An organization in Central Louisiana has created a farm system for entrepreneurs, much like professioal baseball's. We asked Kate Archer Kent to check it out.
One of the options for the traditional Thanksgiving meal is to buy an organic turkey raised on natural feed and no antibiotics. But commentator Kelly Alexander says such a turkey may not be all that friendly to the environment.
What if, in order to get a discount on an item, you could join a group of shoppers to buy that product in bulk. Some Internet start-ups hope that kind of online buying will be the next big thing. Andrea Gardner reports.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service has launched new measures to speed up the immigration process for Cubans. At the same time, the U.S. government is already dealing with a huge backlog of pending cases. Dan Grech reports.
Media mogul Barry Diller says his Internet conglomerate IAC/InterActiveCorp will invest $100 million to expand in China, with plans to launch its Ask.com search engine in two years. Can the company take on the Chinese? Alisa Roth reports.
The real Santa Claus was too busy to talk to Marketplace about the holiday season, but we found one of his stand-ins at a nearby mall. He explained how he works and how wish lists are changing.
They call today Black Friday because holiday sales supposedly help retailers climb into the black for the year. Yet, despite the long lines seen today, this could be the slowest holiday season in five years. Scott Jagow got a perspective from Rob Snowden, general manager of Outlets at Hillsboro in Texas.
Efficient software might not seem like a priority item for a shelter, but having organized data is important for managing resources. Janet Babin reports on a helpful donation to a North Carolina shelter.
Depending on how you look at it, today is also "Buy Nothing Day," a holiday counteracting the effects of Black Friday. Lisa Napoli talked about the day with founder Reverend Billy and his wife, Savitri.
Over 3,000 people will be in Durban, South Africa this weekend to witness the preliminary draw for the next men's soccer World Cup. Gretchen Wilson reports TV networks will spend billions to broadcast the lottery.
With high gas prices and the lack of a must-have, big-hit item, consumer spending isn't expect to grow much this holiday season. But, as Amy Scott reports, people will still be doing plenty of shopping.
Many shoppers got a head start on their shopping this morning before the sun rose. But for those in the market for clothing, a visit to this fashion website could have made their trip much shorter. Cash Peters has more.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard could lose re-election in this weekend's national elections. Eleanor Bell reports on factors involved, including the subprime mortgage crisis and the U.S. economy.
If your family is awed by your children's superior politeness and manner this holiday season, perhaps you're already familiar with a Beverly Hills school of etiquette. If not, Lenora Chu has more.
Karen was a single mom who began stealing from her company to finance her debt. She got caught, but thanks to Debtor's Anonymous she's spent the past 16 years paying back $200,000. Trey Kay shares a cautionary tale about spending money you don't have.
The pressure on high-level executives can be overwhelming at times, and often that stress gets spread around at home. How would you fare if your own family gave you a "job" report? Sarah Gardner reports. (Re-broadcast from Jan. 14, 2004)
More men are selling the famous plastic bowls and utensils. Sean Cole talked with one top seller who just couldn't contain his enthusiasm for the iconic brand, and how well he fares in a female-dominated sales force. (Re-broadcast from May 16, 2007)
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. (Re-broadcast from Oct. 9, 2007)
A new magazine debuted in June devoted to the $7-billion business of getting organized. When Scott Jagow heard about this, only one person came to mind: His pack-rat mom, who never seems to throw anything away. (Re-broadcast from June 26, 2007)
A recent survey of U.S. retail stores found one-fourth of transmissions between handheld devices and store computers were not encrypted. It's an invitation to thieves, who make $10 billion a year in fraudulent charges using stolen credit info. John Dimsdale reports.
Shoppers across the nation will flood to retail stores on Black Friday. But some of the best deals are on the Web — and one site in particular has some retailers angry, because it's spoiling some savings surprises. Andrew Phelps reports.
Since Goldman Sachs has managed to evade a lot of the market trouble caused from subprime, they're giving back with a new billion-dollar charitable fund. Amy Scott reports it's also an effective way to avoid criticism.
Retailers know consumers can't negotiate with their nose when it finds something it likes. Lisa Napoli talks to Rachel Herz, author of "The Scent of Desire," about how some stores are using smell to seal the deal.
You may be lucky enough to find a good deal tomorrow when you risk the chaos at the stores, but some people found their bargains online as long as two months ago. Andrew Phelps tells us how.
While many don't have to worry about the dreaded annual shopping rush until tomorrow, some are gearing up by pumping out the Christmas spirit today. Alisa Roth explores the advance on the next holiday.
