Life is hard enough without having to decipher everything. Each week, Marketplace Money brings you a word or a phrase that has bubbled to the top of the news. For instance, Foreign Assistance Act. You hear it, you see it, but do you really know it?
Job numbers out today pointed to higher unemployment rate and slower job growth. But the jury's still out on whether the Fed will raise interest rates again in August. Jeff Tyler reports.
Apple plans to restate some of its earnings for back-dating its stock options. Its stock sank today. How could the announcement impact the high-flying company? Rachel Dornhelm reports.
Congress has passed sweeping pension reform, making it harder for companies to promise benefits they can't afford. But some industries got different treatment than others. Scott Tong reports.
Commentator Benjamin Barber argues that the way the United States and Israel create economic devastation in their warfare is the wrong way to fight terrorism.
Russia is expected to award one of the largest energy contracts ever next week. American companies are in the running, but aren't considered to have much chance. Stephen Beard reports.
Toyota reported quarterly profits are up a whopping 39 percent from the same period last year. The news came as the automaker overtook Ford in overall US sales. Jocelyn Ford reports.
Protesters challenging Mexico's presidential election are taking a toll on the economy there — as much as $9 million a day. Franc Contreras reports from Mexico City.
With the NFL season just around the corner, Time Warner Cable and the NFL Network are wrapped up in an off-the-field skirmish that could upset diehard football fans. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
Fidel Castro's health remains uncertain, but US businesses and Cuban exiles are already talking about who will get property appropriated by the Cuban government. It could complicate post-Castro entrepreneurial efforts. Dan Grech explains.
One of Britain's top scientists wants governments around the world to fund a major drive to develop new energy sources. He says urgent international action is needed to fight climate change. Stephen Beard reports.
Efforts to safeguard US ports against terrorism have hit a roadblock. Tests of the experimental screening procedures stop workers who pose no threat, which could have a big cost for port businesses. Hillary Wicai reports.
Apple said today that most cars sold by GM, Ford and Mazda next year will offer a built-in iPod music player option. The move cements iPod's hold as the de facto standard in the music player business. Lisa Napoli reports.
As Tour de France winner Floyd Landis waits to find out if he'll be stripped of his title, host Kai Ryssdal talks with business of sports analyst Diana Nyad about whether sports can win the battle against doping.
Commentator and US Comptroller General David Walker argues that before any estimates for the pullout of American troops from Iraq are made, we need an objective system to measure how well the war is going.
The Northeast heat wave is staying put. One of the busiest stretches of New York City has been told to stop using nonessential electricity and Wall Street banks have gone to backup generators. Amy Scott reports.
The stock market in Beirut reopened for the first time in two weeks yesterday. Most of the movement was down, as is almost all economic activity in Lebanon since the fighting started. Ben Gilbert reports.
Some US-grown produce is treated with a controversial group of pesticides set to get final approval by the EPA tomorrow — despite the objections of some EPA scientists. Jule Gardner reports.
Starbucks shares suffered their biggest one-day drop in years today after weaker-than-expected sales — partly because it didn't have enough baristas slinging Frappuccinos as temperatures hit record highs. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
More bad news for Microsoft: A survey out yesterday finds most businesses will delay purchasing the company's new Vista operating system for at least a year. Jason Paur reports.
As searing heat continues over the eastern half of the country today, Amy Scott looks at the question of whether utilities are making a windfall off all the extra energy use.
The airline industry is making a comeback. With the big legacy carriers posting second quarter profits, host Scott Jagow talks to aviation expert Richard Gritta about what they're doing right.
Host Mark Austin Thomas and business of sports expert David Carter examine the fallout from news that Tour de France champion Floyd Landis may have taken a banned substance.
The EPA has until today to complete a review over the use of controversial pesticides banned in other countries. Sam Eaton looks at who stands to benefit if the agency approves the chemicals.
Investors today were cheered by news of a 36% jump in 2nd quarter profits at Procter & Gamble. But where Wall Street saw a silver lining, others see a gray cloud in the form of inflationary pressure. Bob Moon reports.
Natural gas prices are at near-record prices as oil hovers about $76 a barrel. The high energy prices come at a time of record electricity demand throughout the country due to a heat wave. Steve Tripoli reports.
The agency charged with rebuilding Lower Manhattan after 9/11 says it's closing up shop. So what happens to the World Trade Center site and other projects? Host Kai Ryssdal talks to Marketplace's Amy Scott.
Congress is holding field hearings on immigration across the country this summer, but if lawmakers really want to understand the impact of immigration, they should head to Denison, Iowa. Darren Gersh explains.
The health of Cuban leader Fidel Castro remains a state secret, but the partying has already begun in Miami. Entrepreneurs there are trying to figure out if they'll have a role after the leader is out of power. Dan Grech reports.
Details of the Rolling Stones' financial affairs have just been made public, and they reveal a shockingly low tax bill. Stephen Beard reports from London.
The inspector general for Iraq reconstruction talked to lawmakers today and said there's only $2 billion left for rebuilding the country, with about 500 projects left on the so-called short list. How's the work going to get done? Hillary Wicai reports.
While the world's attention is focused on the crisis in Lebanon, Stephen Beard reports the economic situation in another troubled part of the Middle East is growing increasingly dire.
Chinese army inspectors have launched a campaign against corruption that's eating up about $36 billion from the country's growing defense budget this year. Jocelyn Ford reports.
