Next week is the final week for the public to comment on new disclosure rules designed to expose the fees that sneak thousands from your 401k. Tess talks to Matthew Hutcheson for more.
As the government debates health care reform, people are trying to find ways to cope. Tess revisits David Lazarus to hear how he's adapting his life and his budget to diabetes.
An earlier passport requirement on flights in and out of the U.S. has been applied to land and sea travel as well. Tess gets details and options from the State Department's Cy Ferenchak.
Trusts allow people to pass wealth on to loved ones, but a new kind of trust also lets people attach some strings to the money — as Stacey Vanek-Smith discovered with her parents.
In this edition of Getting Personal, Chris and Tess talk about investing a windfall, adding TIPS to your portfolio, opening a Roth alongside a SEP and estimating your taxes.
With this year's New York Fashion Week kicking off in a slowing economy, retailers have a few more wrinkles to contend with in figuring out what customers will buy. Jill Barshay reports.
The Pentagon announced a new military cooperation pact with Kazakhstan as it tries to bring its military up to NATO standards. Jeff Tyler reports on America's motivation to help the oil-rich country.
Mexico is home to the biggest football audience outside the U.S. and Canada, and now the NFL is trying out creative ways to market the sport there. Claudine LoMonaco reports.
Churches that have invited their members to big-screen viewings of the Super Bowl are being called for a penalty by the National Football League. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Once heralded as a completely open environment not ruled by corporate giants, the Net may now be dominated by two forces, Microsoft-Yahoo and Google. Lisa Napoli reports.
January was the first time in more than four years that the economy ended a month with fewer jobs than it started. Bob Moon reports on which industries were hit the worst.
Economics editor Chris Farrell pulls out his crystal ball and sees a return to frugality. Chris sets the story straight on the end of the "borrow and spend" economy.
Big changes are coming over the air, but more than a third of TV-owning households don't know it yet. Lisa Napoli explains everything you need to know about the digital TV transition.
Retirees cast half the votes in Florida's primary, but more young people are moving to the state. As John Dimsdale reports, they bring different opinions about the economy than their elders.
A Microsoft-Yahoo merger could mean strong competition for Google. Doug Krizner talks to Marketplace Internet and technology report Lisa Napoli about the effects of the deal and what could happen next.
Members of the African Union are considering a confederation of the continent into something similar to the E.U. Gretchen Wilson reports whether the idea is a realistic one with 53 countries on board.
Super Bowl advertisers will be targeting the 40-percent female audience this Sunday. Andrea Gardner reports the move comes as the entertainment writers' strike has shut down a lot of female-oriented programming.
Microsoft has made a $44 billion takeover bid for Yahoo. The merger would offer Yahoo the chance to compete with a certain search engine that seems to be dominating online advertising. Steve Henn has the story.
A new Beatles-themed hotel opens today in Liverpool. Hoping to appeal to the group's global fanbase, The Hard Days Night Hotel has a John Lennon suite and 9-foot statues of the band members outside. Alex McRae has more.
Aluminum giant Alcoa and a Chinese partner have bought up large stake in Britain's Rio Tinto. The buyers say they don't want to purchase the whole company. Stephen Beard reports the move is mostly strategic.
At the Midem music trade fair in Cannes, France, industry leaders gathered to discuss ways to keep business alive in the Internet age. Doug Krizner talks to Billboard's Bill Werde, who just got back from the conference.
While market speculators are having a high time with high oil prices, they could actually end up hurting profit margins for the refining operations of the major oil companies. Bob Moon reports investors are asking about big oil's growth potential.
Scott Jagow asked Glenn Hubbard, Republican presidential candidate Governor Mitt Romney's economic adviser, about what Romney plans to do for the economy.
It's a good bet the economy's going to be a major topic of discussion during the Democratic presidential debate tonight in Los Angeles. Kai Ryssdal talks with Sen. Hillary Clinton's economic adviser Gene Sperling about her proposals.
Will Leitch, author of "God Save The Fan," talks with Kai Ryssdal about how sports leagues take their fans for granted — and the fans keep coming back.
The world's largest bond insurer, MBIA, posted a quarterly loss of $2.3 billion largely due to fallout from mortgage-backed securities. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports on the impacts on government projects funded by municipal bond markets.
Drug maker Eli Lilly is facing allegations of marketing its top-selling drug, Zyprexa, intended to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, for other ailments. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
The plain pages of U.S. passports are now being replaced with pages displaying Americana and quotes of famous presidents. Commentator and travel writer Karrie Jacobs says the new look is not something she's proud to have in hand.
