The $85 billion merger received a final nod from the Federal Communications Commission after AT&T agreed to treat all broadband customers and content equally. Amy Scott reports.
Russia says it may cut off natural gas to Belarus if the nation doesn't pay twice the price to Kremlin-controlled Gazprom. Belarus could counter by shutting off the natural-gas flow over its territory into Western Europe. Stephen Beard reports.
A report filed by the company today clears CEO Steve Jobs and the rest of Apple's current management team of any wrongdoing in its stock option backdating scandal.
A computer hacker is now claiming he's cracked the supposedly hacker-proof code for the budding High Definition DVD technology. Sam Eaton looks at what this may mean to Hollywood's hopes for boosting sagging sales.
Commentator Catherine Price is determined to be more organized in 2007. So she took a trip to the Container Store and came home with lots of things where she can put lots of things.
Micheline Maynard, Detroit bureau chief for The New York Times, takes a look back with Bob Moon at the rough year for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
The open-source movement isn't limited to computers. The "code" for a good brew is making the rounds. Marketplace strong-armed reporter Ethan Lindsey into tracking down the source.
Does it seem like you've been getting a lot of e-mails promising hot new stock tips lately? You're probably going to see more and more of this spam filling up your inbox — because it's working. Amy Scott reports.
Economist Burton Malkiel's book, "A Random Walk Down Wall Street," is a must-read for the average investor. The newest edition comes out in January. He joins Kai for a walking of Wall Street.
Congress passed a tax increase in May that's expected to rake in big bucks for the government — but it could backfire. U.S. businesses worry it'll hurt their ability to employee Americans oversees. Miranda Kennedy reports.
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 — "January Effect." You hear it, you see it, but do you really know it?
Associate Producer Rico Gagliano is back with another installment of our series, Educating Rico. This time, our hero buys a used car. And he brakes for the bad news.
The Times of London says North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Il could be planning to use London's gold market to get around financial sanctions. Stephen Beard reports.
American Idol still rules. There are no movie-making rules. And everything's going to get faster in '07. Daily Variety's Mike Speier reviews the year in entertainment.
Unseasonably warm weather is putting the hurt on New England's multi-billion dollar winter recreation industry, but the region's golf courses are basking in it. Curt Nickisch reports.
Newsweek's Allan Sloan looks back at 2006 and says it was all about private equity money sloshing around on Wall Street — but the trend can't last through 2007.
It's the last business day of 2006 and AT&T wants to finish the year with FCC approval for its purchase of BellSouth. Last night it offered up some consumer-friendly concessions that might do the trick. Dan Grech reports.
Big investment banks on Wall Street are expected to hand out a record $24 billion in bonuses this season. Amy Scott asks some of the lucky recipients how they're going to spend theirs.
Whether Steve Jobs was in on Apple's stock options scandal has yet to be determined. But as Janet Babin reports, it may not matter to the company's profits.
As we saw this week in Taiwan, damage to a few small cables can knock large regions off the Internet. Could that happen in the U.S.? Host Bob Moon talks with communications consultant Frank Dzubeck.
Just as Napster shook up the recording industry several years ago, YouTube is giving TV and the movie biz a clearer picture of online video's future. Host Bob Moon talks with Lisa Napoli about how what's old is new again.
It's been an especially bountiful bonus season on Wall Street, with record year-end payouts to the brokers and bankers. And as Amy Scott reports, there are other folks waiting to share the wealth.
United is considering stripping away services that passengers now take for granted. Travel commentator Christopher Elliott says charging people extra to check their bags will only leave the airline exposed.
Marriage fraud rings in four states made a good, if illegal, business out of getting U.S. citizens married to immigrants in search of green cards. Ramy Inocencio reports.
Food from cloned animals poses no risk, so warning labels aren't justified, according to the FDA. Still, consumers don't seem to have an appetite for it. Helen Palmer reports.
More champagne equals happier consumers? Economists look at all kinds of indicators to measure consumer sentiment. Alex Goldmark introduces us to the high-end liquor benchmark.
Today the FDA will recommend that meat and milk from cloned pigs and cows be allowed into the food supply — without a label indicating the food is cloned. Dan Grech reports.
Striking Goodyear workers vote on a new labor contract today — one that was painstakingly negotiated between management and the labor union and retirees and … Steve Tripoli has the rest.
A new way to distribute books will be unveiled at a dozen bookstores and libraries across the country in 2007. Think of it as a vending machine for books. Janet Babin reports.
The Bush administration has proposed listing polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. And it's not just the Arctic that will feel the consequences. Sam Eaton explains.
Earthquakes off Taiwan's southern coast knocked out communications throughout much of Asia. But, as Amy Scott reports, the holiday timing may have averted further damage to financial markets.
Is the decline of the housing market the leading edge of an economic downturn? Host Bob Moon and Marketplace's Tess Vigeland look at the conflicting indicators tied to this year's slowing home sales.