In what could be a preemptive strike to counter poor earnings out today, Time Warner plans to announce yet another turnaround plan for its troubled AOL unit. Amy Scott reports.
US automakers are banking on the appeal of smaller SUV cross-over vehicles in an effort to avoid disappointing sales figures like those released yesterday. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Cuba's government says Fidel Castro is in stable condition this morning, but if he dies, there could be another exodus of Cubans to Miami. Dan Grech takes a look at the economic impacts from past inflows of Cuban exiles.
A government watchdog says widespread corruption and a lack of coordination is hampering reconstruction in Iraq. A Special Inspector General is set to testify today before a Senate committee. Amy Scott reports.
Economists nowadays argue that young people should postpone work and get more degrees. Make more money in the end. But commentator Amity Shlaes says we're not doing kids any favors by letting them out of work.
As consumers turn to more fuel-efficient cars, the work of Carmelo Scuderi comes closer to reality. The widely-respected engineer and entrepreneur isn't a big auto name yet — but that might change if his final big idea passes the test. Steve Tripoli has the story.
French settlers fled Algeria en masse in 1962 after that nation gained independence. Now many are returning to see the country where they were raised — and boosting its tourism industry. John Laurenson reports.
Once the granddaddy of all things celluloid, Kodak today posted its seventh straight losing quarter. It also announced it's cutting another 2,000 jobs. Hillary Wicai looks at the company's rocky road to financial recovery.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro has temporarily ceded power to his brother, Raoul. Should Castro step down from power, what will a new Cuba look like? Host Kai Ryssdal speaks to Cuban economic expert Daniel Erikson.
A Senate report released today finds that more and more extremely wealthy taxpayers are hiding their money in offshore accounts. But is it fraud? Scott Tong reports.
Cingular Wireless plans to charge consumers $5 extra a month for the privilege of using . . . an old cell phone. Apparently, 4.7 million of the company's customers are not interested in fancy, high-tech phones. Lisa Napoli reports.
In the 17th century, alchemists thought you could turn lead into gold. Today, alchemy is pretty much a dead science, but there are still a few people giving it some respect. Aries Keck has the story.
With scorching temperatures expected again today on the East Coast, Ashley Milne-Tyte takes a look at what some New York businesses are doing to take some of the strain off the power grid.
Rank and file Northwest flight attendants yesterday turned down a compromise agreement to slash wages and benefits, setting up a possible crippling strike at the world's fifth largest airline. Annie Baxter reports.
The Senate is expected to pass a bill today opening the Gulf of Mexico to more oil and natural drilling. But will it actually take us toward energy independence? Scott Tong reports.
Yesterday the FDA said it might allow over-the-counter sales of the morning-after contraceptive called Plan B. Ashley Milne-Tyte looks at what that could do for the company that makes it.
Last year, Congress toughened the bankruptcy laws in this country. Britain went the other way and softened up its indebtedness law. Now that country's largest bank says it was a bad move. Stephen Beard reports.
President Bush heads to Crawford, Texas for his annual "working vacation" later this week. And he'll have a new neighbor: war protestor Cindy Sheehan. Scott Tong reports.
Two billionaires are testifying for a Senate committee today that their use of offshore tax shelter accounts was above board. Their financial advisors told 'em so. But a new report from the Senate panel says, not really. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
The Senate's expected to pass a long-awaited pension reform bill this week. Businesses say it will let them hold onto pensions that were becoming too expensive. But commentator and economist Jeremy Bulow says don't believe the hype.
School districts in fast-growing communities are having a hard time keeping up with the demand, so some districts are studying public-private partnerships — hiring businesses to build or lease them school buildings. Janet Babin reports.
Sky-high price tags have long grounded the dreams of wannabe pilots. But now the aviation industry hopes to bring flying to the masses with new kinds of low-cost aircraft. Jason Paur reports.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will bypass the Bush administration and jointly develop a trans-Atlantic carbon trading market. Amy Scott has the story.
The Senate votes today on whether to expand offshore drilling in the US, but the bill's not quite as generous as the version the House passed. Scott Tong reports.
Some are speculating that Mel Gibson's drunken anti-Semitic tirade over the weekend will tank his career. But the actor and director has apologized — and he's got plenty of cash. Is that enough for Tinseltown? Depends who you ask, reports Lisa Napoli.
In the 1970s and '80s copper prices plummeted worldwide and Zambia's mines closed, crippling that country's economy. Gretchen Wilson visits one mine that's now booming at the hands of Chinese investors.
Infosys is 25 years old. It was India's first global company and today it will become the first Indian company to ring the opening bell on NASDAQ. Miranda Kennedy reports.
Looks like all that post-Enron fuss really has made a difference at the top. A new study out today suggests CEO compensation is down. Andrea Gardner reports
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in California working to create a closer link between British and American scientists working in the field of stem cell research. Stephen Beard reports.
Many companies have been underfunding their pension plans, so this week the Senate's expected to vote on the first pension overhaul in three decades. Host Scott Jagow talks to Karen Friedman with the Pension Rights Center about the proposed bill.
A complete map of the human genome has just become available. Janet Babin looks into how the Human Genome Project was funded, and whether all that government money really paid off.
Despite more massive post-election protests over the weekend in Mexico City, investors aren't moving their money out of the country. Dan Grech reports.
Newsweek Magazine Wall Street Editor Allan Sloan talks with host Scott Jagow about all the deals going down on Wall Street lately and the trend of taking big public companies private.
