In September, new home prices fell by the greatest amount in 35 years. So what's the outlook for employers who bank on a soaring housing market? Diantha Parker reports.
Next week, Oregon voters will decide if insurance companies can factor credit scores into their rate calculations. It's the first ballot measure of its kind in the nation. Ann Dornfeld reports.
With three weeks to go before the traditional beginning of the holiday shopping season, retail sales are down almost across the board. Which could mean more competition for your dollar. Alisa Roth reports.
Taking the long view, and factoring in all the economic reports that came out this week, some economists are finding the cloud around what some politicians might consider a silver lining. Amy Scott reports.
The special inspector general for Iraq, who revealed several wrongdoings embarrassing to the Bush administration, will be shut down under a provision tucked into a bill signed by the President two weeks ago. John Dimsdale reports.
With more Americans sporting college degrees, what can you do to put yourself ahead of the pack? Well, keep learning even after school. We sent Cash Peters to the Learning Annex to do exactly that.
The government's Women, Infants and Children program is considering allocating more money for the buying of fruits and vegetables. Sounds good? Not to companies whose bottom line would take an unhealthy hit. Hillary Wicai reports.
Media companies are feeling the pressure to make deals with Google to get on board YouTube, but Financial Times reporter Aline Van Duyn says those companies are conflicted.
The 37th New York Marathon is this weekend, but many runners won't be the original entrants. As demand to participate skyrockets, some runners are scalping their bibs for top dollar. Amy Scott has the story.
Visa has swiped World Cup sponsorship rights away from MasterCard. MasterCard has charged FIFA with breach of contract. And today Visa's trying to get in on the lawsuit. Rachel Dornhelm explains.
Host Mark Austin Thomas and Daily Variety managing editor Michael Speier discuss why TV and movie companies have been so hesitant to make deals with YouTube and other digital newcomers.
Former Computer Associates CEO Sanjay Kumar was handed a 12-year sentence for his role in that company's accounting fraud scandal. Corporate attorney Lance Kimmel offers his take on the ruling.
The world's seafood supply could virtually disappear by the mid-century if current trends continue, says a study out today. Commercial fishing as we know it would be over. Stephen Beard reports.
The sugar industry is drawing a line in the sweet stuff when it comes to pseudo-sugar advertising. It wants the FTC to force Splenda to change its consumer message. Janet Babin reports.
After being publicly dumped by Paramount Pictures, Tom Cruise is breathing life back into MGM's storied United Artists studio. Lisa Napoli has details on the deal that's got Hollywood buzzing.
The Air Force today announced the creation of a major command center. It's beefing up our military defenses — to keep the Internet safe from attack. John Dimsdale reports.
The news today from the Labor Department grabbed Wall Street's attention. The numbers suggest companies may need to hire more employees and pay them more. What's it mean for the economy? Jeff Tyler reports.
Congress has brushed aside President Bush's guest worker program in favor of a 700-mile long fence with Mexico. But Arizona has its own immigration initiatives on the ballot. Claudine LoMonaco reports.
Measures in four Western states would force local governments to pay property owners if regulations — such as zoning — reduce their property value. Commentator Jamie Court argues that would actually hurt taxpayers and homeowners.
Bull riding is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. and all kinds of folks are cashing in. The World Finals kicked off last weekend in Las Vegas. Jane Lindholm took a little more than 8 seconds to check it out.
Host Kai Ryssdal talks to Diana Nyad about the beginning of the NBA season and whether top pro players should be called on to represent the U.S. at international competitions.
Food and drink companies trying to target health-conscious consumers in the EU will soon face tough new labeling and advertising laws. Stephen Beard has details.
Retail sales figures for October are due out today, and they're expected to be up. Jeff Tyler looks at what the news might mean heading into the holiday home stretch.
U.S. companies in China continue to make some nice profits, but they are increasingly finding that it's difficult to staff their operations there with qualified workers. Ruth Kirchner reports.
Web giant Yahoo is getting into the food business — or at least the business of providing a gathering place for people interested in food. It launches its new site today. Janet Babin reports.
