Don't book another airline ticket until you glide on over to the SeatGuru.com to find out where the best seat for your buck is located. Kai speaks with founder Matt Daimler.
Condoleeza Rice goes all the way to China, has a bunch of meetings about North Korea, and says all the usual things. And what it all comes down to is what some key Chinese bankers decide? Ruth Kirchner reports.
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China raised $19 billion in its initial public offering, making it the biggest IPO ever. And maybe the world's riskiest. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
The House Appropriations Committee has shut down its team of investigators. They specialized in exposing fraudulent government spending. John Dimsdale reports.
Panamanians vote Sunday on a government proposal to spend $5 billion on expanding the Panama Canal. The project would allow the newest and biggest ships. Kai Ryssdal talks about the plan with Carlos Barnes of Caterpiller — the bulldozer company.
Charles McPhee turned his curiousity about dreams into a personality seven years ago. He called himself the Dream Doctor and started hosting a call-in radio show. But back in May callers started asking about something else. Kai Ryssdal reports.
The Hospital Corporation of America reported a 14% drop in profits. It blamed increases in uninsured patients and the growth of outpatient care. Hospitals' revenue sources — such as hospital stays — are drying up. Diantha Parker reports.
Faced with a $77 billion debt, Berlin's leaders are selling off public assets and privatizing public housing. And that's attracting some unusual buyers. Ethan Lindsey reports.
Associate Producer Rico Gagliano is back with another installment of our series, Educating Rico. In the week's episode, he confronts a taxpayer's worst nightmare . . . just in time for Halloween.
Host Lisa Napoli talks to journalist Lucy Conger about Panama's upcoming referendum on widening its famed canal to accommodate bigger cargo ships — and how it could impact U.S. trade.
The lockout is history and fans are back, but hockey still has a lot of room to grow. Host Scott Jagow talks with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about efforts to grow the sport beyond its traditional fan base.
Tata Steel has agreed to buy a European steel company for $8 billion. If the bid succeeds, it'll be the biggest takeover ever by an Indian company. Kyle James reports.
In a clear sign that China is prepared to increase pressure on Kim Jong Il to halt North Korea's nuclear program, some Chinese banks have stopped financial transfers to the isolated country. Ruth Kirchner reports.
The mobile phone has become such an integral modern-day accessory that annual sales of the device could hit a record 1 billion this year. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
Brewer Anheuser-Busch has tapped rapper Jay-Z to help market its new Bud Select brand beer. And he's going to be involved as more than just a celebrity frontman, Jeff Tyler reports.
New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer won two big legal victories yesterday. It's good news for a man who's hoping to be New York's next governor, Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
NBC Universal will cut 700 jobs and slash around $750 million in operating expenses before the end of next year. Sluggish ad sales and viewership are to blame, Amy Scott reports.
A few big companies are planning to show user-generated commercials during Super Bowl XLI. Host Kai Ryssdal asks business of sports analyst Ed Derse about the latest trend in the advertising world.
Many states have switched to new paperless electronic voting systems, but some officials are worried about unforeseen technical glitches. Janet Babin reports.
A sizable number of companies that have been backdating stock options share common board members, according to a recent study. The SEC is looking into the possibility that they helped spread the practice. John Dimsdale reports.
In all likelihood, a campaign office somewhere has an electronic file with your personal voting and spending habits as political consultants take a page from the marketing pros' handbook. Scott Tong looks at how they get all that info.
Oil giant BP recently opened a new pipeline from Azerbaijan to Turkey. Some residents of one Azeri village received hundreds of thousands of dollars to compensate for lost land, but is the town better off? Kelly McEvers has the story.
CBS's hit show "Survivor" began this season with teams split by race. The division didn't last long once the controversy spooked advertisers — and Youth Radio's Jordon Monroe says that's a shame.
Gas prices could be on the rise again if OPEC follows through with production cuts, but things could be worse. Stacey Vanek-Smith takes us back to this week in 1973 for the OPEC oil embargo.
