Are we better off than our parents or falling behind? Tess talks about the the past and future of the middle class with authors Elizabeth Warren and Gregg Easterbrook.
Slavery is a huge element of the global economy, and it goes unseen by consumers. Kai Ryssdal talks with Kevin Bales of the advocacy group Free the Slaves about his efforts to clean up the slave supply chain.
More than 40% of private-sector workers, most of whom work in service jobs, don't get paid sick leave. Now some federal, state and municipal lawmakers are considering making paid sick days mandatory. Shia Levitt reports.
You're probably not planning to rush out and buy gold ingot anytime soon, but the rapidly rising price of gold is making certain consumers and retailers feel the pain. Janet Babin reports.
Three of Iraq's biggest state-owned cement firms have signed deals with outside investors from Romania, Germany and Lebanon. It may be a concrete sign of reconstruction taking hold. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Both Standard & Poor's and Moody's have reaffirmed their AAA ratings for the U.S. Treasury bill. But, Moody's did attach a note of caution to its assessment. Bob Moon explains.
Bank of America is buying Countrywide Financial. And JP Morgan Chase is salivating over Washington Mutual. Which made us wonder: How far will bank consolidations go? John Dimsdale reports.
For some, the American dream keeps inching farther away. Stacey Vanek Smith looks at the challenges many minority citizens face as they attempt to join the ranks of the middle class.
In this edition of Getting Personal, Chris and Tess talk about stretching a middle class salary, managing your own retirement accounts and paying for a car with home equity.
When Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke all but promised an upcoming interest-rate cut, plenty of people responded: What took you so long, Ben? But commentator Mark Thoma says it's time to lay off the Fed.
Have you ever heard politicians talk taxes without mentioning the middle class? Tess talks to Scott Hodge of the Tax Foundation to find out if all their efforts are actually helping.
Solder pipes in the morning, hit the books at night — it's a long day for an apprentice plumber. We learn what it takes on this encore Day in the Work Life.
Economics editor Chris Farrell plays down tales of the decline of the middle class and sets the story straight on some of the big challenges middle class Americans face.
Being middle class doesn't always mean making ends meet, forcing families to fall back on credit. Jeremy Hobson talks to families trapped by credit about getting back on their feet.
Sallie Mae, the nation's largest student lender, is getting more selective about handing out loans. Tess talks to FinAid.org's Mark Kantrowitz about the best ways for students to borrow for their education.
Without any firm numbers defining the beginning and end of the middle class, Tess Vigeland checks with experts and the presidential candidates for their definitions.
Some 200,000 children work in cocoa plantations in the Ivory Coast. Gretchen Wilson reports on a group of U.S. lawmakers visiting that country to find ways to wean the industry off child labor.
Bank of America has agreed to buy Countrywide, sparing the nation's largest mortgage lender from bankruptcy. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports that the deal should spare customers from the disruptions of the bankruptcy process.
Today was the World Trade Organization's deadline for Europe to lighten up its rules on importing genetically-modified foods. But many Europeans are against what they call "Frankenfoods." Kyle James has more.
A stripped-down press conference will air this Sunday in lieu of the usual Golden Globes ceremony. Doug Krizner talks to Variety's Mike Speier about the wider effects of having no ceremony — and whether we'll see this happen to the Oscars.
The European Central Bank says it won't hesitate to raise interest rates in response to higher wages. Megan Williams reports the bank is more concerned with inflation than it is about slack growth.
Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness day, and the practice is the fastest-growning criminal industry in the world, with a U.N.-projected worth of about $32 billion. Janet Babin reports signs of modern-day slavery.
Big airlines are planning to make fewer seats available this year to cover higher fuel costs and increase profits. Steve Tripoli reports dropping seats doesn't necessarily mean carriers are dropping the price of fares.
If you watched the big college football game between LSU and Ohio State this week, you probably noticed an Allstate logo at some point. Scott Jagow talks to sports commentator Diana Nyad about whether its presence was welcome.
Once the gunfire stops in Iraq, military officials move in to make some kind of restitution for accidental property damage and civilian deaths. It can be a tough call. Adam Allington reports from Ramadi.
Several universities recently announced big increases in financial aid. Commentator Kim Clark says it looks like things may be starting to turn in students' favor.
