With no end in sight to the subprime mortgage crisis, many Americans can at least count on one thing: their 401K. A new study says our contributions are up over the past few years. But Janet Babin reports that there are still things people don't know about their plan.
Many experts point to the mortgage mess as the cause of the current stock market dip. But one problem for many people who have a bad mortgage is that they don't know who actually owns it. Tess talks to UCLA finance professor Dr. Stuart Gabriel.
A week after closing at a record high, the Dow posted its biggest one-day decline since February. What's going on? To help make sense of it, Tess Vigeland talks to Marketplace Money's economics editor Chris Farrell.
Most people don't mind flying — except when they're forced to endure long hours and multiple stop-overs. But there is one type of traveler that not only doesn't mind stop-overs, they ask for them. Tess talks to Wired Magazine writer Dave Demerjian about "mileage runners."
Someone's gotta stand up to the big dogs and defend the little guy. This week, we learn how to keep big companies honest when we talk to a corporate watchdog.
Marketplace.org illustration, ConocoPhillips / University of Oklahoma
College administrators always say tuition alone doesn't cover their costs. So they have to raise money elsewhere. Some are turning to new and controversial sources. Stacey Vanek Smith has a lesson in education economics.
Wall Street's nervous. But what about the rest of us? The ones whose 401Ks and pension plans are invested in funds that have gone bad. Steve Tripoli hit the streets to get people's reactions.
With markets around the world still rocking from the subprime lending debacle, central banks pumped a third of a trillion dollars into the global banking system to increase liquidity. Bob Moon helps us define what that means.
The Bush administration presented its immigration blueprint with two cabinet secretaries making the announcement of more than two dozen policies — some new, some already on the books. Dan Grech reports.
It's nice to know there are positive investors on Wall Street. Some signs you've spotted one: they've got a cheery disposition and are willing to put money into a company that doesn't even have a business plan.
With their cash pool up since April, our San Jose club is looking over some new investments and considering whether or not to shed some of the old ones. And yes, sometimes an unusual investment can be sexy.
A poll of corporate executives and middle managers on the future of the workplace 10 years from now unearthed some interesting and surprising answers, but perhaps none more so than the degree of job satisfaction. BusinessWeek's Peter Coy fills us in.
With Virgin America now off the ground, British billionaire Richard Branson has jetted across the Pacific to announce a new partnership in Asia, where the demand for budget flights is booming. Sam Eaton reports.
States like Florida and South Carolina are jockeying to move their primaries and caucuses earlier than ever. It's mostly about political clout, to be sure, but early primaries are a boost for local economies too. Steve Tripoli reports.
Energy cooperative Petrocaribe allows countries like Jamaica and Haiti to buy oil through products like bananas and nutmeg. But some say the deal is just a way for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to push his politics. Brian Ellsworth reports.
You might start seeing more of those "No Lifeguard on Duty" warning signs. The American Red Cross says beaches and pools across the country are experiencing a shortage of people who are qualified and willing to do the job. Pat Loeb reports.
The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis is now sending economic shockwaves around the globe. Major markets are dropping percentage points by the day, but will the fallout spill over and dampen overall economic growth? Debate is raging.
With markets and investors in something of a state of panic, we turn to industry insiders King Penniman and Bill O'Grady to explain what's happening and who's ultimately responsible for this mess.
There's word this morning that the SEC is digging into the books at top Wall Street banks and brokerage firms to make sure they're not hiding any subprime losses. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Campbell, the soup company, is putting its Godiva Chocolates brand up for sale. The company's decided the Belgian-style chocolatier is a little too indulgent for its new emphasis on healthy foods. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Some people have been "shorting" the companies that created and financed the subprime mortgage debacle. Steve Tripoli has been asking whether there's still time for a profitable bet against the architects of subprime.
A major French bank, BNP Paribas, announced it was suspending three of its asset-backed securities funds, due to the squeeze the subprime mortgage debacle has put on the U.S. credit market. Stephen Beard in London explains the impact on markets across the pond.
Retailers are using gift cards and rebates to prompt us to buy. And, as commentator Ian Ayres points out, they're profiting from the fact that many of us won't use those cards and rebates.
Florida, the Cuban capital of the United States, is making room for a new Latino group — Venezuelans fleeing the rule of President Hugo Chavez. Dan Grech reports on what the influx means for the state's economy.
At a news conference, President Bush made it clear what he thinks of a higher gas tax to fix the nation's infrastructure. He also fielded a larger-than-usual array of questions about the state of the U.S. economy.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a revised Secure Flight passenger screening program today. And privacy rights advoctates were quick to respond. Bob Moon reports.
As Asian economies continue to develop at breakneck speeds, so grows their need for power. Coal exporters worldwide are scrambling to keep up with demand, and that's pushing coal prices to record highs, but not everywhere. Sam Eaton explains.
