The "mother of all tax bills" has arrived in Congress, which may finally mean the end of the Alternative Minimum Tax. Economics Editor Chris Farrell looks at the newest attempt at tax reform.
No trips to the toy store make for awkward birthday parties — unless you get creative. Host Tess Vigeland continues her conversation with the Mullen family, who promised not to buy any new consumer goods for an entire year.
Our economics editor Chris Farrell answers your burning money questions. This week — all about the Thrift Savings Plan, options for getting a mortgage if you want to build a home and if a Health Savings Account is right for you.
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. This week: "Case-Shiller Index." You hear it, you see it, but do you really know it?
On this week's "A Day in the Work Life," our regular look at how folks trade time for money, we'll tour the grounds with an apple farmer. We ask Stan Pratt if an apple a day really keeps the doctor away.
Ever wonder why government forms or financial documents are so hard to understand? Maybe because they're written in a foreign language: "legalese." Marketplace Money host Tess Vigeland talks to Annetta Cheek from the Center for Plain Language.
This is the season where most large companies give their workers a chance to switch health care options, but which should you choose? Tess talks to corporate consultant Tom Billet about what to look for.
Payday lenders, a last resort for some who live from paycheck to paycheck, often hand out loans with triple digit interest rates. Recently, the FDIC asked banks to provide some competition. Reporter Mhari Saito has the story.
Video-game pioneers are teaming up with the University of Texas to create a new archive that's preserving the origins of their industry. David Martin Davies reports.
Democratic presidential candidates are calling for a tax increase to fund Social Security for retiring baby-boomers. But commentator Glenn Hubbard argues that proposal doesn't get to the heart of the problem.
At the same time some investment banks are taking a pounding from the credit crunch, Wall Street traders come together to dish out and take some more lumps for a boxing charity event. Amy Scott was ringside.
The United States has promised to help Turkey stop Kurdish PKK guerrillas from operating in Northern Iraq. The PKK has killed dozens of Turkish military personnel across the border. Tess Vigeland talked with L.A. Times reporter Borzou Daragahi about attempts to defuse the situation.
Thousands of construction workers in Dubai went on strike this week. One of their complaints is that they're paid in U.S. dollars. The falling dollar is putting a lot of pressure on Gulf countries to de-link their currencies from the greenback. John Dimsdale reports.
Bank stocks got hammered for a second straight day today. Most are at 12-month lows and some are sinking even deeper. It's all about the subprime mess. But while investors are spooked, some analysts say the sector is doing just fine. Jill Barshay reports.
Family get-togethers are usually a lot of fun, but for some it's just the opposite because they owe a relative money. Tess talks to Kathy Kristof of the Los Angeles Times about a new service that claims to work out all the uncomfortable details.
If you have any money tied up in investments, you're probably getting a ton of mail asking you for something. Not more money — your vote. Marketplace's Janet Babin reports.
The House is considering leaving protections for whistle-blowers out of a bill to further empower the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Steve Henn reports this comes while two commissioners face scandal.
The Bureau of Labor releases September unemployment rates today, while the numbers have been stagnant Steve Henn looks into job growth over the last 10 years, and why job-seeker outlook as been so grim.
Asian markets shook after yesterday's Wall Street decline, adding to China's fear that a weak U.S. economy means less Holiday work. Scott Tong explores the impact of the U.S. consumer on the Chinese market.
Before Hollywood knew the power of DVD and Internet sales, writers took a cut of residuals that today they want doubled. Variety's Michael Speier discusses more motives of a potential writers' strike with Bob Moon.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is charging Washington Mutual and a major real-estate appraisal firm with inflating home values nationwide. Bob Moon reports Marketplace looked into this — over two years ago.
The European markets reacted swiftly to yesterday's slide on Wall Street. As Stephen Beard reports, investors are worried the subprime crunch could be entering a second, nastier phase.
Wall Street is the last thing you'd think a nonprofit involved with charities would want to emulate. But Jill Barshay reports one company is using stock-exchange mentality to keep giving organizations in line.
Oil is almost at $100 barrel, but gas prices have yet to rise as substantially. Dan Grech looks into why the cost of unleaded hasn't reflected the price of crude and when that might change.
Burma is Asia's economic basketcase, even though it sits next door to China. Scott Tong recently traveled to the border and witnessed a stark contrast between the two sides.
Professional skier Bode Miller has started competing on his own, after 10 years with the U.S. national team. So far he's garnered $1 million in corporate sponsorships. Our business-of-sports commentator Diana Nyad has some thoughts about the niche he's carving.