A novel initiative is on next week's ballot in Arizona. It would set up a million-dollar lottery to entice voters to go to the polls. Claudine LoMonaco talks to the man behind it — and his critics.
Federal regulators decided yesterday that Continental Airlines can keep operating its free Wi-Fi network at Boston's Logan airport — against the port authority's wishes. Lisa Napoli looks at the implications of the ruling.
Today is the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. It's is growing in popularity in the U.S. and that's sparking a brisk retail trade on the Internet. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
The country's second largest drugstore chain says it's buying a leading pharmacy benefit manager for just under $21 billion. Analysts say the move gives it more power to compete with Wal-Mart. Amy Scott reports.
With less than a week left until Election Day, commentators David Frum and Robert Reich wrap up a series of Real Agenda debates. This time: Education — it's on the ballot in a dozen states.
New research out of Harvard finds mice given large amounts of a compound found in red wine were able to consume high-calorie diets without the usual bad side effects of getting fat. Helen Palmer reports.
Big tobacco is spending serious cash this year to fight smoking bans and cigarette taxes on ballots around the country. Mhari Saito reports from Cleveland where she found smokers welcoming the defense.
Malaysia is wealthier than neighboring Indonesia, so it attracts a lot of illegal workers despite having a guest worker program. And periodic government crackdowns are causing big problems for the economy, Miranda Kennedy reports.
Universal Tube is an industrial products company based in Ohio. They have a nice website. Just one problem, though: Their homepage is utube.com. U-T-U-B-E. Not far enough removed from that other site you might have heard of . . .
A memo leaked from ABC News radio suggests that nearly 100 top advertisers don't want to be associated with left-leaning Air America. Alisa Roth asks, is that good business?
A group of Lebanese American businessmen returned to their homeland to see firsthand the devastation left by the recent war. Ben Gilbert has the story.
At issue is how the government should measure smokestack emissions. Companies could be forced to add expensive new pollution controls, but environmentalists say the benefits in cleaner air are worth the cost. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Indian rice farmers and traders want the government there to stop controversial trials of genetically-modified rice. They're worried about losing their overseas markets — and rightfully so, Miranda Kennedy reports.
BP is replacing the head of its Alaskan operations following major problems at the company's Prudhoe Bay oil field there due pipeline corrosion — but says that isn't the reason. Stephen Beard reports.
The oil cartel is expected today to implement its pledge to cut production in an attempt to boost falling crude prices. But as Jeff Tyler reports, the market isn't so sure OPEC will walk the talk.
Detroit releases its auto sales figures for October today. They're likely to show an increase, But showrooms still have a lot of inventory on their hands. Sarah Gardner reports.
There will be no shortage of reasons that Republicans have found 2006 to be a tough reelection year, but commentator David Frum says we can't overlook this one: immigration.
The IMF today predicted China's growth would be an eye-popping 10 percent or more this year. Host Scott Jagow talks to China Economic Quarterly's Arthur Kroeber about whether the country's rapid growth is a good thing.
Cingular is reportedly working with online music services to deliver downloads through its cell phone network. But will trendsetters really turn away from the iPod? Janet Babin reports.
How should the EPA measure the pollution spewing from a smokestack? Tomorrow the Supreme Court hears a complex case that pits environmentalists against a power company. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Lego announced today that some of its hottest products are sold out — and there may not be more in time for the holidays. The Marketplace Players remind us that you don't mess with Santa.
The U.S. and China announced today that North Korea has agreed to rejoin nuclear disarmament talks. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to Michael Moran from the Council of Foreign Relations about the surprising development.
Oil companies are still making hefty profits, but they're having trouble finding and pumping more crude. It's a major problem and the companies themselves may be partly to blame, Stephen Beard reports.
Identity theft is the fraud de jour, but old-fashioned con artists are still alive and well. A new study looks at who's most susceptible — and it's not always who you might think. Apryl Lundsten reports.