Iraq might be ready to do some big-time oil trading with Russia to make good on old debts. But first the two nations would have to figure out the not-small issue of security in Iraq. Lisa Napoli reports.
The American Red Cross and Johnson & Johnson have worked with the same symbol for over 100 years on a pact that the Red Cross not use it commercially. Now J&J is suing the relief organization for displaying the symbol on its retail products. Jeremy Hobson reports.
The malaria parasite's become increasingly resistant to drugs, so researchers in Kenya have a new approach: Stock ponds with Nile Tilapia. The fish eat malaria-carrying mosquito larvae. People can eat the fish… if they want to. Helen Palmer has more.
Women make up 80 percent of Africa's subsistence farmers and food traders, but most have nowhere to save what little money they earn. One group has an idea to help change that: an African women's bank. Gretchen Wilson has details.
Chris Farrell suspects all that Fed talk about inflation is just a cover, an excuse to keep interest rates at current levels because it doesn't want to bail Wall Street investment banks out of the mess they created… and heavily profited from.
Apparently the folks at Campbell's aren't buying into the whole "chocolate is good for you" theory. The company plans to sell off the Belgian chocolate maker because it doesn't fit its new wellness-focused image. Stephen Beard reports.
Text-messaging has leapt over the wall of teen obsession and into the hands of the general consumer public, so some retailers are taking advantage of the technology to lure consumers to their stores. Ambar Espinoza explains.
Heavy weather and flooding shut down subways in New York City, leaving commuters steaming on one of the hottest and most humid days of the year. It was another reminder of failing infrastructure. Ashley Milne Tyte reports.
Commentator Glenn Hubbard says Congress should drop the tough trade talk as a way to protect American jobs and focus on getting displaced workers retrained.
The subprime mortgage meltdown is making it harder for nearly everyone to get loans, which makes a particular group of Massachusetts lenders all the more unusual. Gretchen Wilson reports.
With Congress threatening trade sanctions against China, two lower-level Chinese officials have fired back, saying their nation's $1 trillion-plus holdings of U.S. Treasury notes could be a "bargaining chip." Steve Tripoli reports.
After all the hullabaloo over Rupert Murdoch's purchase of Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, we got to wondering what's next for the media mogul. Kai Ryssdal talked with Los Angeles Times media critic Tim Rutten.
California fruit growers are plowing cash into the development of a new kind of workforce. One that never gets tired, doesn't ask for raises, and doesn't need green cards. Andrew Phelps reports.
Bear Stearns is testing offshore legal waters. The Wall Street investment house is trying to keep two bankruptcy cases in Cayman Island courts, but investors and creditors want a U.S. judge to force Bear to re-file here. Jill Barshay has more.
Since the '90s, it's been tech stocks that have kept the economic community riveted. But commentator David Frum says abstract is out: The "new economy" we keep hearing about is heavy and bulky and transported by rail.
Farmers in Britain are losing money fast because of the latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and they're ready to sue anyone found responsible. First up could be an American company. Stephen Beard has more.
Any day now, the Department of Homeland Security is expected to unveil new rules requiring employers to fire workers whose Social Security numbers don't match their names. But critics say don't expect those workers to go home. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Capitol Hill's threats to punish China for undervaluing its currency are starting to aggravate government officials there. They're willing to use China's holdings in U.S. bonds to retaliate, and that could really hurt, Ambrose Evans-Prichard tells us.
The United States spends billions each year to try to improve living conditions for the world's poor, but critics in some nations say too often those U.S. dollars come with strings attached. Take Bolivia for example. Mary Stucky reports.
Five years ago Morgan Stanley got out of the private equity business. Turns out that was a big mistake, but why has it decided to start a new fund in Europe just as the private equity boom seems to be fizzling? Stephen Beard reports.
AFL-CIO leaders meet today to discuss the possible endorsement of a presidential candidate as early as this fall. The labor union is smaller this time around, but claims it'll carry a greater punch than ever. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Corporate sponsors are expected to splurge on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The games will probably be the most lucrative ever, and some of the big advertising players don't even care if they see a return. Jocelyn Ford explains.
Sprint Nextel and the FCC agreed a couple of years ago that the cell-phone provider would spend $5 billion to fix problems in the nation's emergency radio network. But it's been a tougher job than expected. Lisa Napoli reports.
The Fed made no mention of doing anything about the shakiness in the economy. Greg McBride from Bankrate.com spoke with Kai Ryssdal about the Fed's statement.
We received comments from listeners on, among other things, H-1B visas, lead paint on toys, Internet advertising and a David Frum commentary. Hear what some of your fellow listeners had to say.