Commentator Kathryn C. Montgomery says most kids who are active in online social networks don't realize they're also part of elaborate, virtual focus groups that could put their privacy at risk.
Drivers who use car-sharing services in the state of Washington will now have to pay almost 10% in car-rental taxes. Users call it a penalty on doing right by the environment. Cathy Duchamp reports.
China's citizens awoke to a 10 percent hike in their gas prices today. And that's one big reason why world oil prices breached $96 a barrel. John Dimsdale explains the cause and effect.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has sued a real estate appraisal company called eAppraiseIT for allegedly colluding with Washington Mutual to inflate home values. Jill Barshay reports.
With negotiations halted between the Writers Guild and Hollywood studios, 12,000 Guild members are expected to strike today. Sam Eaton reports on the serious economic blow the strike could land to Tinsel Town.
The contract for Hollywood writers expired at midnight, and the Writers Guild of America is considering a strike. Scott Jagow examines the role of download revenue in negotiations.
Washington is debating today whether to get companies to cut back on CO2 emissions through taxes or the cap-and-trade system. Steve Henn looks at both sides of the issue.
Labor activists are picketing Hong Kong Disneyland for the rights of workers at a Disney toy supplier in southern China. Bill Marcus explores the problematic practices behind the protests.
Negotiations between Ford and United Auto Workers continue to truck on, and Ford wants to extract more from the UAW but give up less. Jill Barshay looks into Ford's new business plan and lay-offs on the way.
New European Union rules are setting out to make trading stocks easier across Europe's borders. But Stephen Beard reports the rules could be bad news for national exchanges across the continent.
The costumes aren't even back on the hanger and retailers are already preparing for the next holiday shopping season. Sarah Gardner tells us what's behind a classic game of shopper-retailer chicken.
The movement to make Pope John Paul II a saint has received donations from around the world through its website. And Megan Williams reports that the sainting process relies heavily on those pledges.
U.S. ethanol policy urges refineries to mix the corn-based fuel with gasoline to make consumers less oil-dependent. Economics correspondent Chris Farrell tells Scott Jagow why it's a bad idea.
Congressman Charles Rangel proposed a one-year patch for the alternative minimum tax to save taxpayers from a rate hike. But Jeremy Hobson reports it could threaten the Democrats' promise of pay-as-you-go spending.
They may never run out of potential customers, but funeral directors still have to stay competitive. Carl Marziali reports on how some are attracting those who like to follow Harleys — one last time.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is going to restart its research into algae as a replacement for oil and gas. In fact, the lab is going to team up with Chevron for the project. Michael Montgomery reports.
Who's to blame for the mortgage mess that's still reverberating through the economy? Commentator Robert Reich thinks it's the same people who cashed in before the credit bubble burst.
The Iowa Department of Revenue has decided pumpkins sold for decoration and not eating should be taxed. Kai Ryssdal talked to pumpkin-patch operator Bob Kautz about the decision and the slice it's taken from his profits.
As far is the nation's biggest retailer is concerned, the holiday shopping season has arrived. Wal-Mart is going to be offering some hot discounts this Friday to get Christmas shopping started early. What about waiting until the day after Thanksgiving? Bob Moon reports.
NASA chief Michael Griffin has promised Congress he will release results of a six-year-long study of airline safety that reportedly finds there have been many more near-collisions between aircraft than previously revealed. John Dimsdale reports.
A coalition of consumer privacy groups is pushing for the creation of a national do-not-track list that would allow Web surfers to stop Internet companies from recording their personal behavior online. Steve Henn reports.
While the Fed is cutting interest rates to ward off an economic slowdown, the latest GDP numbers are strong — a seeming schizophrenia that has markets jumping around. But many economists have an explanation that encompasses all the numbers. Steve Tripoli reports.
Most methods to preserve online privacy have had little impact. But with the success of the "Do Not Call" list, privacy advocates are vying for a similar pproach. Steve Henn reports.
Should investors be warned about the financial consequences of climate change? A congressional panel will look into how much risk should be disclosed to the public. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Halloween is the holiday dentists fear most. But now, there's a countermovement to get kids to give up their candy — and some dentists are willing to pay. Renita Jablonski has more.
For American expats in China, adjusting to a very different culture is a big challenge. Bill Marcus reports the predominant feeling among the Americans is they don't want to be there.
Under the "Open Skies" agreement, British Airways was set to establish a direct line from New York's JFK airport to Europe. But the FAA might veto that plan. Stephen Beard reports.
The Fed is finishing up its two-day meeting on interest rates today, and Wall Street is demanding an interest rate cut. Alisa Roth explains how some Wall Streeters are acting out like spoiled toddlers.
