Social networking websites are opening their systems up to outside developers' applications. The results range from fun diversions to serious business tools. Ankitha Bharadwaj reports.
Dividing up the dinner bill may be good manners, but according to commentator Dan Ariely, having one person pick up the tab is good behavioral economics.
The head of the FCC is calling for a sanction of Internet provider Comcast for restricting users from sharing materials such as movies and music. Jeremy Hobson reports.
The Supreme Court has told the Environmental Protection Agency it has the authority to impose regulations on emissions with the Clean Air Act. But, under White House pressure, the agency announced a different plan. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have their hands in 70% of all the mortgages in this country. What do their troubles mean for mortgage holders? John Dimsdale reports.
Rumors and conflicting reports are flying about what the government may do to prop up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Marketplace's Bob Moon explains the mixed signals that have investors worried about another crisis in the mortgage meltdown.
With oil prices climbing through the roof, hanging up the car keys has become more popular. But high energy prices affect us many more places than just the gas tank. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Kiplinger's John Ventura continues his discussion with host Tess Vigeland about planning for the end with a conversation about medical power of attorney and living wills.
We present another take on the tough business of planning for the end. This week, we hear from Isabella Vidrialis, a clinical social worker at a hospice in Los Angeles.
In these tough economic times, investors are running from stocks to commodities. This enthusiasm has bred a whole new crop of commodities just waiting to be uncorked. Caitlan Carroll reports.
Credit cards that offer perks are enticing consumers left and right. But who's really gets the rewards — you or the credit card company? Jeff Tyler reports.
Checking the balance on your retirement account is more cringeworthy every day. Economics editor Chris Farrell sets the story straight on the sinking market.
The cost of oil continued its rise this week. Where's the tipping point? Host Tess Vigeland asks oil analyst Tom Kloza how high the price of a barrel of oil will have to go before demand lessens.
The Screen Actors Guild rejected the latest contract offer from producers last night. Renita Jablonski talks about the latest negotiations with Variety's Stuart Levine, who says we're still not going to see an actors' strike.
New Speedo and NASA-developed body suits are making it easier to break world swimming records. Scott Jagow talks about the suits with sports commentator and record-holding swimmer Diana Nyad, who explains how the suits work.
Stocks for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have lost half their value on Wall Street today and many seem to think a government takeover is on the way. Alisa Roth explores how the companies might save themselves.
The last big mailing of economic stimulus checks is scheduled for today, and the extra economic boost the checks provided is projected to fade in August. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports what the outcome could be for Christmas.
After keeping the foreign brewer at bay, Anheuser-Busch is warming up to takeover bids from Stella Artois producer InBev. Kyle James reports the potential deal would create the world's largest brewer.
A Canadian company plans to build a pipeline underground that can pump millions of tons of C02 a year, which would capture and store the carbon dioxide emissions. Sam Eaton reports why it may or may not work.
Banks report their latest profits starting next week and investors are notably skeptical. Bob Moon reports Wall Streeters will be taking a good, hard look at what's going on in the next few weeks.
It turns out a lot of the visitors to American websites are browsing from abroad, forcing companies to try to find a way to target ads to their readers outside the U.S. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
While many are tempted to use the Olympic Games as an opportunity to criticize China's human rights record, commentator Ilya Shapiro says it's time to take the politics out of this sporting event.
High gas prices have small town residents skipping the commute to warehouse stores and opting to shop closer to home. Host Kai Ryssdal asks Jim Lottes about the increase in business at his Missouri grocery store.
General Electric announced plans to sell its consumer and industrial divisions on the heels of its May announcement that it was looking to unload its appliance business. Amy Scott reports.
Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac's stocks plunged after rumors the government might be prepping a bail-out for the struggling mortgage companies. John Dimsdale reports.
The Fed Chairman and Treasury Secretary were on Capitol Hill asking Congress for stronger regulatory powers to prevent another large investment bank from collapsing. Host Kai Ryssdal runs through their remarks.
Dow Chemical is paying more than $15 billion for Rohm and Haas, a maker of specialty chemical products. Alisa Roth has more details about the deal and why Dow considers it "game-changing" for the company.
The Food and Drug Administration is expected to recommend stronger warnings today about epilepsy drugs and the risk of suicide for people who take them. These drugs are big sellers, with $10 billion in sales last year. John Dimsdale reports.
French energy company has decided not to invest in a project to develop natural gas fields in Iran. Renita Jablonski talks to Financial Times Chief Energy Correspondent Carola Hoyos about what kind of message this sends.
There are roughly 13 million 19 to 29-year-olds in the U.S. without health insurance, and insurance companies are trying to reach out to them through hip marketing. But Devin Dwyer reports many of them will still say no.