Our major federal entitlement programs are headed for bankruptcy. Will next year's Democratic-led Congress succeed with reforms? John Dimsdale takes the temperature in Washington.
The Justice Department is investigating Apple Computer for possibly falsifying documents in connection with the granting of stock options. CEO Steve Jobs has also hired his own personal counsel to deal with the inquiry. Janet Babin reports.
A week before Bulgaria and Romania are set to join the European Union, the feeling from the other member nations is a bit frosty. Stephen Beard explores fears stemming from the two countries' bad reputations.
As the nation's 38th President, he battled rising unemployment, double-digit inflation, and the worst bear market on Wall Street since World War II. Hillary Wicai takes a look back.
A published report claims that Apple Computer falsified documents in connection with the granting of stock options — which could bring the case into the criminal realm. Janet babin reports.
Security experts say the threat from a recently-discovered security flaw in Microsoft's new Vista operating system is minimal, but the news could hurt Vista sales anyway. Jason Paur reports.
Following reports that Toyota is considering a partnership with Ford Motors, the Japanese automaker has announced that the two did meet, but says they did not discuss the possibility of forming any alliance.
As energy costs and climate change made headlines in 2006, many businesses began to change their wasteful ways and adopt more sustainable practices. But it's still all about profit.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Toyota's Chairman Fujio Cho met in Tokyo last week as the first step in potential partnership negotiations. Bob Moon has more.
DaimlerChrysler is struggling to explain conduct that used to be legal in Germany but has long been illegal under U.S. law — paying bribes. The company hopes the former head of the FBI can help. Kyle James reports.
In most parts of the country, Christmas lights will burn bright for another week or so. Ever wonder what the cost is of our holiday lighting obsession? Jeff Horwich takes a look.
The average CEO's pay is 369 times as much as the average worker's. This year, CEO pay went up 16%, on top of a 30% jump last year. Commentator Nell Minow has a few thoughts on the disparity.
Disappointed by pre-Christmas sales, retailers are hoping that spending with gift cards will boost their bottom lines. Providence College professor Dan Horne talks with host Bob Moon about the $70 billion business.
Pakistan's economy is surging and consumers are spending. Not so long ago, most transactions were in cash. But Miranda Kennedy reports that newly minted credit cards are now burning holes in some Pakistani pockets.
In terms of oil prices, we're ending the year in better shape than what we were in several months ago. Marketplace's Stephen Beard and host Bob Moon take a look at one of the biggest hits to our wallets this year.
The man who helped build CBS Television into the "Tiffany network," has died at his home in Boston. Frank Stanton became CBS president in 1946 and remained at the helm for 26 years. He was 98.
Two years ago today a giant tsunami slammed 500 miles of coast along the Indian ocean, killing more than 170,000 people in eight countries. Jocelyn Ford checks in on progress in the region.
2006 was a sea change year for housing in the U.S. As interest rates rose, we watched demand flatten and the advantage turn from sellers to buyers — so what does 2007 hold?
It was a year of selloffs and layoffs for American newspapers as they continue to lose revenue in an increasingly digital world. But a renewed trend toward local ownership offers a glimmer of hope. Dan Grech reports.
Not many people are showing up at offices around the country this week, and the ones who are probably aren't getting much done — but that may not be such a bad thing. Steve Tripoli explains.
Armed with gift cards and stocking money, post-Christmas shoppers this week will have a big impact on the season's overall retail numbers. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
It's not a new concept, but starting next year Verizon will enable banner ads when users surf the Web on its cell phones. Janet Babin reports on the growing trend.
It's not everyday you land a gig on the Daily Show, write a bestseller about hobos, and portray a PC on television. Sean Cole profiles an unlikely financial celebrity.
Today marks the end of the season for Santa wanna-bes. You might be surprised to learn how many of them there are. Rico Gagliano found out at Santacon.
Forget the fruitcake, the gift card and the DVD player. Maybe you got really creative this year and gave the gift that keeps on giving: cosmetic surgery. Cash Peters has more.
Microsoft's Vista was supposed to be the safest, most secure operating system yet, but a Silicon Valley software firm has already found several flaws. Alisa Roth reports.
2005 was a banner year for philanthropy as Hurricane Katrina and tsunami relief efforts spurred worldwide donations reaching $250 billion. But what happens in a year with no causes on that scale? Diantha Parker reports.
DVD rentals and purchases tend to spike this time of year, and there are some new contenders vying for the holiday movie bestseller title. Tanya Ott calls the match.
Marketplace commentator Michelle Philippe won't apologize for her tulle poufs and velvet gowns — she's extending her holiday season to get more bang for her holiday party buck.
After the tsunami, residents Khao Lak, Thailand began to rethink whether the benefits of the tourism industry are worth the traffic, pollution and sex trade that come with it. Suzanne Nam reports.
You've got a bungalow in Spain. They've got a brownstone in New York. And both of you are thinking 'Let's trade properties for a little R&R vacation.' Tess Vigeland calculates the cost of a swap.
