CFOs STAYING ON THE JOB: Even professional money counters are worried about their piggy banks.

In a recent random survey of American chief financial officers of companies with 20 or more employees, 27 percent said they plan to work more than they did five years ago. Another quarter said the current climate is so uncertain they can't predict when they will retire.

However, 43 percent said the recession isn't affecting their retirement timeline.

Most of the CFOs who said they are pushing back their retirement age goals cited the state of the economy and the tumbling stock market, especially its effects on their savings. Another 11 percent cited Social Security concerns, while 10 percent said health care costs are prolonging their working years.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Management Resources, a unit of staffing company Robert Half International Inc. It polled 1,426 CFOs in U.S. companies by telephone from Dec. 17-Jan. 14.

WALLETS STILL CLAMPED SHUT: Neither post-holiday sales nor a new president made Americans confident enough to spend seriously in the new year.

A monthly reading of Americans' spending intentions, the Discover U.S. Spending Monitor, edged up to 77.8 in January from 76.6 in December, which had been its lowest point ever. But that was still down 8.2 points from last June, before the massive market meltdown in the fall.

More Americans continue to say they plan on spending less in the next month - 29 percent - compared with 17 percent who say they will spend more. A year ago, the position was switched: more consumers planned to shop-till-they-dropped than curtail spending.

Two-thirds of those surveyed said they think the economy is going downhill, slightly better than the 70 percent who were pessimistic last month, but 52 percent said their finances are deteriorating. Only 49 percent said they have money left over after paying bills.

The survey, sponsored by Discover Financial Services, randomly polled 15,000 U.S. adults over the phone throughout January.

CREAM OF THE BEAN: A $2 cup of coffee every working day will cost you up more than $500 for the year.

A panel of expert coffee tasters ranked a traditional, quick-not-gritty alternative: preground coffee, bought by the sack. The March issue of Consumer Reports Magazine is running a taste test on 100 percent Colombian caffeinated preground beans.

Eight O'Clock Coffee at $6.28 a pound, or just 15 cents per cup, topped the list. Runners-up were Caribou Coffee and Kickapoo Coffee, at $11.76 a pound and $14.33 a pound, respectively.

These three were marked ``very good'' coffee choices, even when sipped black.

Starbucks Corp.'s Colombia Medium came in No. 4, the best of the ``good'' bunch, due to its pronounced burnt flavors, said Consumer Reports Home and Yard editor Bob Markovich.

Milk and sugar may help to mask the taste flaws of coffees rated ``good'' and below.

The taste test took place last November and December.

02/10/09 12:12 © Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.