The dollar is at a record low against the euro, and investors are selling dollars as they expect the Fed to cut its key interest rate today. Stephen Beard tells us the relationship between interest rates and currencies.
Despite Congress passing a mine-safety bill a year ago, the United States still lags other nations in safety measures. Steve Tripoli reports on the new rules Congress is considering.
Halloween is ranked the fourth most lavish national holiday. Commentator David Frum explains his theories on why American adults plan to spend so much to decorate their homes like a horror set.
A leading real estate index says prices for existing homes fell in August at the fastest rate since 1991. Meanwile, consumer confidence plunged last month to the lowest level since Hurricane Katrina. Amy Scott reports that some economists are seeing signs of a recession on the horizon.
In addition to coffee and sweets, Starbucks is now selling music CDs, with sales in the millions. So it's not surprising that unknown artists are knocking on its doors. Well, one artist in particular. Sean Cole explains.
Kai Ryssdal reviews some of the letters we've received about our coverage and commentaries on, among other things, the farm bill, Oregon voters, books on tape in Atlanta, and the Boston Red Sox.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is spending billions on social programs and international aid. If the price of oil comes down, Venezuela could find itself over a barrel. Dan Grech does the math.
Differential pricing for utilities is nothing new — paying less for electricity used during off-peak hours. But in Los Angeles, city officials floated a slight variation on that theme — lower rates for people who use more electricity. Lisa Napoli reports that it's a growing trend.
For the first time in almost a decade the federal government has pulled back the curtain on the American intelligence budget. In 2007 the country will spend $43.5 billion to spy on its enemies — plus another $10 billion for the Pentagon that's still classified. Steve Henn reports.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is half the size it once was, which means it's been busy dealing with this year's record number of recalls. Yet, its acting head Nancy Nord says she doesn't want extra money that Congress is offering. John Dimsdale explains what's going on.
Congress is considering a bill that would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission more money, staff and power. But the head of the agency says she doesn't want the bill to pass. Steve Henn reports.
Small publications are hurting from an increase in postal rates last July, and Congress is holding a hearing on how much they should pay for mailing. But Jeremy Hobson reports a lowered postal rate is unlikely.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office wants to change the rules to streamline the processing of new applications. But a lawsuit is threatening to prevent those changes from happening. Jeremy Hobson has more.
Swiss bank UBS reported its first quarterly loss in almost five years, and much can be blamed on investments in mortgage-backed securities. Stephen Beard reports the crisis might be far from over.
A new survey of females in finance finds it's difficult for women to advance working in hedge funds or private equity. Jill Barshay looks into why these fields get a bad rap.
Halloween is go time for the haunted house industry, and keeping a big scare operation running can be costly. Scott Jagow talks to the owner of the "Bates Motel," a large-scale, farm-based spook attraction.
The "Do Not Call" list that prevents telemarketers from dialing you will expire next year. But Congress might pass a bill that would make registration permanent. Alisa Roth has more.
Investors are hoping the Federal Reserve will announce another rate cut after it meets today. John Dimsdale reports the economy is in better shape, but a cut could still be possible.
Since early 1996, Dan Lyons has been maintaining a blog with the name Fake Steve Jobs. He was unmasked as the author this past summer, wrapping up a tech-world whodunit. Now he's got a book out as Fake Steve called "Options." He talks with Kai Ryssdal.
After years of resistance from the public, the nuclear industry is attempting a comeback. It has already won $12 billion in taxpayer subsidies and is pushing for even more. Sarah Gardner reports.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has declared war on the special privileges enjoyed by certain workers. Among others, he's promised to take an ax to the protectionist rules enjoyed by taxi drivers. John Laurenson reports.
The Federal Reserve meets Tuesday to consider short-term interest rates. Six weeks ago Ben Bernanke and the gang obliged Wall Street with a half-point cut. John Dimsdale reports investors have their party hats ready once again.
For years, consumer advocates have been petitioning the FCC to strike down a rule that lets cable providers sign exclusive contracts with apartment buildings. A report says they will soon get what they wanted — and telephone companies couldn't be happier.
Merrill Lynch CEO Stan O'Neal reportedly will be leaving the investment house following its announcement last week of $8 billion in subprime write-downs. Steve Henn reports O'Neal would be the highest profile casualty of the subprime mortgage debacle.
Merrill Lynch CEO Stan O'Neal faces a probable resignation this morning after the company's biggest quarterly profit lose in its 93-year history. But Steve Henn reports he's not going to walk away empty-handed.
Cab drivers in Rome are facing off against city hall in a push for a 25 percent price hike. Megan Williams reports how the city's response could threaten another cabbies' strike.