Costs for the so-called war on terror are adding up. The Air Force says it will need $50 billion in additional funding, but the emergency budget request could be a hard sell on Capitol Hill, John Dimsdale reports.
Advertising doesn't always work, but in the case of certain anti-smoking ads, a new study finds that they're actually having the opposite effect. Janet Babin reports.
If one or both chambers of Congress go to the Democrats next week, commentator Jeff Birnbaum says new Congressional leaders will almost certainly be punishing some companies.
The company best known for the bankruptcy of its New Orleans unit following Hurricane Katrina is expected to post strong third quarter earnings — thanks to nuclear power. Dan Grech reports.
A safety board says it's found internal reports at BP that suggest the oil giant was aware of safety problems due to cost cuts at its Texas City refinery prior to last year's fatal explosion. Stephen Beard reports.
Microsoft said today it's going after 55 counterfeit dealers who are using online auction sites such as eBay to sell pirated versions of its software. Janet Babin reports.
The social networking site has announced it's licensed new technology that will ban users from uploading copyrighted material onto the site. Alisa Roth reports.
There's been a rash of overseas acquisitions by Chinese and Indian companies recently — and some say they've only just begun. Miranda Kennedy takes a look at the trend.
As rent prices continue to rise, even some fulltime workers can't afford anyplace to live — except their cars. Lisa McRee reports on one California community that's trying to help.
Halloween has grown into a multi-billion dollar retail industry, thanks to an 18-and-up crowd that's embraced the spooky holiday as another reason to celebrate. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
Protesters yesterday shut down an oil pumping station in the Niger Delta. It's one of the richest oil regions in the world, but residents don't benefit much. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to documentary filmmaker Sandy Cioffi who just returned from the area.
Leading hedge funds have been making major contributions to the Democratic Party heading up to the midterm elections. Amy Scott looks at what's behind the industry's tilt to the left.
Government regulators are reportedly looking into possible illegal manipulation of the $4.5 trillion U.S. Treasury bonds market. John Dimsdale reports.
There's news out of Iraq that the U.S. military has lost track of tens of thousands of weapons purchased for Iraqi security forces — and failed to record serial numbers for about 370,000 weapons. Hillary Wicai reports.
Stung by criticism of how it handled Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks, the American Red Cross today announced plans for a major overhaul that includes slashing its 50-member board. Helen Palmer reports.
The SEC is already investigating more than 100 companies for possible stock option backdating. Now it turns out that some executives may have also fudged exercise dates in order to avoid income taxes. Jeff Tyler explains.
The GOP's strategy of focusing on Iraq and national security seems to be backfiring in the polls. A majority of Americans are now against the war. So perhaps this election isn't about the economy after all? Commentator Benjamin Barber says, yes it is.
Clear Channel today posted higher-than-expected Q3 profits, but earnings are down and its stock price has tumbled since 2000. As the media giant considers whether to put itself up for sale, Lisa Napoli adds up the numbers.
Merck's arthritis drug Vioxx is back in court today as an 11th case goes to trial, but the legal landscape of the ongoing litigation has changed considerably. Helen Palmer reports.
Host Scott Jagow and Marketplace economics correspondent Chris Farrell look at a new trend in corporate philanthropy: giving to early childhood development programs.
A new study says climate change could cost the world economy more than $6 trillion unless drastic, international action is taken now. The good news: The cost might be pretty reasonable. Stephen Beard reports.
There's a whole lot of money rolling in from cell phone ringtones and other digital downloads — but music companies might be taking more than their share of the royalties. Lisa Napoli reports.
A U.S. voting machine manufacturer has confirmed it's being investigated for alleged ties to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. But it requested the federal investigation to clear its name, Janet Babin reports.
The ILO's latest report says that 85 million young people around the globe are jobless. Hardest hit: Southeast Asia where youth unemployment has risen 85 percent over the past decade. Ruth Kirchner reports.
Nevermind all the trouble facing U.S. automakers lately: Some hedge funds and private-equity firms are banking on growing profits in the auto-parts industry. Bob Moon reports.
