Attention will be on the Belmont Stakes on Saturday as Big Brown tries to capture the Triple Crown. But thoroughbred racing's not what it used to be. Attendance is down and the money wagered has dropped $1 billion in five years. Kai Ryssdal reports.
President Bush leaves Monday for what will probably be his last major trip to Europe. He's expected to get a polite reception at a big U.S.-European summit meeting, where a bitter trade dispute between the two sides might actually be settled. Stephen Beard reports.
As the foreclosure rate continues to climb, social workers across the country are starting to notice a new phenomenon: People moving out of their homes and into RVs and cars. Jennifer Collins reports.
History tells us employment tends to lag in the economic cycle. Jobs return once demand for products and services goes up. But commentator and economist Mark Thoma says factors like technology are throwing a wrench into the jobs equation.
Barack Obama is making the Democratic National Committee live by his campaign's rules — no money from lobbyists or political action committees. Jeremy Hobson reports on how this decision might affect what happens in November.
More than 49,000 jobs were lost in May, according to the latest government report. That pushed the unemployment rate up half a point to 5.5% — the biggest increase since 1986. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Crude topped $139 a barrel at its high today after a Morgan Stanley analyst said he expects it to hit $150 by July 4. Meanwhile, the dollar fell on news the E.U. central bank might hike interest rates. All that got speculators going. John Dimsdale reports.
Knowing the ins and outs of your insurance policy could save you from life's little disasters. Tess talks to MSN Money columnist Liz Pulliam Weston about little-known insurance benefits.
Marriage takes a lot of work. Running a business isn't cake either. So what happens when your life partner is also your business partner? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
In this edition of Getting Personal, Chris and Tess talk about private mortgage insurance, 457s vs. 403(b)s, removing a co-signer and borrowing from a 401(k).
Sometimes it's hard to ask for what you want, but as author Linda Babcock tells Tess, getting over your fear of negotiation could literally mean millions of dollars over the span of your career.
Wallets are being squeezed from all sides, but with an eye for bargains, you can eat healthy and on the cheap. Brendan Newnam dines with L.A.'s 99-Cent Chef.
Poor job numbers and soaring oil prices — not exactly how Wall Street wanted to start the weekend. Economics editor Chris Farrell sets the story straight on the state of the market.
Just in time for summer travel, airlines are tacking on fees for everything from checking a bag to having a snack. Columnist Scott McCartney talks Tess through some of aviation's most common fees.
The economy's current drop has meant a rise in layoffs. Think you're due to get the ax? Andrew Phelps talks to someone who's getting others back on track: the layoff coach.
Aside from being accused of backdating, former Broadcom CEO Henry Nicholas is also facing charges of slipping drugs into business associates' drinks. Nancy Marshall Genzer explores Nicholas's troubled reputation.
The world's largest and oldest contemporary art fair is underway in Switzerland, and despite harder economic times, the art market is actually doing pretty well. Janet Babin tells us who's been coming to the show.
Microsoft walked away from its bid for Yahoo last month, but the story keeps getting more interesting. Renita Jablonski talks to Kara Swisher of The Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital, who's been covering the drama.
New figures from an American think tank show banks in Europe have shouldered the bulk of the losses from the subprime debacle. Stephen Beard looks into why European banks have picked up the larger part of the tab.
A Senate bill which could end up costing big emitters trillions of dollars is back until at least the next session of Congress. Sam Eaton reports why the bill has attracted so many lobbyists and what their hopes are.
A British hedge fund is fighting to control the board of directors of CSX, which owns 21,000 miles of train tracks in the U.S. Jeremy Hobson reports Congress is looking into the matter as an issue of national security.
If Big Brown wins the Belmont Stakes tomorrow, he'll be the first horse in 30 years to win the coveted Triple Crown. But Ashley Milne-Tyte reports some fans are turned off enough by team management to not be excited.
Advertising is a seduction, but commentator and ad-watcher Andrea Gardner says that for all the purchasing power women have, advertisers don't always give a lot of thought to what they want to hear.
A new twist on the global rush for food: investors are going straight to the source and investing in farmland and equipment. Host Bob Moon talks to Diana Henriques of The New York Times about this new trend.
Sky-high inflation and a slew of labor strikes have brought the Vietnamese economy to its knees. Host Bob Moon speaks with Marketplace's Scott Tong in Beijing about Vietnam's economic future.