To stay competitive in the fierce world of coffee, Maxwell House is freshening up with new marketing tricks, including juicing up a fresh slogan. Dan Grech reports.
For Americans who want to know the real story behind what started Thanksgiving, Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Mass. recreates a Pilgrim village. And Steve Tripoli reports that business is making history.
Jera and Brad Deal turned an inventive letter-hunting game with their daughter into a multimillion-dollar family business. Sean Cole paid them a visit and found the world around him full of letters.
Restaurant kitchens in France have long been dominated by males. But women are now gaining much of the attention for their influence on the country's fine dining. Their patrons and the critics are eating it up. John Laurenson reports.
Can you imagine Thanksgiving without the hint of nutmeg or cloves? Spices make the meal. But they weren't always so plentiful. Bob Moon talks with author Michael Krondl about his book on the history of the spice business.
Australians have been dealing with a decade-long drought that's one of their worst in history. Many have found there's nothing like pocketbook pressure to focus the mind on conservation. Stuart Cohen reports.
Indiana regulators have given Duke Energy the OK to build what would become the world's first large-scale coal gasification power plant, provided the company can capture the plant's carbon emissions and store them underground. Sam Eaton reports.
Congress and state officials are trying to help homeowners facing foreclosure by offering alternatives to borrowers and lenders. But for all the good intentions, not much is changing. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development shook investors today when it warned that overall subprime lending losses could feasibly hit between $200 billion and $300 billion. Can anything be done to limit the losses? Bob Moon has more.
Just because you're stuck in coach doesn't mean you have to suffer. Tess asks Matt Daimler, the man behind SeatGuru, how to get the best seat in the house.
Chris Farrell thinks back on the financial stories he's been thankful for this year. On the list: the Fed chairman, the health insurance debate and pension reform.
Frustrated when you can't find a non-stop flight? Some people actually seek out stopovers. Tess talks to Wired Magazine writer Dave Demerjian about the art of the "mileage run."
Associate Producer Rico Gagliano is back with another installment of our series "Educating Rico." This time our hero takes a trip to the emergency room — overseas.
Our economics editor Chris Farrell answers your burning money questions. This week — vacation homes, deducting tuition costs, socially responsible investing and small business grants.
On this week's "A Day in the Work Life," our regular look at how folks trade time for money, we take to the skies with airline pilot Marc-Antoine Plourde.
Even when we go on vacation, we stay tethered to the office. Marketplace's Sam Eaton investigates why American workers have such a hard time cutting the cord.
The Labor Department reports that fewer people are applying for unemployment insurance. But Janet Babin reports the numbers could have been thrown off due to the holiday season's retail hiring.
The Federal Election Commission issued new rules for what unions and corporations can put into supportive campaign ads. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports some think this could give a green light to attack ads.
With air travel continuing to expand, airlines are suffering from a shortage of pilots. Ashley Milne-Tyte looks into what the carriers are doing to get people into the cockpit.
The Broadway stagehands' strike is costing New York City millions of dollars a day. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports the effects are also being felt by local businesses, and even charitable organizations.
Many of the European Union's key trade rules with 80 of its former colonies are set to expire at the end of the year, and the E.U. is now urging poorer countries to sign less-favorable agreements. Dan Grech reports.
Before Thanksgiving dinner is on the table, it usually travels many thousands of miles to be with you. Scott Jagow talks to Sarah Murray, author of "Moveable Feasts," about the economic impact of food.
The index of leading economic indicators has been a strong tool for analysts to determine the likelihood of a recession. But Amy Scott reports the LEI coming out today might point to something else, if it matters at all.
As Congress searches for ways to clean up the subprime mess and prevent a future one, commentator Robert Reich says the Fed already has the authority to do just that. It just needs to pay more attention.
Our week-long series on the sustainability of the consumer economy drew a number of responses, particularly to our interview of Jared Diamond, our coverage of Wal-Mart's green initiatives, and our look at the history of Crisco.
Getting ready to settle back and enjoy some football on Thanksgiving Day? Commentator Will Leitch says that when it comes to the commercials you might just want to look away.
When you travel during the holiday season, packed airports are part of the experience. But for many air travelers the crunch begins before they even get inside the terminal. Lisa Napoli reports on what goes on in the parking lots.
Poland will be hosting the European soccer championshps in 2012. It's such a big deal that construction on new roads and stadiums has already started. But who is going to do the work? Brett Neely reports.
News today that scientists have been able to make stem cells from ordinary skin cells could change the terms of the financial debate tied to research. Janet Babin reports.
