Business Headlines: Charlie Card Promotions; $4,100 For Gas
BOSTON (CBS) - A two-person Boston-based start-up called Trans Metro Media wants the MBTA to use the backs of plastic Charlie Cards to promote local businesses.
They've been talking with high-level officials at the T for the past year-and-a-half.
Trans Metro Media said an announcement should come by the middle of next month.
The MBTA is looking for any way possible to close a $161-milllion budget gap for next year.
$4,100 ON GAS
Gas prices are down another six cents this past week.
A gallon of regular self-serve is now $3.21, according to a survey by AAA Southern New England.
It's the fifth straight week the average price in Massachusetts has dropped.
But it's been a tough year overall.
The average American family spent more than $4,100 on gasoline this year.
That amounts to a whopping 8.4-percent of their average yearly income.
SAAB BANKRUPT
Local SAAB dealers have just gotten this big shock.
SAAB automobile has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the company is likely to be chopped up and sold into parts.
There are five SAAB dealers in the Boston area.
The general manager at Charles River Saab in Watertown said he expects the bankruptcy to scare away customers in the short-term, but he does expect to see customers coming in to look for a great deal and there's plenty of inventory on hand.
Watch Lisa's report:
Lisa van der Pool of the Boston Business Journal can be seen weekdays at 6 a.m. on WBZ-TV.