NBC announced today it will slash 700 jobs and $750 million in expenses as it puts less money into news and prime time programming and more into new media. Dan Grech reports on the network's restructuring plan.
You might think being good at Internet video games is all about slaying monsters with the click of a mouse. But as David Martin Davies reports, knowing a little economics also comes in handy.
Southwest is expected to post healthy Q3 earnings today on the heels of rosy profits from American Airlines yesterday. Is this the long-awaited turnaround in the airline industry? Diantha Parker reports.
Gas prices could be on the rise again if OPEC follows through with production cuts, but things could be worse. Stacey Vanek-Smith takes us back to this week in 1973 for the OPEC oil embargo.
Members of the powerful oil cartel are expected to authorize production cuts to boost oil prices today when they meet today. Jeff Tyler takes a look at how that could impact the U.S. economy and consumers at the pump.
Struggling to boost attendance rates, Six Flag theme parks have introduced a new code of conduct for guests. But as Ashley Milne-Tyte reports, the strategy is not without risk.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Seoul today and Beijing tomorrow to try to bolster support for enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea, but she may be in for a lukewarm reception. Ruth Kirchner reports.
Most Americans prefer debit cards over cash when shopping at the grocery store. But as Rachel Dornhelm reports, the stores aren't too fond of the practice.
Britain wants all airlines that depart from Europe to get on board the EU's greenhouse gas trading program within two years — and that includes U.S. carriers. Kyle James reports.
The bustling town of Goma, Congo was devastated several years ago when a volcano erupted and engulfed the town in lava. But residents there have found an economic silver lining, Suzanne Marmion reports.
Commentators David Frum and Robert Reich give their respective two cents on the issues that matter most — but probably won't get any air time — in the upcoming midterm elections. This week, defense spending and world architecture.
A new business service marketed squarely at immigrants launched today in San Francisco: It's an over-the-phone translation service for non-English-speaking consumers. Rachel Dornhelm has the 411.
Wall Street workers were paid close to $300,000 last year on average, and securities firms like Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch are turning $3 billion quarterly profits. Amy Scott reports on the banking boom.
OPEC will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to debate cutting oil production — and no one wants to send oil prices back up more than Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Dan Grech explains.
The EU is set to adopt new, tougher energy efficiency standards for consumer products there. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to industry consultant Mike Kirschner about how the move might impact American businesses.
Building and selling more hybrid cars is a major part of Ford's turnaround strategy. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to LA Times auto critic Dan Neil about the company's success so far.
A big developer purchased Stuyvesant Town yesterday for a whopping $5.4 billion. Alex Goldmark looks at what's next for Manhattan's last bastion of middle class housing.
Tourism officials in Hawaii are kicking off a new campaign to promote the islands. They're hoping to counter the images of destruction from this past weekend's 6.2 earthquake. Dan Grech reports.
Investors are holding their collective breath to see whether consumer price figures released today add to or ease inflation fears stirred by yesterday's wholesale numbers. John Dimsdale reports.
The EU is set to put stringent new energy efficiency targets in place for consumer products — and the new rules could have major repercussions for businesses worldwide. Kyle James reports.
There's been a cultural revolution in Afghanistan's radio and TV programming since the fall of the Taliban five years ago — and advertisers there are loving it. Miranda Kennedy reports.
A new study out today finds that the U.S. appetite for low-wage workers is a powerful magnet attracting immigrants. So just how much more are they making here? Dan Grech has details.
Election Day is three weeks away and the political winds seem to be blowing in a "lefterly" direction. In Washington, lobbying firms are already prepping for the Democrats' possible return to relevance, Scott Tong reports.
U.S. tech companies are setting up product research centers in India to create products to sell to an emerging market of rural, mostly uneducated Indians. Miranda Kennedy reports.
The Merc snapped up crosstown rival Chicago Board of Trade today to create the world's biggest exchange for futures contracts. And the marriage could spark other similar deals, Diantha Parker reports.
