Jonathan Clements, author of more than 1,000 columns for the Wall Street Journal, is hanging up his pen, but not before sitting down with Tess to talk about the state of personal finance.
With most Americans saving less than 1% of their pay, how are low-income people supposed to save? Peter Granitz introduces us to the individual development account.
In this edition of Getting Personal, Chris and Tess talk about the Thrift Savings Plan, money merge accounts, 529 plans and choosing a financial services firm.
On this week's a Day in the Work Life, we learn about the joys — and dangers — of a life lived among superheroes with comic store manager Brandon Zern.
You've got tax questions, the IRS has answers and we get you connected. We revisit a February segment where Frank Keith of the IRS answered your refund questions.
How much of our desire to spend, spend, spend is willpower and how much is hardwired? Tess submits herself to scientists at Stanford to try to discover the answer.
Oh how the fortunes of the former Fed chair have changed. Economics editor Chris Farrell sets the story straight on the policies of the last chairman of the Fed, Alan Greenspan.
If private mortgage insurance is required in order for homebuyers to put less than 20% down, how come it isn't saving us from the subprime mess? Jill Barshay reports.
An estimated 300,000 Palestinians have found their way to Lebanon, where they make up 10% of the population. Many have trouble finding jobs and buying property, so they're left to find economic advantages where they can. Don Duncan reports.
Skyrocketing food prices around the globe are such a concern they're on the agenda for the World Bank's annual meeting this weekend. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a managing director for the Bank. She talks with Kai Ryssdal about what can be done.
The days of lavish spending with the corporate credit card may be gone with the down economy. Companies are cutting back, and they just got a new way of policing the plastic. Lisa Napoli reports.
Some of the nation's biggest drug and medical companies say they'll disclose how much money they're giving doctors and health advocacy groups. It's no coincidence Congress is considering rules about improper influences in medical care. John Dimsdale reports.
A federal court is considering a case that would overturn Watergate-era laws limiting fundraising and spending by political groups. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports that the court case is a legacy of the 2004 presidential election.
West Coast fisheries managers have voted to cancel the Chinook salmon fishing season due to historic lows in the fish's population. They're also hoping the crisis will get public officials' attention. Sarah Gardner reports.
Given the state of the economy, maybe it shouldn't have been such a shock when General Electric reported a 6% drop in first quarter profits. But it was. And if there's one thing Wall Street doesn't like it's surprises. Bob Moon reports.
With the number of spawning salmon down as much as 93% on the West Coast, a federal agency has called off the salmon fishing season. The action is unprecedented. Dan Grech reports.
It can get pretty sweaty at a hip-hop show by one of Island Def Jam's acts. What's a smelly teen to do? Use Proctor & Gamble's hip-hop deodorant, TAG, a joint endeavor with Def Jam records. Jill Barshay reports.
It's tough for not-so-famous musicians — tough to be heard and tough to make money. Aspiring artists are turning to garages, basements and living rooms, and some have found that can pay off. Lisa Chow reports.
The financial future for most Italians is the key issue in the upcoming election for who will lead the nation. Megan Williams gets a prediction on which candidate has the edge.
It's tax time. Most of us wince when we see how much tax the government has taken. But imagine if you don't get any benefits from paying taxes. A lot of illegal immigrants are in that position. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
After 12 years, U.K. authorities have reversed a previous ruling and decided that Marks & Spencer chocolate-covered tea cakes are not cookies, but cakes. Cakes are not taxed. Stephen Beard explains.
Free traders and business groups say they're concerned that yesterday's House delay of a pending free trade agreement with Colombia hurts our ability to negotiate future trade deals. John Dimsdale reports from Washington.
Most of us are going to get tax rebate checks as a result of the stimulus package approved a couple of months ago. But, there's a catch or two. Marketplace Money host Tess Vigeland has the details.
The nation's hospitals are struggling to care for low-income patients. Proposed solutions usually involve more money or more doctors. But some medical centers are trying a different approach — more lawyers. Jeff Tyler reports.
The Senate has passed its version of the housing rescue bill. Commentator Jeff Birnbaum says the bipartisan plan includes a surprisingly large, $6 billion in tax credits to help home builders.
Canada is enforcing a never-before-used law to block an American company from buying a Canadian firm that has developed advanced satellite technology. Jeremy Hobson reports the $1.3 billion offer couldn't overcome Ottawa's worries about national security.
The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Group of 7 countries meet this week. The topic at hand is one we're all far too familar with — the U.S. credit crunch. Marketplace's Stephen Beard in London talks with Kai Ryssdal about the world view.
Much of America's trade gap with China has been tied to the yuan holding at 8 to the dollar. The U.S. has pushed China to lower that imbalance and today the yuan fell below 7 to the dollar for the first time. But Alisa Roth reports it's a case of being careful what you ask for.
American Airlines has now canceled 2,500 flights over the past 72 hours as it tries to get right with an FAA safety audit. The company's CEO apologized today, and some in Congress are blaming the FAA. Kai Ryssdal has more.
Not so eager to make a deal with Microsoft, Yahoo has been talking with Google, NewsCorp and AOL about various partnerships. Lisa Napoli reports that there's a big reason for all this back and forth.
For the first time, the Transportation Security Administration will require screening of all 250 million packages that travel on passenger planes. Dan Grech explains.
Today in Washington, a House Energy subcommittee will hear how the Environmental Protection Agency plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this country. John Dimsdale reports.
Wal-Mart says it wants its Chinese suppliers to go green and the retail giant plans to meet with roughly a thousand of those suppliers later this year. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports
A report from the World Bank says the high cost of food is threatening to undo recent gains in Africa in the fight against poverty and malnutrition. Alisa Roth has more.
The good old-fashioned radio is about to get upstaged again, this time by your cell phone. But it's for a good cause. Marketplace's Lisa Napoli explains what the future holds.
Today we wrap up our series Housing Madness, on the fallout from the subprime meltdown. The FBI says mortgage fraud could hit record highs this year. James Doran reports.
Today, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank make their interest rate decisions. The speculation is England will cut — and the ECB will not. Stephen Beard tells us why.
Every year more advertising moves online and away from newspapers. And now there's a website that's aiming to bury newspapers' business in death notices. Curt Nickisch reports.
Best estimates are that about 15% to 20% of the world's economy happens off the books. Journalist Mischa Glenny takes a tour of the underground economy in his new book, "McMafia." He talks about it with Kai Ryssdal.
The cost of the Iraq war is estimated at between $1 trillion and $3 trillion. But commentator Robert Reich says as big as that number is right now, it's going to hurt us more in the future.
A new website is posting the financial disclosure records that federal government employees in senior positions are required to fill out. Jeremy Hobson reports.
A new survey says most middle-class Americans are worse off financially today than they were four years ago. Kai Ryssdal talks with David Leonhardt of The New York Times about the squeeze middle-class families are feeling.
American Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights today for safety checks on its planes, as part of the FAA's recent crackdown on airline safety. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports on how much these cancellations will cost airlines and travelers.
Unconfirmed reports say Citigroup is close to selling $12 billion in loans, at a sizable loss, that it wants to get off its books. How much are bad loans worth and why would anyone buy them? Bob Moon reports.
American Airlines became the latest Tuesday to cancel flights to inspect wiring so it complies with FAA regulations — not for safety issues. Airlines are losing money from those canceled flights. Dan Grech reports.
A new survey from Forrester Research predicts online sales will climb 17 percent this year. That's despite the current economic climate. That spells trouble for the old brick and mortar. How do stores intend to fight back? By raising prices! Lisa Napoli explains.
A bank customer tells Amy Scott that after his bank closed and his second bank had to be bailed out, he has trouble trusting banks in general. He's doing OK now, but only because he trusts the FDIC.
Once again, Boeing is announcing a delay in delivery of the popular Dreamliner airbus. At least one airline is already talking about compensation for the delays. Stephen Beard discusses the repercussions.
Latin American and other regional free trade opponents are meeting in Havana, Cuba, today to air concerns about free trade agreements with the U.S. Alisa Roth has more.
Homeowners who took on subprime loans and can't make the adjusted high payments are facing foreclosures. But commentator Will Wilkinson says there's a bright side for other homeowners and those looking to buy.
The International Monetary Fund reported today that the credit crisis in the U.S. is affecting mortgage and corporate debt markets around the world. Jeremy Hobson looks into what's going on.
At least 15% of Americans in every state are clinically obese, an estimate that is worrying not only doctors, but employers as well. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports on findings released today by the Conference Board.
Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has embarked on a public relations campaign as criticism of his interest rate cutting spree of earlier this decade has mounted. He says he has no regrets about any of his policies. Kai Ryssdal has more.
You know that information you try so hard to protect, such as your Social Security and credit card numbers? A report says the going price for that personal data is really cheap. Dan Grech reports.
Americans' grocery bills are heading up at the fastest rate in almost 20 years, which poses a problem for supermarkets with razor-thin profit margins. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
American businesspersons living in China usually have some adapting to do when they first get there. One of the most curious things is the thin line between workers' personal and professional lives. Bill Marcus reports.
Rising gas and food prices and the credit crunch may be making it harder for Americans to make ends meet. But economist Chris Ruhm says a tougher economy may also be improving the health of the population as a whole. He explains to Kai Ryssdal.
Morgan Stanley wrote off $9.5 billion worth of subprime mortgages last quarter, so you might expect its executives to get a grilling at the annual shareholders meeting. Nope. Didn't happen. Michelle Leder of Footnoted.org discusses why that is.
As the credit squeeze gets tighter every day, students and parents watching the headlines might be worrying about how they'll pay for college. Now, a nonprofit heavily involved in student loans has filed for bankruptcy. Amy Scott reports.
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker told a Senate committee today that the country is beginning to pay in small ways for its own reconstruction. But, as John Dimsdale reports, it has a long, long way to go.
Internet security company Symantec just released a report that found a person's full identity profile can be purchased in the underground economy for as little as $1. Marketplace's Dan Grech reports.
Where are you planning to go on your next vacation? Orlando? Florida? How about Namibia? Gretchen Wilson reports why Namibia is becoming a great place to visit — and not just for Brad Pitt and Anjolena Jolie.
The Chinese have asked major British and American public relations firms to pitch it ideas on how to spin their way out of the Tibet crisis. Bill Marcus reports from Shanghai.
The Energy Department's summer driving forecast, released today, says demand is expected to be lower this summer than last. But gas prices are expected to average above $3.60 a gallon. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Shareholders' gambles in the mortgage market didn't turn out so hot this year. Today, Morgan Stanley kicks off a season of shareholder meetings. Jeremy Hobson reports on what to expect.
We continue with our series Housing Madness, a look at the fall-out from the sub-prime meltdown. Small privately-run mortgage brokerages are disappearing fast. From WCPN in Cleveland, Mhari Saito reports.
Protests around the Olympic torch have focused the world's attention on Tibet, but discontent is rippling through other parts of China, too. In Xinjiang province, Muslim Uighurs are also asking for religious freedom and economic opportunity. Scott Tong reports.
Whoever is declared the winner of Zimbabwe's presidential election will have his hands full dealing with the nation's shattered economy. Kai Ryssdal talks with economist Tony Hawkins in Harare, Zimbabwe, about the job ahead.
A growing movement is calling for a national service program that would require younger Americans to spend a year in the military or community service. But so far, says commentator and potential national service draftee Ben Casnocha, proponents are sending mixed messages.
Job prospects for ex-cons are pretty dim, especially when the Internet makes it easy to dig up a person's past. But in Kansas City, Mo., some business owners are willing to give an ex-offender a second chance. Sylvia Maria Gross reports.
A bartender and former high school teacher has won a fiction-writing contest sponsored by Amazon.com and Penguin Books. The competition is part of Amazon's promotion of its new self-publishing business. Lisa Napoli reports.
Microsoft is giving Yahoo's management three weeks to accept its takeover bid before it goes straight to shareholders. But Yahoo's CEO says Microsoft just needs to make a better offer. Sam Eaton reports.
Troubled mortgage lender Washington Mutual is close to nailing down $5 billion from a private equity firm. And, Switzerland's Novartis is spending $39 billion for a majority stake in the U.S. eye-care company Alcon. Jill Barshay reports.
The U.S. has sent Colombia billions in aid and offers sweetheart trade terms on exports such as flowers and coffee. But when it comes to approving a trade deal, the Democrats in Congress stand in the way.
Computer security specialists and those who need them are at a conference in San Francisco today to check out the latest in cyber-security. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
USA Today has jumped into the world of social networking by inviting readers to post their own photos and even start a blog on USAToday.com. Lenora Chu reports.
The Pentagon is expected this week to ask Congress for more than $100 million to pay for the Iraq war through September. John Dimsdale learns that the real cost is actually higher.