An upstart trading network in Kansas City equipped with the latest technology is gaining ground on the big players. In just a year it's become the third-largest market center in the U.S. This week, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan said they're buying in. Sylvia Maria Gross reports.
New York City is requiring new measures to increase the recyling of plastic shopping bags. China has announced it's banning them. Such measures are making reusable bags a big business. Host Tess Vigeland talks with Vincent Cobb, president of Reusablebags.com.
The Standard & Poor's 500 is down 3% for the year. But today, stock analysts predicted that the index of the nation's largest companies would show double-digit profit growth this year. Who do you trust? Jill Barshay reports.
Several reports out today say Bank of America is in "advanced talks" to buy Countrywide Financial — the nation's largest mortgage lender, which lost $1.2 billion in the 3rd quarter of last year. Host Tess Vigeland has more.
Starting today, you will no longer be requied to pay for editorials and video content on The Wall Street Journal website. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports if this business model is effective, it could mean the end of paid online subscriptions.
President Bush is stopping through several wealthy Arab nations this week. He'll be encouraging officials to keep the money spigot open for major U.S. investment banks Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Tata Motors unveiled its new "Nano" car at the New Delhi Auto Expo, lauded as the cheapest car in the world for $2,200. Doug Krizner talks to New Delhi reporter Mehul Srivastava about what you get for the price.
Nicolas Sarkozy wants to factor happiness into the economic equation, so he's enlisted two Nobel-winning economists to revamp the system. Megan Williams reports the French might be about as happy as the Americans.
The buyout of Harrah's Casino is said to be one of the largest transactions coming to the market this year, but many of the usual buyers aren't at the table. Jill Barshay reports the deal will determine how easy leveraged buyouts will be this year.
Many big banks like JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup are releasing new ad slogans in an effort to rebrand themselves. Steve Tripoli explores why, and whether these marketing efforts will ultimately matter to consumers.
Presidential campaign ads are about to get underway in another round of states, but candidates won't be flooding the airwaves as they did in Iowa or New Hampshire. Jeremy Hobson reports on how campaigns are budgeting to succeed.
In the new year, what will the Fed do to combat a looming threat of inflation? Economics correspondent Chris Farrell told Scott Jagow he predicts the Fed will be much more aggressive than the market thinks.
In honor of the political season, the Marketplace Players have rereleased some classic campaign ads for and against Prop. 111 — which, depending on what you believe, will either give your children candy or roll them off of skyscrapers.
Intensive care units are the biggest money pits in most hospitals. Some medical facilities are turning to electronic ICUs, which save money through big economies of scale. But what are the real costs? Marianne Russ reports.
If you're a voter who picks a candidate by lining up the various policy proposals and ticking them off in a list of pros and cons, commentator Robert Reich has a warning: Take a close look at how your candidate's ideas connect.
Barack Obama may have come in second in New Hampshire's Democratic primary, but he received labor union endorsements this week that could strengthen his standing with Hispanic voters in other states. Dan Grech reports.
Marketplace's Steve Tripoli has noticed an international trend — entrepreneurs in developing economies calling for the rule of law to protect their business interests. He explains to Kai Ryssdal.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Director Phillipe de Montebello, who announced he'll retire at year's end, was instrumental in the popularity of audio guides. And companies profited from their production. But now museums are taking their tours into their own hands. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
President Bush's nine-day trip to the Middle East is underway. He's in Israel and will visit the West Bank on Thursday. Daniel Estrin reports from Jerusalem that the stage has been dramatically set for the President's visit. And at no small cost.
The IRS's National Taxpayer Advocate is telling Congress that the tax service should be required to apologize when it's wrong and to offer a little something to compensate taxpayers for their troubles. John Dimsdale reports.
Even though we may be a long way from the experts deciding when or if we're in a recession, Congress and the White House are working on economic stimulus plans. Doug Elmendorf of the Brookings Institution explains just how that might be done.
British Airways announced plans to fly new routes from New York to either Paris or Brussels. The flights will not stop over in London. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports how business could be in BA's favor.
Signs at this year's Hong Kong Toy Fair are promoting consumer confidence in the products made in China. Scott Jagow talks to correspondent Bill Marcus in Shanghai about whether or not it's working.
Airbus is off to a strong start for the year with its multibillion-dollar Irish plane-leasing company deal. Megan Williams reports the company will still have intense competition as it tries to surpass rival Boeing.
