A lot happened in 2008, and one man oversaw it all. Meet Father Time, who is the father of time . . . for one year. Wonder what that pays anyway? (If we're talking the year that just past, probably not that much . . . )
Cash is usually a pretty motivating incentive when you want to get someone to listen to you. But does it work when parents try it on their kids? Kenny Malone explores whether this is a successful method of behavioral control.
With credit card companies charging out the nose in crisis time, it's hard to decide whether you're getting a deal. Tess Vigeland susses through the better options with Chris Fichera of Consumer Reports magazine.
As the markets begin the new year, investors want to know: Is there any chance for redemption? Tess Vigeland turns to Vanguard founder Jack Bogle to gauge our chances of a positive trading year in 2009.
If you're done drinking for a while, why not turn your extra libations into fuel? Rachel Dornhelm explores a machine that turns alcohol and sugar waste into food for your car, and whether it can save you money over the long haul.
Money might not grow on trees, but apparently it's all over the streets. Sally Herships reports on a New York family that's building a nest egg with small change they find just lying around.
For the first Straight Story of 2009, Tess Vigeland and Chris Farrell explore their personal and financial goals for the new year. Among the top priorities: health and organization — including Chris's office.
Tess Vigeland and Chris Farrell help a mom and her successful 8-year-old performer son invest his wealth, explain what a "stretch or legacy" annuity is, and decide the best place to put $30,000 in sweepstakes winnings.
In the latest of our "Here's What I'm Doing" series, we hear from Ben Valore-Caplan, managing partner of an investment firm, who had a feeling that it was time to strike out on his own.
Jobs with private equity firms are highly coveted positions in finance. But getting inside their secretive world can be difficult for outsiders. Amy Scott takes us inside with a woman who claims to be a part of it.
Several factors contributed to the 2008 financial meltdown, but one of the main culprits may have been regulation, or lack thereof. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Steve Henn about the deregulatory trend and the push for more regulation that is expected to come.
Kai Ryssdal asks Andy Brooks of T. Rowe Price and Felix Salmon of Portfolio magazine whether there have been some good things from the 2008 financial crisis, and how long it might take to see some benefits from them.
Ever notice that there are a lot of acronyms involved in finance and business? TARP. FDIC. LIBOR. Well, there's a good reason for them. Kai Ryssdal speaks with author and blogger Leslie Savan about the financial alphabet soup.
The slumping U.S. steel industry is likely to be a major beneficiary of Barack Obama's stimulus plan, which focuses on improving infrastructure. Some in the industry even want a "buy American" clause in the bill. Jeremy Hobson reports.
President-elect Barack Obama's stimulus plan could cost nearly $800 billion. Some Republicans worry that money could be wasted on pork barrel projects and say it's time to curb spending. But is their call for fiscal conservatism coming at the right time? Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
The credit markets may be stiff, but there's always money somewhere for mergers. And though they may not be the high-priced ventures of 2008, companies can still benefit from deals in the new year. Jill Barshay reports.
Almost all of the 800-plus tunnels in the Gaza strip are closed, controlling the influx of weapons to Hamas but also cutting off Palestinians to basic needs like cooking oil. Daniel Estrin reports humanitarian aid is coming in.
Investors looking for opportunity in a distressed market can find it in cheap company debt. But buyer beware: Something put that company into trouble to begin with, and it's wise to understand what. Mitchell Hartman reports.
President-elect Barack Obama will meet with congressional leaders next week to discuss a $700 billion stimulus plan, and interested parties lining up range the gamut from zoos to steelmakers. Steve Henn reports.
The poor economy is dimming the lights on a number of Broadway productions as theaters struggle to fill seats. Meanwhile, the surviving shows are trying to carry on with smaller budgets. Andrea Gardner reports.
Cash-strapped donors are using stricter guidelines to justify charitable giving, particularly to nonprofits. That has some trying to assess how effective these organizations really are. Sean Powers reports.
Chinese factory output is at a record low as consumers try to save money. Some experts predict this is the start of a worsening situation, but recovery could start as soon as fall. Scott Tong reports.
In the midst of recession, many churches and church charity programs stand to lose billions. But history shows that churches have stay power. Kate Archer Kent reports from a struggling church in Houston.
Weatherization is a big focus of President-elect Obama, but many don't know much about it. Sam Eaton reports simple fixes like sealing drafty windows can save you up to 30 percent on your energy bill.
How much did you pay for that set of golf clubs you never used? Don't be ashamed, you're not alone. Eve Troeh reports that folks are coming out of the closet to tell tales of money wasted — and to find help.
Demographers are watching to see if there will be decline in the U.S. birth rate in 2009, what with the recession and all. Rico Gagliano looked into it.
Tess Vigeland checks in with John and Vicki Glicken of Ohio, who talked with Marketplace in 2008 as they were struggling with an adjustable-rate mortgage that had led them into bankruptcy.