Bond insurer MBIA's fourth-quarter report shows a loss of over $2 billion. Steve Henn looks into why a triple-A credit rating is important for bond insurance, and how the loss of such a rating could affect you.
Mervyn King has been reappointed governor of the Bank of England. The reappointment seemed unlikely, as King was widely attacked last year for his take on the subprime crisis. Stephen Beard reports.
What are Senator Barack Obama's plans for the U.S. economy? Doug Krizner speaks with Professor Austan Goolsbee, the Democratic presidential candidate's chief economic adviser.
Scott Jagow talks to French Hill, senior adviser for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, about what Huckabee is proposing to do for the economy.
The second of two Democrats who sat on the Securities and Exchange Commission is leaving today. Nancy Marshall Genzer looks into whether the SEC will still have the same bite or turn into a kinder, gentler agency.
A new rule out today requires anyone crossing the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico to provide a passport or drivers license along with a birth certificate. Dan Grech explores how this might affect tourism.
Although the Fed has cut its interest rate a point and a quarter within a week, it probably won't do anything to help people about to lose their homes. Jeff Tyler tells us why.
A new study out from George Mason University reveals Republicans and Democrats are about equal when it comes to acting green. Sarah Gardner reports what constitutes popular eco-actions across both parties.
With warming polar regions endangering habitats for polar bears and penguins, scientists and others are experimenting with ways to protect the animals from extinction. Janet Babin reports.
Facing record drought, Georgia's environmental officials are limiting most outdoor uses of water, including filling swimming pools. Atlanta reporter Lateef Mungin talks with Kai Ryssdal about how Georgia's businesses are taking the news.
With John Edwards and Rudy Guiliani dropping out of the presidential race, the remaining campaigns scramble to woo newly unaffiliated donors. Jeremy Hobson reports.
If we can't stop global warming, can we adapt to it? Some ideas seem far out — like generating a giant cloud or launching a huge umbrella to block the rays of the sun. Nate DiMeo reports the proposals are risky to try, but not trying may be risky as well.
Investors seek London Inter Bank Offering Rate floor to guarantee interest payment no matter how much the Federal Reserve cuts rates. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports on how this helps investors and undermines the Fed.
Each of the presidential candidates is trying to convince voters he or she will be the best choice to deal with difficult economic times. To find out how Sen. John McCain might perform, Kai Ryssdal talked with his senior economic adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin.
With GDP numbers at 0.6% annual growth, the Fed must carefully balance slow growth with inflation to avoid stagflation. Bob Moon talks to economist Joel Naroff about what the Fed is up against.
Allstate Insurance says quarterly profits dropped 37%, mostly due to the California wildfires. Commentator and former National Park Service Director Roger Kennedy says unless governments and taxpayers change their ways, we'll be hearing the same story year after year.
Whether or not the Federal Reserve announces another interest rate cut today, the effects of a cut wouldn't be seen for awhile. Steve Henn reports we haven't even begun to see the effects of past rate actions yet.
Ghana's cocoa farmers are suffering from a poverty cycle, with the global price of cocoa struggling and production waning. But Cadbury wants to put money towards teaching farmers to yield more crops. Gretchen Wilson reports.
Responding to subprime problems and the recent bank run from Northern Rock, the British government wants to allow the Bank of England to bail out failing banks in secret. Details would be public later. Stephen Beard reports.
Exit polls for the Florida primary showed many voters were influenced by a faltering economy. John Dimsdale found out who voters liked in Hollywood, Florida and what made them choose their candidates.
A provision in the economic stimulus bill calls for a tax deduction on the cost of new machinery. But commentator Robert Reich says businesses won't invest in production equipment when there's no demand for their product.
As smoking continues to decline each year in the U.S., Phillip Morris USA and parent company Altria are feeling pressure to expand their product line. Janet Babin reports what Altria is doing to be less dependent on cigarettes.
Societe Generale is busy dealing with rumors of buyouts from bigger banks and the rogue trader speaking to the press about the scandal. Stephen Beard talks to Scott Jagow about what the bank is up against.
Professional sports is a cut-throat business. So it's not unusual for one team to poach top talent from a rival. What you don't see everyday is an owner trying to recruit a rival fan. Jeff Tyler reports.
In the Netherlands, 60% of the population lives below sea level, thanks to dikes and pumps. But global warming is making it harder to keep up. Rico Gagliano reports how a new kind of water defense is changing the Dutch landscape and the way some farmers do business.