Wal-Mart is often criticized as the destroyer of local economies when it moves to town. But a report by the Minneapolis Fed says Wal-Mart is "no different than any other new business." Bob Moon reports.
The Federal Trade Commission is updating its guidelines for environmental advertising. How would green experts improve the system? Sarah Gardner asked our team of sustainability pros, a.k.a. the "Greenwash Brigade."
After 14 years, the North American Free Trade Agreement is still hotly debated. One fear is that it could lead to an E.U.-like union. Commentator Will Wilkinson says this is a fantasy, but wouldn't be so bad.
China's Minister of Foreign Affairs is visiting South Africa this week, and peacekeeping is one of the main issues at hand. Gretchen Wilson reports what else is on the agenda for South Africa's biggest trading partner.
The victories of Senators Clinton and McCain in the New Hampshire primary could actually result in a slowdown in campaign contributions on either side. Big endorsers want to make sure they back a winner. Danielle Karson reports.
The number of millionaires in China has doubled in just six years to 300,000. And there are now 106 billionaires. For those with a fistful of dollars, there are plenty of people to show them how to spend it. Scott Tong took a trip to a trade fair featuring the finer things.
Noor Islamic Bank, half-owned by the Dubai government, opened its doors this weekend. Its chief executive says he's going on a multibillion-dollar spending spree to corner the market on lending to the world's 1.8 Muslims. Jill Barshay reports.
A nationwide poll has former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in first place among Republican primary voters. Commentator Len Burman says that makes you wonder how many people have heard about his tax plan.
Not only NBC is counting up the losses from the cancellation of the Golden Globes award show. The show, called off due to the Hollywood writers strike, meant a lot of business for others as well. Kai Ryssdal has more.
Demand for video-on-demand may be around the corner, if this year's Consumer Electronics Show is a guide. Comcast, Microsoft and perhaps Apple are involved in video distribution deals. Matthew Garrahan of the Financial Times discusses the details with Kai Ryssdal.
The cable company Comcast made a big splash today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It's getting into the high definition video-on-demand business. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said today the Bush administration may expand a program currently aimed at subprime borrowers to assist those with conventional, or "prime," mortgages. John Dimsdale reports.
The Golden Globes are the latest casualty in the TV and movie writers' strike. The actors have refused to show up, and NBC will be airing a conference announcing the winners. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports the costs at stake.
The World Health Organization is meeting in Ethiopia to work towards ending a critical shortage of health care workers in 57 countries. One possible solution: train those living with HIV to help HIV patients. Sarah Gardner reports.
The $1,000 entry fee for presidential candidates in New Hampshire allows more people to run, and more unique platforms to be heard. Jane Lindholm looks into what some of the smaller candidates have to say.
With bond markets lagging in Europe and the U.S., institutional investors are looking towards Asia. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports how the current credit crunch has helped the Asian bond market grow.
In times of economic hardship, more Argentinians are worshipping Gauchito Gil, the local saint of the poor. Rachel Hopkin explores the legend of the former soldier who robbed from the rich to give to the poor.
Business for banks, brokerage and insurance companies has slid to its lowest rate in more than 16 years. But Megan Williams reports the overall British economy is still strong.
An old election adage about the economy might be making a comeback in the current campaign. John Dimsdale gets the word from voters in New Hampshire about the economic platform they're hoping to support.
The music charts indicate that January is a time for new musical discovery. Less mainstream bands are selling, while typical chart-toppers like Hannah Montana are slumping. Andrea Gardner reports.
President Bush said in a speech today Americans are becoming anxious over economic indicators that are "increasingly mixed." Nancy Marshall Genzer talks with Kai Ryssdal about the president's more sober tone and the proposed credit bailouts percolating on Capitol Hill.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, there's a special emphasis this year on cars and all the fun electronics being built for the road. But Marketplace's Bob Moon found out that plenty of electronic gadgets-on-wheels are already here.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has strict rules banning a school from profiting off a student-athlete's name or image. But those rules could change under a proposal currently being discussed by the organization. Ethan Lindsey reports.
In recent weeks, presidential candidates have shifted their emphasis toward traditional middle-class issues such as health care and the economy. Kai Ryssdal talks with Jim Kessler, founder of the think tank Third Way, about who makes up the middle class today.