The financial collapse in the past year began with the mortgage meltdown. Tess Vigeland talks with Nic Retsinas of Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies about the mess we've been through and where we go from here.
In this economy, it seems like everything is on sale — homes, clothes, stocks, cars. What could be wrong with that, right? Lots of things. In this installment of the Marketplace Decoder, Stacey Vanek-Smith explains deflation.
Many of America's least-paid workers got a raise today as the minimum wage went up in about a dozen states. But some observers say the changes will hurt more than they will help. Jeff Tyler reports.
The European single currency is 10 years old today. It's in pretty good shape, in spite of the global financial crisis. There are now more euros in circulation than U.S. dollars. But its beginnings were far from auspicious. Stephen Beard reports.
You know the little green gecko in the Geiko commercial? Well its real-life model has an amazing ability to attach its toes to any surface, then easily peel them off. Janet Babin reports on the commercial promise of that gecko talent.
Fifty years ago Fidel Castro took control of Cuba, and the island nation's relationship with the U.S. has been dicey ever since. President Bush took a hard stance on Cuba, but with a new administration coming in, could a change in policy follow? Dan Grech reports.
The Major League Baseball Network launches today and will be available in 50 million homes. But will the startup cable channel be a home run or strike out, especially in these economic times? Jeremy Hobson reports.
Belt tightening, belt tightening, belt tightening. With all the talk about belt tightening as a way to save money, Sean Cole wondered what effect the economy is having on real belts, like leather ones.
Lots of people may have made a resolution to get to the gym in 2009. But in these tough times, is the health club industry going to suffer from the recession? Andrea Gardner reports.
The European single currency — the euro — is 10 years old today. Compared with the dollar it is in decent shape. But it wasn't always that way. From the Marketplace European desk, Stephen Beard reports.
The practice of short selling has been blamed for the collapse of several major companies' shares during the financial crisis. What is short selling? Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains.
It's an understatement to point out that this has been a year for the history books — politically and, of course, economically. And for commentator Robert Reich, personally.
In August we reported on a New York family that's built a sizable savings from money found on the ground. Kai Ryssdal checked in with Scott Humphrey and his 5-year-old daughter to find out where their nest egg stands now.
We've told you how credit default swaps caused trouble for the economy, which are tricky instruments traded in the over-the-counter, or OTC, market. In this Marketplace Decoder, Rico Gagliano explains.
A lot of European countries have been hit especially hard by the financial crisis. Stephen Beard, Marketplace's man in London, takes a look at how those countries are faring and how they plan to react.
Viacom is threatening to pull its 19 stations from Time Warner Cable tonight — including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and MTV — if the cable company doesn't pay more for the programming. Sam Eaton reports
You're probably tired of hearing that the economy's taken its biggest hits since the Great Depression. And that's true. But our Senior Business Correspondent Bob Moon reminds us that we were in pretty good shape coming into this whole thing.
None of the experts are doing a particularly good job of predicting how the economy is going to turn out next year. So we sent Mitchell Hartman to check out what astrology has to say about our economic fate.
President-elect Barack Obama is working on his own stimulus package. Steve Chiotakis talks to Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genzer about where the new administration plans to put bailout money and when.
The Securities Investor Protection Corporation may be able to help some Madoff victims, with payments up to $500,000. Yet to be determined is whether investors whose money was directed to Madoff through other funds are eligible for SIPC claims. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Viacom wants more money from Time Warner Cable, saying its programming brings in 20% of the cable company's audience. Viacom says it will pull its channels and launch a heavy ad campaign if Time Warner doesn't comply. Steve Henn reports.
Bernard Madoff's victims should know soon how much money they can recover from his scheme. Meanwhile, investors are suing hedge funds for putting their money into his fund, and that could prompt more regulation. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Champagne sales are down as tapped drinkers cut spending on luxury items. But flat demand has caused a buyers market for bubbly as steep discounts are on the rise. Jean-Luc Renault reports.
Experts have varying opinions on where the housing market is going to go in 2009. We asked our Senior Business Correspondent Bob Moon to weigh in. He tells Scott Jagow how real estate might recover in the new year.
The New York Stock Exchange will announce the new numbers for its emergency circuit breakers Wednesday. So, what's a circuit breaker exactly? Jeremy Hobson explains in the latest Decoder.
By 2022, the government says the U.S. must produce 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel. But the ethanol mandate could be disastrous for your lawnmowers, boats, and small engines. Peter O'Dowd reports.
Prices for home heating oil looked like they were only going to continue rising this past summer, so many customers locked in winter contracts. Now, heating oil's dropped to less than $2.50. Kai Ryssdal speaks with oil retailer Peter Bourne about how his customers are feeling and how his business is doing.
Companies may have thought buying back their own stock was a good idea a few years ago. But as Mitchell Hartman reports, those companies that used borrowed money to finance those buybacks are in trouble now.
