By The Numbers

Waste not, want not

Marketplace Staff Nov 12, 2015
$50 million

That’s how much J.C. Penney has agreed to pay in a settlement for a class action lawsuit alleging the company misled consumers with jumbo discounts that weren’t real. The company supposedly inflated the original price of some items so that the sale price seemed like more of a steal. The case is a reminder of how the perception of savings can sometimes mean more than the price of the item itself.

7

That’s how many olive oil producers in Italy have been accused of mislabeling products as “extra virgin.” A test of 20 of the most popular products found nine that were incorrectly labeled. As The Local Italy reported, it’s an issue close to the country’s heart, as Italy seized €10 million worth of fake olive oil last year.

37,000

That’s how many acres are owned by Astoria, Oregon, a good amount of which is comprised of forest. The city is the first to raise money on the burgeoning carbon markets. Instead of harvesting trees for timber, it will make money by maintaining its forest.

100 kilograms

If you’re not a fan of excrement-related stories, stop reading now, because that’s how much poop an elephant at the Beauval Zoo in France produces in a single day. But it’s not going to waste. It’s used to fuel a biogas plant that keeps other animals at the zoo warm. As Bloomberg reports, the country would do well to emulate the model of the zoo, as it is behind on its goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.