The amount of cargo being moved on ships is up nearly 150 percent over last year. China and India are buying up boatloads of food, coal and other raw materials to fuel their explosive growth. John Dimsdale reports.
The Office of Thrift Supervision reported today that earnings for the nation's savings and loans plunged 84 percent in the third quarter. Yep, more mortgage problems. Jill Barshay reports.
The Federal Reserve followed up on its announcement of increased openness by releasing the minutes of its last meeting. That led to a volatile day on Wall Street, as traders sought to figure out which way the Fed is leaning on interest rates. Bob Moon reports on the action with Kai Ryssdal.
Tyson Foods touts the fact that its chickens are raised without antibiotics. But now, the government is forbidding the company from using the label, as the USDA overlooked a suspect feed additive. Janet Babin reports.
Italian best-seller "The Caste" has sold over a million copies in the country. Megan Williams explains why the true tale of money and politics is more compelling to Italians than a work of fiction.
With the U.S. dollar continuing to fall, officials in China are beginning to worry about the value of their reserves. Bill Marcus reports on the further effect those concerns could have on U.S. currency.
San Francisco today became the first city to ban plastic bags at large grocery stores. Sarah Gardner reports some don't feel the change will be that eco-effective, while others want to take the switch even farther.
Mortgage giant Fannie Mae reports its earnings today. Along with Freddie Mac, the company has been riding out defaults that have hit its bottom line. Dan Grech reports on what this could mean for the U.S. taxpayer.
Hot stock-tip spam scams may be avoided by a click of the delete button, but the SEC wants to get rid of the bogus e-mails for good. Alex Goldmark has more on "Operation Spamalot."
While airline passengers are bracing themselves for another frantic holiday season, one consumer group is hitting airports prepared for trouble — with hidden cameras. Bob Moon has more.
The Federal Reserve will be sharing more information with the public when it releases the minutes today for last month's meeting. Nancy Marshall Genzer tells us what the Fed added and whether critics are appeased.
A lot has changed for Google since it began searching in 1998. But on its crisp, white homepage one little button has managed to stick around all these years. Brendan Newnam decided to find out why.
China has ordered its banks to take money out of circulation as a way to cool the country's red-hot economy just a little bit. But Chinese consumers aren't necessarily playing along. Correspondent Scott Tong says they've discovered the joys of credit cards.
Riots have broken out over the last month in India's state of West Bengal, with poor village folk complaining they've gone hungry as their government-supplied food rations have been sold on the open market. Sunita Thakur reports.
Strikes have forced TV sitcoms and late-night talk shows to air reruns and Broadway shows to go dark. But commentator and striking writer Sandra Tsing Loh says consider the teachers.
Most analyst estimates for this year's holiday retail sales are for about a 4% increase over last year. But how do they know? Marshall Cohen, the chief analyst at the market research firm NPD Group, explains to Kai Ryssdal.
Iran announced today it will no longer use the lowly dollar to price its oil. Should Americans be worried about a global abandonment of their currency? John Dimsdale reports.
OPEC leaders have wrapped up their weekend summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where a lot of talk focused on the weak U.S. dollar. Doug Krizner gets feedback from Ed Crooks of the Financial Times.
Commercial real estate might soon be heading the way of the residential housing market, according to a report out by Moody's. But Janet Babin explains why Moody's isn't ready to panic yet.
Canada and Brazil are asking the World Trade Organization to look into whether the U.S. is violating international law by giving too much in subsidies to its farmers. Paul Brandus has more.
Internet search engine Baidu dominates China as Google has a hold on the U.S. Doug Krizner talks to Dawn Chmielewski of the L.A. Times about how the Chinese site plays its roles maintaining government restrictions.
It's the sixth day of a nationwide transit workers' strike in France, and the French people are showing less support to strikers as severe traffic jams continue to plague commuters. John Laurenson reports from Paris.
Sub-Saharan economies have been growing between 5-7 percent a year, benefits which the IMF and World Bank believe will have a lingering effect. Gretchen Wilson reports how a focus on business can help.
The monthly housing market index is reporting a 14-year low on new homes, making homebuilders' outlook less optimistic than usual. Amy Scott tells us when homebuilders hope to see things turn around.
Amazon.com launches its new e-book reader today, and the company is hoping Kindle will do for paperbacks what iPods did for music. But Sam Eaton reports this technology has been around for over a decade.
General Electric's recent trouble with money-market funds showed those investments weren't immune to subprime. Fortune Magazine's Allan Sloan tells us the rules for avoiding trouble with short-term bonds.