You may have heard that the automobile industry got into a bit of trouble this year. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Alisa Roth about what went on in Detroit and what's yet to come.
Lots of stores offered deep discounts on merchandise to lure shoppers this holiday season. But who will pay the price for those door-busting sales — retailers or the companies who made the merchandise? Janet Babin reports.
The latest housing statistics are out, and they're pretty dismal. The Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller housing index dropped 18 percent in October from a year ago, a record fall. It's the 27th month in a row the housing index has posted losses. Sarah Gardner reports.
GMAC, the financial arm of General Motors, received a $6 billion bailout from the Treasury Department. Now General Motors is offering 5-year, no-interest loans to prospective car buyers with low credit scores in hopes of boosting sales. But as Bob Moon reports, the government bailout could cause trouble for General Motors down the road.
Investment in alternative energy has stabilized despite the current recession. But investors are worried "clean tech" could be in trouble next year. Sam Eaton reports all eyes are on the Obama administration.
Russian natural gas giant Gazprom thrived in the first half of the year, but fell sharply from July on. Stephen Beard reports Gazprom's year ahead is looking grim.
As the auto industry looks ahead towards the next 12 months, even strong foreign companies have to readjust their original profit forecasts. Steve Chiotakis reviews carmakers' 2009 outlook with Marketplace's Alisa Roth.
As the year ends, doctors' offices are filling up with patients cramming in last-minute visits after they've met their annual deductible. Danielle Karson reports how this affects the quality of patient care.
Since GMAC was allowed to become a stand-alone bank, the Bush administration has included it in the bank bailout. Steve Henn explains how the finance arm of General Motors started expanding service beyond car loans.
The start of a new year is a great time to adopt a positive attitude, and no one needs that boost now more than consumers. But building up consumer confidence again could take awhile. Bob Moon reports 2009 will be a year of recovery.
A few months ago, some analysts were claiming China's buying power could save the world. Today, prospects don't seem as cheerful. Scott Jagow talks to Scott Tong in Shanghai about the outlook for China next year.
The National Galleries of Scotland are hoping to raise enough money to keep a painting by Renaissance master Titian from being taken back by its owner. Problem is, the painting has a hefty price tag. Christopher Werth reports.
Business at Mort's Imports in Ohio has remained pretty stagnant over the past few months. But owner Morton McArthur tells Kai Ryssdal he remains optimistic that his used car dealership will be able to survive the economic downturn.
Hedge funds seem to make headlines when things go bad on a trading day. But what are these funds and how do they really affect the stock market? Mitchell Hartman explains the term in our latest Marketplace Decoder.
The economic crisis is ruining retirement plans for some people. But commentator Tim Eavenson thinks he'll be OK if he never retires, and he will happily exchange retirement funds for other benefits.
Watching the stock market spiral downward this year was pretty tough. As the market went south, so did our retirement savings, college funds and other investments. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Robert Reich about those losses and how we're coping with them.
The 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show promises the latest innovations in technological gadgets and products. But as Jeremy Hobson reports, attendance is expected to be much lower than in years past because retailers who sell electronics are being hit hard by the recession.
Dow Chemical was set on a joint venture with a state-owned Kuwaiti company. But after the deal fell through, so did the company's shares. As Janet Babin reports, without a merger, another Dow Chemical deal may be at risk.
Israeli air strikes continue to hit Gaza. Over the weekend, 40 underground tunnels on the Egyptian border were bombed. As Daniel Estrin reports, some smugglers stand to make good money off of the crisis.
President-elect Barack Obama has promised to make alternative energy a leading priority. What will that entail? Steve Chiotakis talks to Marketplace's Sam Eaton about renewable energy's potential economic role.
Israeli air strikes continue to hit Gaza, and over the weekend 40 underground tunnels on the Egyptian border were bombed. Daniel Estrin reports some smugglers stand to make good money off of the crisis.
Four decades is an impressive span for any TV show. But as Sesame Street turns 40, perhaps one of its most impressive attributes is that it still sells big, even in a recession. Sam Eaton explores why.
Oil prices may be falling, but Wall Street investors aren't jumping at any opportunities in the oil market like they once were. Part of the reason is that prices are unrealistically low. Bob Moon reports.
A poll conducted in part by The Financial Times shows most continental Europeans believe the euro will be the world's number one currency before 2014. Stephen Beard reports the poll speaks of the decline of the dollar.
With all we've been through in the markets this past year, who really wants to do an annual review? This week, we're concentrating on the future. Scott Jagow looks at what could be ahead with Fortune Magazine's Allan Sloan.
Advertisers aren't expected to spend a lot in the forthcoming year, but with the money they do spend they hope to get consumers spending again. Andrea Gardner reports one approach is to use what worked in the presidential election.
Dow Chemical has been planning a multibillion-dollar joint venture with Kuwait, but plummeting oil prices have led Kuwaitis to back out of the deal. Steve Henn reports on the impact that Kuwait's decision will have on Dow.
