I don't know why it bothers me so much when I read bad economic news involving things like chocolate and cookies. Maybe it's because I consider them wonderful escapist treats from the troubles of the day, so when they have problems of their own, it makes me sad.

Anyway, Mrs. Fields plans to file for bankruptcy soon. It's Chapter 11 -- reorganization -- so hopefully the store in Fashion Fair mall will stay open. Turns out declining mall traffic means fewer shoppers around to buy cookies.

And then I read that Hershey is raising prices 10%, blaming the higher cost of ingredients like cocoa, corn sweetener, sugar and peanuts. So those Reese's peanut butter cups you use to console yourself after paying that sky high mortgage/grocery/gasoline bill (pick one) might cost more too.