A GAO report says omissions and litigation could keep the federal government from recouping $53 billion in oil royalties, even as oil companies enjoy record profits. Sarah Gardner explains.
Verizon Wireless is buying rural telephone company Alltel. This will make Verizon the largest U.S. wireless service provider. Dan Grech reports on the effect the deal will have on their millions of combined customers.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced a deal with three major credit rating agencies to overhaul the way they look at mortgage-backed securities. Jill Barshay has the story.
Loans that were traditionally considered safe are beginning to fall into foreclosure. Host Bob Moon gets financial analyst Greg McBride's thoughts on the spread of the subprime mess.
On the heels of the buyout of Bear Stearns by JP Morgan, Bear's private equity firm is expected to announce a spin-off into a separate company. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports JP Morgan will be the new company's biggest investor.
Tim Haft invented a unique approach to working out with an aerobics class in New York City. Now he's trying to figure out how to rope more people in. Brigid Bergin has more on punk roping.
Verizon Wireless and its British partner, Vodafone, are bidding to become the number one cell phone operator in the U.S. Talks are underway to take over Alltel for nearly $30 billion. Stephen Beard has more.
The sluggish economy is having a noticeable effect on mid-range restaurant chains like Bennigans. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports many restaurants need to renegotiate their debt in order to stay in business.
A House panel begins debate today over how to spend $2 billion requested for an International Clean Technology Fund. Jeremy Hobson reports the fund aims to reduce the green house gas emissions of developing countries.
As part of a long hockey tradition, each member of the team that wins the Stanley Cup holds onto the iconic award for a day. Scott Jagow talks to Cup keeper Phil Pritchard about where the object has traveled.
Time Warner Cable is testing out a new price structure for high-speed Internet access in a small town in Texas where the more you download, the more you pay. Janet Babin reports some consumer watchdogs find the model unfair.
Despite continuing infrastructure problems, the government is having trouble funding highway repairs. Steve Henn explains how the rise in gas prices is directly affecting highway improvement projects.
Record gas prices are driving commuters to buses and trains in mass. Commentator Robert Reich says unless we're willing to upgrade our transit systems, those drivers won't find anything on public transit but more frustration.
Technological improvements and better fuel efficiency are making turboprop aircraft look increasingly desirable to cash-strapped airlines. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
7 of the 10 fastest-growing jobs are in health care, but as demographics change, doctors and nurses will need new cultural skills to go along with their medical training. Alyssa Wagner has the story.
A climate change bill making its way through Congress would place a tariff on some foreign-made goods. Host Kai Ryssdal talks to Marketplace's Sam Eaton about the controversial provision.
Monsanto announced plans to create new seeds with higher yields and lower energy and water demands in response to the global food crisis. Sarah Gardner has more.
Bad news in the housing market means a bad quarter for the sale of home accessories at Williams-Sonoma and even the summer wedding season may fail to stop the bleeding. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
High fuel prices have driven United to cut 1,500 jobs and ground 100 of its planes. Jill Barshay explains the lengths airlines have been forced to go to in order to cut costs.
In its latest move to beat rising fuel prices, United says it will fire about 1,500 employees and ground its entire fleet of Boeing B737's. Nancy Marshall Genzer tells us who might get hit hard as a result.
Wall Street may have helped get us into the credit crunch, but many of its employees are paying the price. In this installment of our continuing series, we see how the crunch affected one mortgage-backed securities broker.
An award ceremony held last night honored the best TV ads of the year. But are TV ads still relevant? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports that people aren't against watching TV ads — they're against watching bad TV ads.
The British government wants to increase the amount of wind power generated offshore, with a plan is to generate enough electricity to supply all British households by 2020. Renita Jablonski talks to Stephen Beard in London.
The federal standards for a car roof require it to support one and a half times the weight of the vehicle, and some want that number more than doubled. Jeremy Hobson reports whether this will improve safety.
The price of beef and buns keeps rising, but McDonald's wants to keep items like the double cheeseburger on the Dollar Menu. Dan Grech reports franchisees will absorb costs — and they may not be happy about it.
We may not be in an official recession, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't demand better from our economy. Commentator Will Wilkinson says we should expect more from America and its reputation for progress.
Lehman Brothers may be reporting its first quarterly loss and could seek billions to shore up its books. John Dimsdale looks at what that news could mean for the struggling financial sector.
