Consumer Minute: Auto show, cruise deals

Wind Farm

Despite a poor economy, jobs are expected to come to Rhode Island next year with the first off-shore wind farm.

Gov. Don Carcieri has signed a development agreement with Deepwater Wind. Construction is expected to begin late next year.

Deepwater is also scheduled to build its manufacturing headquarters in Quonset.

The wind farm should create 800 jobs and provide 15 percent of all electricity used in the state.

Auto Show

People might not be buying as many news cars these days, but it seems many are curious about the new models.

The hottest new cars actually look like old ones at the 2009 Northeast International Auto Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.

The Dodge Challenger’s design is a throwback to 1970, but updated for 2010.  Then there’s the 2010 Mustang GT, another flashback to the muscle car era.

The design team from Chevrolet reportedly used the 1968 Camaro as the inspiration for a brand new 2010 Camaro.

Auto show tickets range from $4 to $9, but there are discount coupons available.  (Auto Show Web site)

Mending Industry

As people struggle to pinch pennies in this economy, there are a few businesses still flourishing.

One of them is the mending industry.

And those who run those businesses say the reason is simple: Consumers are changing their ways and instead of buying new items, they’re keeping, and fixing, old ones.

Tailors say family members are handing down more items and they’re doing a lot of resizing.

But it’s not just clothing that people are mending.  People are fixing their older cars, too.  Some people are said to be making repairs worth more than the value of their vehicles.

Some mechanics say they’re being told the reason is that they’d rather shell out the money now than make payments each month on a new vehicle.

Cruise Deals

Booking agents say cruise lines are offering huge deals for cruises during what they call “wave season,“ which runs from now until the end of March. 

Some cruise lines are offering discounts of up to $1,000 per person. 

Others are offering cruises with free airfare and shore excursions for European trips.