" executive-in-charge Steve Friedman says it will work this time. One reason: NBC President Robert Wright has made a one-year commitment to keep the show on the air. Also it gets a strong time slot, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST. BUSINESS CONFIDENCE CLIMBS: Business confidence continued to climb this month, according to a survey by Cahners Economics. Cahners' business confidence index rose to 65.4 this month from 65.1 last month. Readings above 50 indicate businesses are optimistic. The index has been rising since January. Cahners surveyed 400 companies that don't fare well in recessions. BODYSLIP MAKES TRANSITION: The bodyslip, originally meant as a slimming garment, is now being considered outerwear, according to fashion industry reports, joining such items as the bustier as lingerie-clothing. The closefitting garment is worn all by itself or under a jacket. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON SCHOOL: DAY KEEPS GOING AND GOING: Grade schools in Murfreesboro, Tenn., are open 12 hours a day. It's just one example of how U.S. schools are breaking from the routine to give their students extra help or make themselves a greater aid to parents. In Murfreesboro, students do homework, take non-credit music, art and language classes, or work on community projects. This election year, they learn about candidates. SCHOOL ON SATURDAY: The high school in Hull, Mass., has Saturday sessions. In Hull, a town of 10,500 across the harbor from Boston, volunteers attend "Pirate Prodigies," extra-help classes on Saturday, says Claire Brady, math teacher. Freshmen attend one week, sophomores the next. The day includes a 90-minute acadmic help session, a half-hour athletics session and an hourlong self-esteem program. SCHOOL WEEK IS SHORTER: Students in the East Grand district, 85 mountainous miles northwest of Denver, Colorado, are is in class Tuesday to Friday. The district's schools went four-day in 1982 after voters nixed a tax increase to cover a $500,000 shortfall. Thirty-five of Colorado's 176 districts are one four-day weeks. Among other benefits: The move cuts costs. It's largely a rural solution. (End of package.) Trends & Marketing Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM