At supermarkets throughout the country, private-label products are giving consumers a cheaper alternative. But are they as good as the name brands? Alex Cohen reports.
When Los Angeles Times columnist David Lazarus found out he had a potentially debilitating disease, he also discovered his insurance wouldn't cover what he assumed. He starts a series of conversations with Tess Vigeland about his health-care journey.
Reporter Rico Gagliano takes on something that's supposed to be pretty basic but finds that sometimes things aren't as easy as they seem — like, cooking rice.
Chris Farrell answers your questions about helping a troubled homeowner cope with an adjusting mortgage, sorting the confusion of 529 plans, and what to do with a real estate inheritance.
Many people are messing up their plans for financial freedom by borrowing from their 401k's. Tess Vigeland talks to Rick Meigs of the 401k Help Center about this growing trend.
Most people are aware of the challenges troops face in combat, but what about their struggles with managing their finances? That often puts them in a whole different battle. Jeff Tyler reports.
Cars.com says it'll launch its 2008 marketing campaign with two Super Bowl commercials. Meanwhile, Christmas ads are already cropping up. The Marketplace Players figure it's just a matter of time before some enterprising ad man takes the next step.
The high-tech elite and regular, old engineers shop for the tools of their trade and electronic relics at a Silicon Valley flea market. Tamara Keith reports.
Commentator Alex Sheshunoff has been curious about campaign finance. In particular, he looked into just how much Americans think their votes are worth.
China has sided with the West, for the first time, against Myanmar's military junta — despite its close economic ties with the country. Scott Tong reports from the China-Burma border on how business is booming.
A study by the website ConsumerLab.com has raised questions about a generic version of Wellbutrin, a popular antidepressant. Makers of other generics are worried the news might send consumers back to brand names. Jill Barshay reports.
Retail sales for September were up, according to the Commerce Department, but retailers say they're now sitting on large, unsold inventories because unusually warm weather cut into fall clothing sales. Jeff Tyler reports.
Retail sales are up 0.6 percent for September. Alisa Roth gives us a breakdown of what went right, and why good weather may have contributed to what went wrong.
Sir Richard Branson may rescue Northern Rock by giving cash to the struggling British lender. Kyle James reports this would be a good thing for Branson's Virgin Group.
Paul Krugman's new book, "The Conscience of a Liberal," considers a group determined to take over the Republican party and Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Doug Krizner discusses a gamut of issues with the author.
Brazil is larger than the continental U.S., but the economy is being threatened by a crumbling infrastructure. So the government sold 1,600 miles of highway to private companies to help turn things around. Dan Grech reports.
President Bush wants Congress to support trade agreements in countries like Colombia and South Korea. But some Americans are wary of free trade. Steve Henn explores what's causing the lack of enthusiasm.
The crisis in the housing market is hitting a growing number of landlords and their tenants. Sam Eaton looks at how far the situation could escalate for renters.
The Colorado Rockies may not be working with a big budget, but they're still running in the playoffs. Lisa Napoli talks to sports commentator Diana Nyad about small-team philosophy that pays off.
Right now, Web addresses are limited to Roman letters — not much help to the billions who use different alphabets. But beginning Monday, 11 new languages will take Web surfers to new, non-Roman destinations, and may cause new legal headaches.
Over the next year or so millions of adjustable rate mortgages will recalibrate to higher interest rates. We asked Steve Tripoli to climb into the Marketplace time machine with the dials set for, say, next August and give us tomorrow's news today.
Studies have found over-the-counter cold medicines can have serious side effects, and there's no proof they work in young children. Big Pharma companies are pulling them off the shelves ahead of an FDA hearing.
Fox News positioned itself as the cable news antidote to the "liberal" CNN. Now it's trying to work that same magic against CNBC with a new business news channel. Media critic Tim Rutten talks about Roger Ailes' next big move.
Our appetite for lobster is voracious — the U.S. imports almost 120 million pounds every year. For our Working series, Claudine LoMonaco profiles divers in Honduras who risk death to feed that demand.
Commentator Karrie Jacobs says that when it comes to the crisis in the U.S. mortgage industry, the changing tastes of modern homeowners may be part of the problem.
A group of Europe's biggest hedge funds have devised a voluntary code of conduct in response to calls for more transparency. Kyle James reports the pre-emptive move will still put the funds under pressure.
Another sign of the apocalypse for the music business: Madonna is leaving her longtime record company, Warner Brothers Records, for a concert promoter. Alisa Roth explains why there's no greater power than the power of goodbye.
Marketplace's Steve Henn continues his report on Alaskan oilman Bill Allen's illegal contributions to various political campaigns and state legislators.
The FAA wants airlines to cut down on congestion in the skies by cutting back flights. But Jeremy Hobson reports that airlines don't want to cut back for fear of giving competitors an edge.
Yesterday's auto-workers strike against Chrysler lasted six hours. Doug Krizner talks about it with auto industry reporter Katie Merx, who says their deal sounds a lot like the one with GM.
Oil giant BP is trying to fix a bad run of accidents by working on its management structure. Sam Eaton reports the company's biggest problem boils down to inefficiency.
A report out today says conflicts in Africa have cost the continent $284 billion since 1990. That's about equal to what's being funneled there in international aid. Gretchen Wilson has more.
Some small-town meetings have been drawing big crowds lately, thanks to plans for new coal-fired plants in several states. Sarah Gardner reports that both sides of the debate — those for and against the plans — have been showing up to sound off.
Republicans and Democrats agree — the Alternative Minimum Tax must go. But while Republicans have unveiled a plan to eliminate it, Democrats say it should just be replaced. Steve Tripoli reports.
The airplane maker says it continues to have problems getting pieces on the 787 to fit. When will it be ready for delivery? One analyst isn't placing any bets.
Nobody knows how long the UAW strike against Chrysler is going to last or what a deal might look like. What is likely, though, is that UAW negotiations won't ever be the same again. Alisa Roth reports.
The federal government is going to team with credit counselors and the mortgage industry to see what can be done to help borrowers avoid foreclosure. It's not all altruism. Steve Henn reports.
Supreme Court justices split, 4-4, on whether taxpayers have to pick up the tab for a private school education for a child with disabilities. The tie means a lower-court ruling against New York City schools will stand. John Dimsdale reports.
Car makers could help solve a lot of problems such as global warming and U.S. reliance on foreign oil. Vijay Vaitheeswaran has a new book on that very topic — cars of the future and how they'll be fueled. He talked with Kai Ryssdal.
Thirteen years ago a million people were killed in the Rwanda genocide. When it was over, 70 percent of the population was women. The gender imbalance has allowed women to make ground-breaking changes in the country. Orly Halpern reports.
Smart conference organizers have realized that arranging sideline events for the conference-goers' children is a good way to keep stress levels down and attendance up. Rachel Dornhelm reports.
Cerberus, the private-equity firm that owns Chrysler, has been making plans to cut non-union jobs. Alisa Roth crunches the numbers and tells us what that means for the company's work force.
In India today, 20,000 people gathered for the largest protest of its kind against retail giants like Wal-Mart. Lisa Napoli talks to reporter Jean Parker about the country's ongoing fight against Western-style stores.
Customers of Norway's Co-op grocery chain who just didn't like what they bought can now get a full refund — even if they've already eaten it. Kyle James has more.
Before pleading guilty to bribing state legislators, Alaskan oil tycoon Bill Allen very actively spread his wealth around Congress. So far, a lot of his government beneficiaries haven't given the money back. Steve Henn reports.
With so many restaurant reviews available online, do the old standard food guides like Michelin and Zagat really matter? Alisa Roth found some ways they still were.
Inner-city youth advocates have said low-income students do better in private school in order to get vouchers. But a new study out today says that's actually not true. John Dimsdale reports.
Stent maker Medtronic has found several safety concerns for its drug-coated stents. The Food and Drug Administration will be looking into whether it should be on the market. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Japan plans to hunt 50 humpback whales in Antarctica, which Australia has designated a whale sanctuary. Sam Eaton reports that instead of legal action, the Australian government is trying to get to Japanese children through a campaign on YouTube.
Regardless of which party controls Congress, farm subsidies keep going and growing. But commentator Robert Reich says they cost too much and don't go to the farmers who need them.
Most of us expect certain things with a job: minimum wage, paid sick leave, vacation time, workplace laws… But nannies, maids and babysitters have no such guarantees. Some are trying to change that. Alisa Roth reports.
When Pat Eldridge helped set up a bank recently, he had to deal with complications other financial institutions don't — such as being in Iraq's Anbar province. Kai Ryssdal spoke with the Marine captain.
Discoveries that win the Nobel Prize can lead to extraordinarily lucrative consumer products. But how do the researchers who make the discoveries make sure they get part of the profit? Steve Tripoli looked into it.
A slew of recent studies claim to link social factors, like a CEO's personal life, to his company's stock price. Commentator and economist Susan Lee isn't convinced.
The new World Bank President Robert Zoellick is setting up a new strategy focused on fostering trade in the Middle East. Joel Kurtzman, a senior fellow at the Milken Institute, talked with Kai Ryssdal about why the region needs economic attention.
It's now the European Union's turn to get cranky over cheap Chinese imports and call for China to revalue its underpriced currency. But does the E.U. have the economic leverage to force a change? Jill Barshay reports.
The makers of Coors and Miller beers have come up with a new brew. It's called combining operations to increase pricing power and market share. But the two may face a tough fight with regulators. Amy Scott reports.
Donations from private-equity firms have increased dramatically in the last 10 years. Here are the total amounts contributed and the politicians who have received the most.
Aluminum maker Alcoa gives its third-quarter profit report today. Alisa Roth reports the company's earnings could tell us how far the subprime crisis has reached and the general health of the economy.
Marlboro cigarette producer Altria is moving its headquarters to Virginia and plans to cut off the $7 million a year it gives to New York arts groups. Jill Barshay reports the funds won't easily be replaced.
Sotheby's spent months tracking down the Qing Dynasty artifacts sold in a four-day Hong Kong auction. Once found, the relics struck up fierce competition amongst Chinese investors. Kate Woodsome has more.
The SEC wants to raise the net worth requirement of hedge funds from $1 million to $2.5 million to keep out smaller investors. But some critics wonder what wealth has to do with it. Steve Tripoli has more.
Eurozone finance ministers are trying to get China to boost the value of the yuan so it will appreciate against the euro and even out the country's trade imbalance with Europe. Kyle James reports.
The Supreme Court will decide today whether those who help a company rip off shareholders can be sued by investors. John Dimsdale reports this may be a proxy battle for bigger lawsuits to come.
In Italy, over one-third of men over 30 live at home with their parents. Scott Jagow talks to Rome correspondent Megan Williams about the influence of the country's economic situation and family culture.
Nintendo says it's worried there won't be enough Wii game consoles around this holiday season. Analysts say the company may be bluffing to boost demand, but Jeremy Hobson reports scarcity might help their competition.
The latest figures from the United Nations show Cubans have slightly longer life expectancy than Americans. A new study suggests it may be poverty that keeps Cubans going strong. Dan Grech reports.
Scientists saying global warming is going to make the Southwest United States especially dry. That will likely have dire consequences on the economy of one of the country's fastest growing regions. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Google is now one of a half-dozen companies with stocks listed above $600 dollars a share on American exchanges. But why? Kai Ryssdal searched for answers from Brian Cooley at CNet.
Most companies try to at least appear interested in how their customers feel. But if you're starting to feel more like a lab rat than a loyal customer, get used to it, says commentator Ian Ayres.
The subprime crisis and the related problems of British bank Northern Rock are creating some tough times for "The City" — London's business district. Stephen Beard reports.
The dollar's recent problems against the euro might be good for American exporters, but for European finance ministers meeting this week in Germany it's become a major headache. Sam Eaton reports.
The marquee case on the Supreme Court docket for Tuesday pits people who lost money on Enron versus the company's bankers, lawyers and accountants. John Dimsdale reports it'll test how far afield the liability for corporate wrongdoing extends.
Two weeks after agreeing to a new contract with General Motors, the United Auto Workers union gave Chrysler a strike deadline today in their negotiations. Alisa Roth reports.
Reports are out that Chrysler is supposed to make a deal with the UAW within the next two days, or face a potential strike. But this scenario differs from GM's. Alisa Roth reports.
When the dollar is down and the euro is up, European companies are hurt. So the European Union's finance ministers are going over it in a two-day summit. Kyle James reports.
The Chinese government is upset over a documentary being broadcast tonight on British television about China's black market for child slavery. Doug Krizner gets the details from reporter Bill Marcus in Shanghai.
Congress is trying to find funds to expand the FDA's budget to inspect imported food. Only 1 percent of food imported into the U.S. is currently inspected. Jeremy Hobson has more.
With a ton of work and limited competition, business is booming for New York City concrete suppliers. Lisa Chow tells us why concrete producers are able to bring up their prices so high and teaches us about the 90-minute rule.