Make room for science at the dinner table. One San Diego company is grabbing its share of the multibillion-dollar flavor market. Janet Babin visits and takes us on the search for the perfect taste.
From electric cars to no cars at all, from prices on the highway to the price at the airport, energy costs are on your mind. Host Kai Ryssdal has the energy to read your thoughts on our recent coverage.
Since its 2006 opening, millions of Chinese have ridden the Qinghai-Tibet railway into Tibet. Host Kai Ryssdal talks with author Abrahm Lustgarten about the financial and cultural impact of the influx of outsiders on Tibet.
The stage is set in China for the Olympic Games, but with so many companies looking for a slice of the world's attention, it's increasingly difficult to tell who's a sponsor and who's an impostor. Scott Tong reports.
New York's cigarette tax moved up to $2.75 per pack today, a move officials hope will drive as many as 140,000 smokers to quit. Jill Barshay gets some smokers' reactions.
The prognosis appears good for Massachusetts' health insurance mandate. A new report concludes the state is meeting its goal of reducing the number of uninsured citizens. Sarah Gardner reports.
General Motors plans to close four of its North American truck and SUV plants and direct more attention to small cars and hybrids. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports on the dramatic shift.
General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner announced the closing of four truck and SUV plants. Nancy Marshall Genzer explains how jobs will be affected and how the company plans to revive its electric car, the Chevy Volt.
South Africa's economy relies on as many as 5 million foreign nationals. But when mobs attacked these foreigners last month, more than 50,000 of the migrants fled. Gretchen Wilson reports how that could hurt the country.
For the first time in seven years, the government will be selling the one-year T-bill. Jill Barshay reports the government needs money badly enough to bring back old Treasuries and safe, short-term debt.
Lehman Brothers is about to report its first ever quarterly loss. The bank will reportedly need billions of dollars of extra capital to beef up its balance sheet. Stephen Beard has more.
A U.N. summit in Rome is focusing on feeding people in poor countries in the face of rising costs and biofuel. Scott Jagow talks to reporter Megan Williams about how U.N. leaders want to solve the problem.
The presidential primary season wraps up today, and the candidates have raised almost a billion dollars combined. But Steve Henn reports why Obama will be behind in the money race if he heads towards the general election.
Even as violence and poverty wash over their country, some entrepreneurial Kenyans are getting the economy back on its feet with the help of a government program. Sarah Nics has the story.
The Discovery Channel is preparing to unveil 'Planet Green,' a 24-hour, all-environmental cable network. New York Times media reporter Brian Stelter talks with host Bob Moon about the growth of eco-tainment.
How to best police emissions? Economist and commentator Andrew Samwick argues that only a flat tax on carbon will truly cut consumption across the board.
Host Bob Moon talks with Time's style and design editor Kate Betts about how the design industry has changed since Yves Saint Laurent hit the scene half a century ago. The renowned designer died this past weekend.
When the Lebanese government banned scooters and mopeds, the delivery industry was forced to get creative to protect its business. Ben Gilbert reports.
The World Trade Organization has ruled in favor of Brazil in a six-year trade dispute over U.S. cotton subsidies. Dan Grech explains what the ruling means for U.S. growers.
With banks running from risk, it's getting more difficult for students at small colleges to borrow money for their education. Nancy Marshall Genzer outlines options for students in the rapidly shrinking student loan market.
With no relief in sight from high gas prices, more Americans are turning to public transit for their commutes. Sam Eaton reports on how transit systems are preparing for new riders.
Banks are reportedly passing over some community colleges loans, making it difficult for those students to pay. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports why these banks may be shooting themselves in the foot.
Solar power is often left out of the renewable energy equation because of its high cost. But as production catches up, the industry is bracing for a glut. Sam Eaton reports the price of solar panels may drop as much as 40 percent.
Kentucky isn't known for its wine, but the state is touting more and more vintners as small farmers turn away from tobacco. Gabe Bullard has more on how in a few years, vineyards in Kentucky are expected to grow.
It might seem strange, but a quick online search for cars will reveal that an SUV is less expensive these days than an economy car. Scott Jagow talks to USA Today travel columnist Bill McGee about the rising price of smaller cars.
Some prominent African-Americans and representatives from major U.S. companies have journeyed to Africa for a summit to help lift the world's poorest continent. Gretchen Wilson reports on the meeting's educational benefits.
