Sep 14, 2012

Marketplace Morning Report for Friday, September 14, 2012

Yesterday Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke laid out the Fed's new economic stimulus plan. It's round 3 of so-called quantitative easing, and the Fed will buy $40 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities every month. A year ago Monday, a group of protestors gathered in lower Manhattan, kicking off what would become the global phenomenon of Occupy Wall Street. Occupy raised a surprising pile of money -- but how was it spent? And it used to be, if you ordered something off the Internet, you didn't have to pay state sales tax. But now Amazon is now charging sales tax in a growing number of states; California goes on that list this weekend.

Segments From this episode

Topshop: From off-the-rack to off the virtual runway

by Mitchell Hartman

Sep 13, 2012

Topshop, the London retailer, is offering something new at this year's spring 2013 fashion show. Consumers can buy items the models are wearing on the Topshop web site during the live-streamed show.

LISTEN

EMBED

Occupy Wall St.

What happened to Occupy Wall Street's fundraising haul

by Mark Garrison

Sep 14, 2012

One year ago Monday, a group of people gathered in a then-obscure park in lower Manhattan, kicking off what would become the global phenomenon of Occupy Wall Street. So what's happened to all the money?

California growers complain of farm worker shortage

by Eve Troeh

Sep 14, 2012

Some farms say they don't have enough workers to get their crops in. For mushroom growers, it's always harvest time, and one farm has found an unusual source of labor.

Sales tax may cut into Amazon's edge

by Marketplace Contributor

Sep 14, 2012

With Amazon beginning to charge sales tax in some states, analysts think it may convince some consumers to buy big-ticket items in traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

Early reactions to the Fed's QE3 announcement

by David Gura

Sep 14, 2012

Yesterday, Ben Bernanke announced the Federal Reserve is going to do another round of what’s called “quantitative easing.” The Fed will buy $40 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities every month until Bernanke and his colleagues are satisfied the job market -- and the economy -- have improved.

LISTEN

EMBED

European markets feel effect of QE3 announcement

by Jeff Horwich

Sep 14, 2012

The Fed will spend $40 billion a month buying mortgage securities. Yesterday, that news was a big help to markets here in America. Today, it seems to be giving a helping hand to Europe as well.

Japan considers ending nuclear power

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Sep 14, 2012

Today, Japanese government officials announced a bold new energy plan. The policy -- which still needs approval from the cabinet -- would end the use of nuclear power in Japan by 2040.

An evacuation sign in the Mihama nuclear power plant evacuation zone beside reactors on March 8, 2012 in Mihama, Japan.

Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

How QE3 could help the economy

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Sep 14, 2012

Yesterday Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke laid out the Fed's new economic stimulus plan. It's round 3 of so-called quantitative easing. The Fed will buy $40 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities every month, until it decides the economy has improved.

U.S. President Barack Obama (3rd R) shakes hands with Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke (C) as FDIC Chair Sheila Bair (2nd L) looks on.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

LISTEN

EMBED

Fannie and Freddie to allow principal reductions in California

by Jeff Horwich

Sep 14, 2012

This week, Fannie and Freddie quietly put out some "clarifying language" that could mean a lot to some beleaguered homeowners in California and in other states.

LISTEN

EMBED

Mid-day Update

PODCAST: Ripples from QE3

by Mary Dooe

Sep 14, 2012

Yesterday Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke laid out the Fed's new economic stimulus plan. It's round 3 of so-called quantitative easing, and the Fed will buy $40 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities every month. A year ago Monday, a group kicked off what would become the gphenomenon of Occupy Wall Street. Occupy raised a surprising pile of money -- but how was it spent? And it used to be, if you ordered something off the Internet, you didn't have to pay state sales tax. But now Amazon is now charging sales tax in a growing number of states; California goes on that list this weekend.

U.S. Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke speaks at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13, 2012 following a two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting. Bernanke said that the country's unemployment situation 'remains a grave concern' while speaking after the Fed cut its growth projections for 2012 and announced fresh monetary easing efforts aimed at pushing down long-term interest rates to encourage investment and hiring.

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages

LISTEN

EMBED

Yesterday Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke laid out the Fed’s new economic stimulus plan. It’s round 3 of so-called quantitative easing, and the Fed will buy $40 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities every month. A year ago Monday, a group of protestors gathered in lower Manhattan, kicking off what would become the global phenomenon of Occupy Wall Street. Occupy raised a surprising pile of money — but how was it spent? And it used to be, if you ordered something off the Internet, you didn’t have to pay state sales tax. But now Amazon is now charging sales tax in a growing number of states; California goes on that list this weekend.