The Cruise Lines International Association estimates that 12.6 million cruised worldwide in 2007 on the 24 cruise lines CLIA represents, a 4.6 percent increase over 2006. CLIA believes demand will hold, with a projected 12.8 million passengers for 2008 despite the weakening economy. A recent CLIA survey of 500 travel agents found 90 percent expect 2008 cruise sales to be as good or better than 2007.But consumers with flexible vacation plans may be in for some deals. "The more uncertainty there is in the marketplace, the more deals there will be later in the year," said Heidi Allison Shane, spokeswoman for CruiseCompete.com. "When the cruise lines go out with high prices and they don't sell out, the bigger the discounts later on." The softest markets, she predicted, will be in mega-ships sailing to the Caribbean and Bermuda.Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor of CruiseCritic.com, also expects "more competitive prices for sure, because the economy is shaky, but where you'll find the real deals are on the older ships in cruise line fleets, not the newer and bigger models.

Tenants get help with maintenance charges

Local spotlight Tenants get help with maintenance charges Firm helps business clients find discrepancies in fees for maintaining common areas. Neal Haldane / Special to The Detroit News

BINGHAM FARMS -- A local public accounting firm wants to help tenants in office buildings avoid camouflaged costs associated with lobby or parking lot maintenance.

"For most tenants, this is a significant cost that isn't being reviewed," said Dave Kobylarek, who was brought aboard to handle the analysis of lease agreements. Kobylarek worked in real estate development for eight years and also has a public accounting background.

Slump starts to squeeze rank-and-file institutions

As you look for clues about the economy and your investments, it pays to stay close to home. Like the lobby of your neighborhood bank.

The turmoil in global credit markets is overwhelming in scope and complexity, even for seasoned regulators and other experts on the world stage.

By comparison, local banks that didn't follow their big brothers into speculative mortgage schemes have been a port in the storm.

Love at First Puff

In recent years, Punjabi and Bollywood singers have often been invited to the fair by offering them huge amounts, besides inviting cultural troupes from other parts of the country. It has more or less become a modern festival, especially for the young people to have fun and enjoy themselves.

Local cultural troupes that have been trying hard to preserve the tribal culture get little attention and less money for their performances. The traditional items by local artistes are staged at odd times when the audience is thin. They are treated as fillers to keep the rhythm going during the carnival time, especially for shoppers in the stalls.

The volume of trade over the years has increased manifold but the availability of traditional items like pashmina wool, cheegu (mountain goat), found in parts of Tibet and upper Kinnaur, kalazira, chilgoza and other dry fruit is declining with each passing year.