Employers hired workers in May at the slowest pace in about five years, but the unemployment hasn't moved that much. Scott Jagow talks to economics correspondent Chris Farrell, who doesn't get the job numbers.
European labor unions are angry with the Pentagon for tearing up a huge contract with plane maker Airbus. Stephen Beard reports the U.S. government broke the $35 billion deal so a Seattle company could bid.
The hotel industry is struggling in the current economy, but some are doing better than others depending on their business model. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports where occupancy rates are right now.
John McCain still trails Barack Obama in fundraising, but may find help from an array of independent groups. Host Kai Ryssdal talks with Politico's Jeanne Cummings about where the campaigns will turn for money in this election.
The way the government handles a natural disaster can clearly have political ramifications, but commentator David Frum argues that's not an excuse to let politicians manage disaster relief.
Thanks to a licensing deal between stock photo agency Getty Images and popular photo sharing site Flickr, you could soon cash in on those vacation snapshots. Jeremy Hobson reports.
One of the biggest reasons Afghanistan's revival can't get traction is the poor roads that make getting from place to place a struggle. Greg Warner reports.
The SEC is revamping the way credit rating agencies hand out scores after several gave high marks to risky securities. Host Kai Ryssdal asks SEC Chairman Christopher Cox about efforts to rein in raters.
Coca-Cola and Cargill are throwing their hats into the sweetener ring with Truvia, an all-natural substitute made from a plant 300 times sweeter than sugar. Alisa Roth reports.
Apple's latest iPhone launches Friday, but the real buzz is around a software update that will give iPhone users access to third party applications. Janet Babin reports.
The no-calorie sweetener Truvia hits the markets today, and Coca-cola is already planning to produce diet sodas with it in the future. Alisa Roth has more on how other beverage makers may or may not use the sugar alternative.
Despite oil rising on concerns over Iran's missile testing, it still saw a significant drop yesterday of about $5 a barrel. Stephen Beard reports the price could drop even further once Iran anxiety passes.
Media titans are in Idaho this week for the 25th Sun Valley conference, but the same old big media isn't making money like it used to. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports it may be time for media Web sites to shine.
The U.S. is the world's largest food donor, but because the food needs to come from U.S. suppliers and transport, a great deal of the aid ends up wasted. Sam Eaton reports some are calling for White House reforms.
A group of sovereign wealth funds gathered today in Singapore to address peoples' concerns that government-backed investments are politically motivated. John Dimsdale reports why these funds pose a dilemma for the U.S.
Some doctors are threatening to stop seeing Medicare patients if Congress goes through with cutting doctors fees more than 10 percent. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports both sides of the debate have taken to the TV airwaves.
Congress has just extended unemployment benefits 13 additional weeks, but most people don't qualify for benefits these days. Commentator Robert Reich says the guidelines to qualify for unemployment insurance should be loosened.
French art collectors don't have much of an appetite for contemporary works, so the government is giving buyers incentives to spend their money in the modern art market. John Laurenson reports.
With just 30 days until the opening ceremonies, there are still a lot of cranes working over Beijing. Host Kai Ryssdal asks Marketplace's Lisa Chow how much work is left to prepare the city for the big event.
Landowners who've allowed energy companies to drill on their property often got the short end of the stick, but one man's seminars have helped them land better deals. Ann Murray reports.
Skyrocketing oil prices are just the latest force pushing the scramble for cheap fuel, a search that commentator and economic historian John Steele Gordon says is as old as humanity itself.
As the U.S. cuts its plans for clean coal plants, the G8 nations are giving the technology a vote of confidence. But can clean coal deliver results in time to curb global warming? Sam Eaton reports.
Despite tough talk, U.S. exports to Iran grew tenfold under the Bush Administration. The majority of these exports were cigarettes, but other goods have made their way to Tehran. Jeremy Hobson reports.
The SEC has released a report on the agencies that gave high marks to subprime securities. Host Kai Ryssdal asks Marketplace's Amy Scott about the agency's latest efforts to clean up the ratings business.
To protect borrowers from the kind of subprime lending practices that led to the mortgage crisis, the Fed is planning new regulations. Host Kai Ryssdal shares Chairman Ben Bernanke's remarks.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said this morning that the Fed will introduce new mortgage lending rules, especially targeting to high-cost lending. Alisa Roth reports why the Fed wants more power.
The Olympics are exactly one month away, and Beijing is working hard to clear out its dirty skies for the games. One key is shutting down polluting factories in nearby areas. Scott Tong reports from one city with a factory-closing deadline.
The British Chambers of Commerce found a sharp fall in sales, orders and cash flow in the second quarter. Stephen Beard reports the group says Britain might now be at real risk of recession.
Votes of TV and radio artists will be tallied on a new contract with studios. The performers' union AFTRA is hopeful about negotiations, but SAG members aren't so sure. Rico Gagliano reports.