Your blue jeans may be a good indicator of just how global the economy is. Rachel Louise Snyder follows tells the story of a pair of pants in the global marketplace in her book "Fugitive Denim." She talks with Kai Ryssdal.
This presidential election season featured several states moving up their primary dates. Commentator Geoffrey Andersen says there's nothing wrong with early primaries — as long as the right states go first.
French prosecutors on the case of the trader who cost the second-largest bank in France more than $7 billion say he's a trading addict. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports the bank might have saved itself some money if its managers had just sent him on vacation.
Two prominent experiments with universal health care in California and Massachusets have recently run into trouble. Still, some presidential candidates say they will be able to get coverage for all. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Consumer confidence is down but orders for durable goods — expensive stuff like refrigerators and computers — jumped more than 5% last month. Which way is this economy going? Our senior business correspondent Bob Moon tries to sort it out with Kai Ryssdal.
European leaders are meeting today talk about the global economy and unrest in the financial markets. European correspondent Stephen Beard looks over the issues with Scott Jagow, including a need for more transparency.
After 119 years in the Wall Street area of Lower Manhattan, Rupert Murdoch is planning to relocate the Wall Street Journal to Midtown. Jeremy Hobson reports the move doesn't seem to bother people as much as changes to the paper.
Take tanking home prices, add high property taxes and you've got the housing market in Florida. John Dimsdale went to Fort Lauderdale to talk to voters on the issue as the state holds its Republican primary today.
A study out today suggests what a candidate looks like has a lot to do with their chances of getting elected. Scott Jagow talks to study head Michael Lewis about how appearance factors into the campaign.
President Bush's economic stimulus plan heads to the Senate tomorrow, and senators are already working to expand the bill. Steve Henn reports add-ons like road resurfacing projects and unemployment benefits will be in debate.
Because Mexico's avocado-growing season ends as the U.S. season starts, demand for the fruit is created year round. Dan Grech reports the U.S. views Mexico as a trading partner in avocados rather than competition.
In his last State of the Union address, President Bush said he wanted to wean Washington, D.C. off of earmarks, or pet spending projects. But Steve Henn reports some analysts are skeptical.
Global warming's rising oceans seriously threaten the Netherlands, where 60% of its population lives below sea level. But some Dutch are floating new options for going with the flow. Rico Gagliano explores their climate-proof homes.
Dennis M. Bushnell, chief scientist at NASA's Langley Research Center, talks with Marketplace's Sam Eaton about Plan B visions of living with climate change.
Conservative projections say rising seas from climate change would displace hundreds of millions of people and cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next century. Sam Eaton found a scientist with a plan to capitalize on melting icecaps for the sake of everyone.
China's government is promising, by the end of the month, to put in place tough new rules for companies wanting to do business online. The prospect has investors a bit leery. Our Shanghai correspondent Scott Tong talks with Kai Ryssdal about the plan.
As private money spent on private institutions continues to grow, public money is vanishing — leaving our infrastructure to collapse. Commentator Benjamin Barber says it's a trend we should reverse now.
Marketplace begins a series of interviews today with presidential candidates' economic advisers. Kai Ryssdal talks with economist David Malpass about the views of his candidate, Republican Rudy Giuliani.
If you've been to the movies lately, you may have noticed the show before the show just keeps getting longer. Big advertisers are moving from the small screen to the big one. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
New home sales in 2007 fell to their lowest level in almost 13 years — despite big price cuts by homebuilders, according to the Commerce Department. Bob Moon looks at whether there's reason to believe 2008 home sales will be different.
In his State of the Union address, President Bush will take aim at something very nearly untouchable — legislative earmarks. But not until next fiscal year. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
With climate change reducing reliable rainfall in Australia, many cities are tapping the ocean as a water source. And they're trying to do it without making a bad problem worse. Nate Dimeo reports. First in a series.
What do Americans want to hear from tonight's State of the Union address? Steve Henn surveyed commuters near the White House this morning and asked their views on the economy and President Bush's stimulus package.
Power outages in South Africa are causing gold mine shutdowns nationwide, which is raising gold's cost. Each day without steady power is costing the country's mining industry $27 million. Gretchen Wilson reports.
Prosecutors of Jerome Kerviel say the Societe General trader could face fraud charges, but Kerviel's defense claims the bank used him as a way to divert attention away from subprime issues. Stephen Beard reports.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to charge a fee to drive through Midtown Manhattan quickly divided the city. This week, the state's recommendations for an alternative come in. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