In an unprecedented ruling, Japan's Supreme Court ruled that employees legally own the patent rights to the products they invent. The decision could actually help revive creativity in the country, Janet Babin reports.
Economic data out today says wholesale prices dropped more than expected last month because of cheaper fuel. But it also suggests that inflation might be on the rise. So where's the economy headed? Jeff Tyler reports.
The trucking industry is in the middle of its worst labor shortage ever. As companies hone their recruiting efforts, they're focusing on one group: Baby Boomers. Martha Woodroof tells us it could be a match made in economic heaven.
Westchester County in New York is using a novel tactic to catch deadbeat parents: Advertising their photos in The New York Post. Ashley Milne-Tyte has the story.
It's been a year since new rules made it harder for individuals to wipe out their debts by filing for bankruptcy. Jeff Tyler has this update on how it's working.
The struggling clothing retailer is testing out Piperlime.com, a website with a stylish selection of shoes hand-picked by Gap staff. Dan Grech reports.
Analysts will be looking at today's third quarter earnings report for signs that the Intel's restructuring plans are starting to bear fruit. Sarah Gardner reports.
Users of online worlds transact millions of real dollars worth of virtual goods and services every day and that means there's real business news to cover. Confused? Host Kai Ryssdal sorts it out with Reuters' Second Life bureau chief Adam Pasick.
Derivatives are risky. They're bets basically — an easy way to lose money. There's word today that Switzerland's second largest bank lost a whole lot on a bad bet in South Korea. Amy Scott reports.
Twenty-two mid-sized accounting firms opened up shop today — jointly as Baker Tilly USA. And the fact that they can compete for clients against the Big 4 speaks volumes about the post-Enron accounting world. Steve Tripoli reports.
A new kind of diesel is coming to a pump near you starting today, and it might just be the biggest advancement in fighting vehicle pollution since unleaded gas. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
Some DaimlerChrysler dealers are flexing their muscles and refusing to take cars they didn't order. That's putting pressure on the automaker to ramp up incentives to unload excess inventory. Janet Babin reports.
Fast food can make some people a little sick to their stomachs, but Cal Berkeley student Catherine Price discovered that learning how to eat well can make you feel a little sick too. She might even be orthorexic.
Michigan's 400,000-strong Arab community has been pushing to register new voters as the gubernatorial election nears, but they're missing one crucial political element: donations. Nancy Farghalli reports.
This week in 1931, one of the country's most infamous crime lords is taken out — by the taxman. Stacey Vanek-Smith takes us Back to Business, our look at the history of all things economic.
Today is the deadline for Katrina victims to file their tax returns. Charla Bear takes a look at how well the plan to let them take advantage of special tax credits has worked.
A radical leftist was expected to win Ecuador's presidential election Sunday, but a pro-business banana billionaire came from behind to force a November runoff — and he'll be the frontrunner. Dan Grech reports.
Sir Paul McCartney has applied to trademark his name. Estimates put his profit potential near a billion dollars. And as Diantha Parker reports, it ain't just music he's hoping to cash in on.
Google recently set up shop in a tiny town in Oregon. David Welch looks at what attracted the Internet giant to the rural locale — and whether the move is part of a larger trend.
Today the UN votes on a new member for its Security Council. Hugo Chavez has spent all his political capital — and a whole lot of cash — to win the vote for Venezuela. But his fiery rhetoric may have backfired, Dan Grech reports.
Host Scott Jagow talks to Newsweek Magazine's Wall Street Editor Allan Sloan about the differences between two of Silicon Valley's biggest titans: Yahoo and Google.
Today strict new standards for diesel fuel take effect at the pump. And the new and improved fuel could create a ripple of fuel-efficiency in the auto industry, Rachel Dornhelm reports.
The German government wants to step in and help troubled Airbus and its parent company EADS, but the company wants to maintain autonomy, Kyle James reports.