The Federal Open Market Committee held interest rates steady at 5.25% today. But as is usually the case of late, everybody was more interested in what the Fed had to say rather than what it did. Amy Scott reports.
Warner Music posted a greater-than-expected quarterly loss today, and its shares fell about 3%. But the music label is fighting back. Music industry consultant Ted Cohen gives the details to Kai Ryssdal.
The price of durum wheat, which Italians insist on using for their pasta, is at a level not seen in years. Megan Williams reports that Italians will swallow the increase, but it won't go down easy.
The 150th anniversary of the Civil War's start is four years away, but states that were in the thick of the fighting are planning now to cash in on what they hope will be a boom in tourism. Blake Farmer reports.
First we had Craigslist and eBay, and their imitators of course. Now Buy.com and Facebook are teaming up to host online Garage Sales. And a new site where amateur video stars hawk used merchandise may have found a way to make Web video pay. Pat Loeb explains.
It's now estimated that more than half of the $200-billion-plus U.S. advertising market will flow to online sites and away from newspapers. More folks are simply getting their news online. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Audiences have returned to movie theaters in huge numbers this year. We may even see record-breaking attendance, but studios had to shell out big bucks to produce the blockbusters that are reeling people in. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
An ex-con in Italy hatched a smart business plan while he did time and turned it into a $250,000 a year business selling T-shirts and other goods under the Made in Jail label. Megan Williams has the story.
In the last decade, states have been coming down harder on crime and that's caused a prison population explosion. Many are running out of places to put them. Enter the booming private prison industry. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
August recess begins this week, so lawmakers will be out and about back in their home states and the political spin doctors sent each and every one home with a packet full of things to talk about. Jill Barshay tells us what we can expect to hear.
One week after StubHub signs an exclusive deal to sell MLB tickets, a British company called Viagogo teams up with the Cleveland Browns. But critics say the deals only encourage scalpers. Stephen Beard reports.
With health care costs rising faster than inflation, a new study reveals that more and more under- and uninsured Americans have to use credit cards or drain savings accounts to pay their medical bills. Helen Palmer reports.
The wiretapping bill that President Bush has signed into law has privacy rights people reeling. Lisa Napoli takes a closer look at what was included and left out of the legislation.
With the price of gold doubling in the last two years, geologists are combing the hillsides of Haiti in search of a lucky strike. But prospective miners face plenty of pitfalls. Reed Lindsay reports.
In Germany, there's a big-box store geared specifically to the over-60 crowd. Kyle James reports that it's a perfect mix of marketing and demographics.
The video game "Guitar Hero" from Activision has struck a chord with gamers and given market leader Electronic Arts something to fret about. Kevin Periera of G4 television has been taking notes.
Farming experts in Britain say the latest outbreak of hoof and mouth disease appears to have been contained. But the outbreak could hurt the U.K.'s wider rural economy. Stephen Beard reports.
A week after crude oil prices reached record highs, the oil markets are looking as jittery as stocks. Oil traders are hoping the subprime mortgage spill-over doesn't become a gusher. Bob Moon reports.
Chrysler's choice of Bob Nardelli as its new CEO is turning some heads, given the way he was shown the door at Home Depot. Kai Ryssdal talks with Jeff Sonnenfeld at the Yale School of Management about the move.
A government panel will review possible health risks of a key ingredient used in plastics, but some scientists say the research they'll be considering was funded by, guess who? The chemical industry. Sam Eaton reports.
The Fed meets this week to set short-term interest rates. It's held them steady for more than a year now, but with further signs of a weakening economy, might we be in for a cut? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
A new law gives the White House greater power to eavesdrop U.S. residents communicating with terrorism suspects overseas. But President Bush wanted to give phone companies amnesty for past spying, and Congress didn't hand it over. Steve Henn reports.
Rupert Murdoch last week managed to swing a couple Bancrofts over to his side to buy Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal, but Allan Sloan says the damage was done a long time ago, way back when the family first set up the public stock offering.
The U.K.'s meat and livestock industry is still suffering the effects of 2001's foot and mouth disease outbreak, not to mention mad cow, so the government's acting swiftly to minimize the impact of this latest case. Stephen Beard reports.
The British government is asking businesses to foot part of the bill to educate the millions of citizens there who lack basic literacy skills. Some have embraced the idea, but a major business coalition says N-O. Stephen Beard reports.
Bob Nardelli didn't have such a good run as CEO of Home Depot, but today he got another job as the head of Chrysler, where he won't have to worry about stock prices and angry shareholders. Micki Maynard says it could be a good fit.
Striking workers are paralyzing South Africa's oil industry, not to mention its roadways. Employees of the southern hemisphere's largest oil refinery walked off the job last week and drivers there are running on empty. Gretchen Wilson reports.
