Nothing says risky business like working with a saw all day. This week, we meet someone who loves the lumber he saws (and contrary to popular belief, his car is not actually made out of wood).
It's going to be the showdown of the summer: the new iPhone 2.0 versus the BlackBerry Bold. Tess Vigeland talks to CNET.com editor Bonnie Cha about who has better odds of winning the battle.
This week, Tess Vigeland and economics editor Chris Farrell give advice to a woman selling her rental property, and another woman who's not sure if her mortgage loan is too good to be true.
A lay-off can be a pretty shocking thing, but take things one step at a time. Tess Vigeland talks to personal finance expert Liz Pulliam Weston about logical things you can do to prepare for a job cut.
Are we ever going to see oil prices go down again? How about wheat and corn? Economics editor Chris Farrell looks into commodities markets and why speculations — and bubbles — might be a good thing.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the rule that states can exempt their bonds from taxation. What effect does this have on investors? David Wyss, chief economist of Standard and Poor's, explains more.
Are you up on the RBI? We're not talking baseball, but the Recession Buy Indicator — and what it's saying might make investors happy. Tess Vigeland talks to creator Norman Fosback about what's important to focus on.
OK, so you made a few bad decisions and now you're stuck with a debt you're can't quite climb out of yet. That doesn't mean debt collectors can call you at bedtime. Ashley Milne-Tyte tells us how to fight back.
A new musical invention for the masses called Beamz is following the popularity of the video games Rock Band and Guitar Hero. Sharper Image has just released the new laser music maker. Kai Ryssdal tries it out with G4's Kevin Pereira.
When a curious Gen Y-er can do almost anything he wants, why would he subject himself to a whole lot of number crunching and cost-benefit analyses? Commentator and economics grad student Ben Bushong says these days economics is a lot more than that.
During his 10 years as Britain's finance chief, Gordon Brown could do almost no wrong. Now, as prime minister, his reputation for economic competence is in tatters. And even some of his supporters are calling for his head. Stephen Beard reports.
Nonprofit aid organizations and governments usually take the lead in providing assistance in times of crisis, but these days they're increasingly being helped by businesses, big and small. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
When Mickey D's announced it was introducing specialty coffees, observers forecast it would suck up a good portion of the market. But the fast-food chain's coffee sales haven't gotten the caffeinated jolt many expected. Jeff Tyler reports.
To sniff out possible safety problems with drugs and medical devices, the Food and Drug Administration is going to start mining millions of medical records. Not yours, but maybe the ones your hospital has. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
The subprime crisis has sent banks and brokers fleeing from mortgage-debt investment that, for many, has turned into huge losses. Now a highly-respected bond manager is betting he'll be able to cash in — with the government's help. Bob Moon reports.
Think having bad credit is rough? There are some 50 million people in the U.S. who have no credit. But that doesn't mean they can't get on the record. Amy Scott tells us how one person did and how you can, too.
Gap reported sales were down for the 15th straight quarter, but profits are up 40 percent. Janet Babin reports why the company made money, why it's bleeding customers and what it could do to turn things around.
This week, oil executives have been telling Congress they can't drill in the U.S. because their hands are tied. But Bob Moon reports the same execs have been making excuses not to use existing permits for domestic drilling.
The makers of Britain's Axon claim the car can get over 80 mpg, it has lower carbon emissions and a cheaper price tag than Toyota's Prius. And it's not a hybrid. Stephen Beard explores the secrets to the car's efficiency.
A new study says one million fewer cars will be sold this year. Higher commodity prices are also making it more expensive for automakers to make cars. Jill Barshay reports the result could be vehicles made with less materials.
The NBA's one-and-done rule forbids drafting picks straight from high school before they do a year of college. Renita Jablonski talks to sports writer Donnell Alexander about problems arising from the rule.
Many of the world's oil fields are aging and need more investment, or we risk a global supply shortage. But why aren't those fields getting enough investment? Scott Jagow asks reporter Carola Hoyos, who covers the oil industry.
Running a church can be like maintaining a small business. To keep clergy prepared, some universities have been offering MBA-like programs in church management. Jill Barshay has more.
Iran and Venezuela are teaming up to launch a development bank, further cementing the countries' political alliance. Dan Grech reports what the two countries have in common despite different views.
In his new book, Jeff Sharlet, a research scholar at New York University's Center for Religion and Media, writes about the fundamentalist Christian group at the center of U.S. economic evangelism. He talks with Kai Ryssdal.
This holiday weekend Americans are going to be taking to the roads and the skies in large numbers. But some of us are getting a little more green-minded about how we travel for vacation. Christy George reports.
The Labor Department has set new rules to streamline the visa process for temporary foreign workers. But the federal helping hand comes too late for small businesses needing summer employees. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
What drives an otherwise bright and ambitious young person to become an economist and subject himself to a life of deciphering regression analyses and using words like "resource allocation"? Faress Bhuiyan says, for him, it's personal.
Rescue and rebuilding efforts from the China earthquake have prompted such a strong response from volunteers and donors in the country that many are wondering whether a new interest in private philanthropy will develop out of the tragedy. Jamila Trindle reports.
To get the subprime mess off its books, the Swiss bank UBS is selling $15.5 billion-worth of mortgage-backed securities to private investment firm BlackRock. And it's lending BlackRock $11 billion to do it. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Just a month ago Ford executives were predicting a return to profitability by the end of this year. But the company now says it's going to have to cut production, and it isn't sure when it might return to black ink. Alisa Roth reports.
The International Energy Agency says operating oil fields around the globe are pumping as much black gold as they can. Yet, there are numerous fields untapped. John Dimsdale reports on why oil companies haven't drilled into them.
Florida just signed a law requiring insurance companies to offer cheap plans without all the extras. But Dan Grech reports the sometimes bare-boned policies can mean you get what you pay for.
A shortage of coal in China has boosted demand for diesel, which some power plants in the country use as an energy substitute. Renita Jablonski talks to Scott Tong in Shanghai about the global effect of China's demand.
Aside from borrowers and lenders, neighborhoods are also feeling the subprime burn. Steve Henn reports Congress is considering a new bill to let local governments buy abandoned sites to save neighborhood property values.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is looking into how skyrocketing oil is affecting this country's national security. John Dimsdale reports the U.S. economy depends on unfriendly governments for more oil.
A lack of cash has forced many consumers to charge food and gas on their credit cards, building a dangerous personal debt. Scott Jagow talks to economics professor Steven Fazzari about where this could lead.
Dissatisfied customers in several states have filed class-action lawsuits against cell phone companies for contract cancellation fees. Jeff Tyler reports to protect themselves, the cell phone industry wants immunity from the FCC.
A new study surveying 400 of the world's biggest oil fields says producing over 100 million barrels a day will be a big challenge in the future. Scott Jagow talks to Stephen Beard about other pessimistic projections from the report.
Circulation and ad revenues aren't just declining at newspapers, they're plummeting. Thousands of reporters and editors have lost their jobs. So how are papers surviving? Alisa Roth reports.
A computer glitch at the Moody's credit-rating service reportedly gave a complicated kind of mortgage-backed security the coveted AAA rating when it should have been rated much lower. And Moody's kept it there for a year. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
More than three-quarters of companies now offer flex-time as a way to keep workers happy while maintaining the corporate bottom line. That's an increase of 10% from a decade ago, a study says. Nancy Marshall Genzer has more.
Why do some countries' economies grow and others don't? A World Bank commission says that, among other things, the ones that grow invest in their infrastructure. Commentator Robert Reich says that's what the United States ought to do.
The energy bill approved by the House includes a specific credit for biodiesel, which is promoted as a cleaner way to wean us off petroleum products. But there's a loophole that's giving the biodiesel subsidy a bad rap. Sarah Gardner reports.
Shortages of rice in Asia have forced Japan and several other big producers of the grain to reconsider their recent export bans. But will it help ease global markets? Sam Eaton reports.
Reacting to higher fuel prices, American Airlines is retiring dozens of less fuel-efficient planes, laying off thousands of workers and charging passengers to check bags. Kai Ryssdal talks with former airline executive Howard Putnam about airlines' future.
The price of oil hit $133 a barrel today. What we want to know is who's pocketing the extra money we're all paying to fill our tanks? Bob Moon tried to find the answer.
A Senate committee will be asking oil executives directly today why the price of oil per barrel has risen so high. Dan Grech reports that congressional representatives may be answered with not much more than a shrug.
If you're looking for a new investment venture, how about $4,500 for a pair of rare Nikes? Stephen Hoffman reports it's not uncommon for some collectors to spend thousands of dollars on high-value kicks.
Congress votes today on a bill that would renew billions of dollars in tax breaks for clean energy. Sam Eaton reports the money is needed, despite a record amount of investments from the private sector.
A slow economy means a drop in retail sales. Jeff Tyler reports consumers are putting off buying that extra blouse or sport jacket if they can, but shoppers at high-end stores will help that market do slightly better.
Italian Prime Minister Silvia Berlusconi is holding a cabinet meeting in Naples to show concern for the garbage problem. Scott Jagow talks to reporter Megan Williams about what he can do to help the problem.
China and Myanmar's death tolls from disasters continue to rise, thanks partially to a lack of shelter. Will Wilkinson says the poverty that exposes people to nature's dangers requires a human hand.
We're starting to get a better explanation of why banks invested in those atrocious mortgage-backed securities. Stephen Beard reports a glitch with triple-A ratings could have been partially responsible.
Automotive writer Dan Neil and Kai Ryssdal go for a quiet spin around downtown L.A. in one of the newest electric automobiles, the ZENN (Zero Emissions No Noise).
Lenders are selling off thousands of houses they've foreclosed on for pennies on the dollar. And now the neighborhoods where those homes are located are crumbling. Mhari Saito reports from Cleveland.
This week we're asking three future economists a simple question. Why take up a discipline that's been called the dismal science? For Andra Ghent it's because in a world full of idealists, economists are the hard-boiled truth-tellers.
Cell-phone sales have fallen for the first time in a couple of years. The number of new customers signing up has taken a double-digit dive, too. Market saturation is one reason. The slowing economy is another. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
John McCain and the Republican Party are going to take on the eventual Democratic winner with a lot less cash than the GOP is used to. Politico writer Jeanne Cummings shares the details with Kai Ryssdal.
The Labor Department says businesses paid more for goods at the wholesale level last month — and that's not counting food and energy. If businesses are paying higher prices for everything else, eventually the rest of us will, too. John Dimsdale reports.
Copper prices are booming, so thieves are boosting anything they can sell to scrap yards. Among other things they're tearing apart infrastructure, leaving cities and states with big repair bills when their budgets are already bleak. Jeff Tyler reports.
Congress may be close to finishing a new housing bailout bill which would insure $300 billion more for mortgage refinancing and be kinder to taxpayers by making lenders like Freddie Mac cover defaults. Dan Grech has more.
Scores of Lebanese citizens continue to leave or plan to leave the country after the latest wave of violence. Renita Jablonski talks to journalist Ben Gilbert in Beirut about the country's continuing trend of emigration.
The Environmental Defense Fund is using a new report to try and re-inspire businesses to make efforts to go green. Sarah Gardner has more on the small moves some companies are making that are saving them millions.
The E.U. is unveiling its latest proposals for farm subsidy reform. Stephen Beard reports the plan is to redirect and not reduce funds, and also ending the practice of paying farmers to leave land fallow.
While congressional negotiators build a federal budget for 2009, a group of bipartisan budget experts are launching a campaign to wean the government off what they call a debt addiction. John Dimsdale reports.
Some investors gather to eat and talk about growing their investments. A giving circle gathers to discuss who should get money being given away. Heidi Pickman reports from one circle in Palo Alto, California.
Every year, a survey comes out on airline customer satisfaction — and for the most part, there isn't any this year. Alisa Roth reports what else it would take to make airline passengers happier.
In the last five years, the amount of money invested into commodities has grown 20-fold. Now, Congress will explore what effect that's having on consumers and if lawmakers need to take action. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Working at home may seem like an ideal convenience for a professional, but it can also get kind of lonely. Alex Goldmark looked into an event that aims to beat the freelancer blues by putting a bunch of them together.
Businesses have always put a lot of money and effort into political campaigns. A business lobbying group in Orlando, Fla., is going one step further. It's training local businesspeople to be politicians. Judith Smelser reports.
Millions of migrant workers from China's earthquake-ravaged Sichuan province who left home to work in cities to the east now must decide what to do. Should they return home to help or keep working and just send money? Scott Tong reports.
Millions of Zimbabwe residents have fled to South Africa to escape the turmoil in their country. But their influx has touched off brutal riots in Johannesburg. Reporter Gretchen Wilson is there and describes the scene.
The movie 'Speed Racer' was supposed to be a blockbuster. Warner Bros. put $250 million into making and marketing it. But so far it's earned less than $30 million at the box office. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports on the economics of a flop.
The Conference Board's report of 10 leading economic indicators is forecasting an economy that will show some minimal growth in the next several months. Meantime, a survey of economists is predicting anemic growth. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Microsoft isn't taking No for an answer in its desire for at least a part of Yahoo. And Yahoo says it's willing to listen. So what could it be? Search? Advertising? Jeff Tyler reports on some of the possibilities.
Like gas, the price of milk is at about $4 a gallon, and the U.S. government suspects price fixing might be to blame. Dan Grech reports why the Department of Agriculture thinks the Dairy Farmers of America may be spoiling themselves.
Donations of up to $1.3 billion have been pouring in for survivors of China's earthquakes. Many of those giving are from the country's urban class and students. Lisa Chow reports it may also show something grander.
Starting today, eBay's feedback forum will bar sellers from posting negative or neutral comments about buyers. Jill Barshay reports some are nervous about letting negative tirades go unanswered.
Two senior executives from British defense company BAE were searched and subpoenaed on a corruption case before being allowed to enter the U.S. Stephen Beard explains why the news may be embarrassing for the U.K. government.
Upping the competitive ante on sites like WedMD, Time Incorporated is relaunching Health.com. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports the new site will try to gain an edge by giving users the ability to compare hospitals and doctors.
