Marketplace Music

Playlist: Spotgaps and Award shows

Katharine Crnko Feb 28, 2011

Posted by Katharine Crnko

For Marketplace Morning Report, Monday February 28, 2011

The U.S. Commerce Department is reporting today that personal incomes jumped 1 percent in January, but consumers only bumped up their spending by 0.2 percent. Bob Moon speaks with Julia Coronado, senior U.S. economist at BNP Paribas, about what these numbers mean.

The federal government is poised to run out of money on Friday. But both Republicans and Democrats seem to be in favor of a stopgap bill that would prevent a shutdown and cut $4 billion from the budget. Nancy Marshall Genzer has more.

When gas hits $4 a gallon, the effect is psychological as well as financial.

The Academy Awards ceremony this weekend in taking place at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and Highland, a project that was partly funded by a community redevelopment agency. States may no longer have that sort of money to give to future projects.

Tourists are avoiding Egypt and the Middle East because of the recent turmoil. Egypt depends on tourism and needs to reverse that trend.

Hollywood’s biggest night was also a big night across the pond. British film “The King’s Speech” took home three Academy Awards, including best picture. The film was paid for in part by the government’s film funding organization, the U.K. Film Council. But because of budget cuts, that agency is on the chopping block. Christopher Werth explains.

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, had hoped to expand into the Russian market. But as Peter Van Dyk reports, many U.S. companies find it hard to open stores in Russia.

The Kodak Theater was proud to host Hollywood’s biggest night for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. Check out our photo gallery of this year’s winners.

The daily deal site Groupon has been interested in expanding into China for months. And finally, Groupon has opened its Chinese affiliate, Gaopeng.com. The site will initially cover Beijing and Shanghai but, as the BBC’s Chris Hogg reports, the company hopes to grow to cover more of China’s 160 cities.

New York’s City Hall is seeking investment banks’ advice for how to raise revenue from 50,000 parking meters and other services.

Here are the songs we played:

  • Selector — Mark Ronson And The Business IntlBuy
  • Bust-out Brigade — The Go! TeamBuy
  • Black Listed — Neko CaseBuy
  • Title and Registration — Death Cab for CutieBuy
  • A Staff Of Strength In The Hands Of The Righteous — The Sway MachineryBuy

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