For collectors, keeping their avocations going amid a recession can be the best of times and the worst of times. It just depends what they're looking for. Rico Gagliano reports.
Tess Vigeland brings back three personal finance bloggers she talked to last fall to hear how they and their followers are now faring as economic conditions have worsened.
Tess Vigeland and Chris Farrell answer listener questions on why student loans are "good debt," whether to draw on savings or take Social Security, how to get a pro athlete's taxes in shape, and more.
The Obama administration says the economic stimulus plan's price tag will be worth the cost — and then some — because of something called the "multiplier effect." What does that mean? Sally Herships explains.
It's important to learn good personal finance habits early in life. Tess Vigeland talks with Laura Levine of the JumpStart Coalition and New Jersey State Senator Steven Sweeney about programs for teaching those skills to high school students.
Marketplace's economics editor Chris Farrell is hopping mad about the United States income tax system. Dramatically simplifying the tax code, he argues, could be an easy fix.
Millions of out-of-work Americans are finding many factors can alter their unemployment benefits — if they get any at all. Christine Vestal, a writer covering unemployment, talks with Tess Vigeland about the different scenarios.
More than 6 million people are getting unemployment benefits nationwide, the most in at least 40 years. But the numbers only tell so much. Reporter Joel Rose talked to three first-time recipients about what unemployment means for them.
Americans are having a tough time paying off their debts in this recession. That's good news for debt collection call centers in India, where business is booming. Raymond Thibodeaux reports.
President Obama is pressing Congress to approve his stimulus package. As lawmakers debate the plan, commentator Susan Lee says one argument they should consider is that a stimulus won't work.
Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer co-authored President Obama's plan for economic recovery. Kai Ryssdal discusses the stimulus and its prospects for jump-starting the economy with Romer.
Amid all the job losses, there's a lot of talk about how to ignite consumers spending. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Fortune Magazine editor Leigh Gallagher and Businessweek's chief economist Mike Mandel about whether we should be concerned about deflation as consumers wait for prices to fall to buy again.
As demand for goods has dropped, so too has the amount of pollution produced by manufacturing plants. In European carbon markets, pollution permits are down nearly 70%. Now some are questioning if carbon markets are worth the price to reduce global emissions. Sam Eaton reports.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will announce on Monday new plans to cope with the financial crisis and how the remaining bailout funds from TARP will be distributed. John Dimsdale offers a preview of what to expect.
In this recession, layoffs are mounting. And 82% of the workers who have been let go from their jobs are men. How are these layoffs changing family dynamics? Steve Henn reports.
The latest unemployment numbers are dismal. Almost 600,000 jobs were lost last month. The new unemployment rate is 7.6%. With job losses mounting, will more companies add to the pile up?
British Airways experienced a major loss the last three quarters of 2008. To cope, it is freezing staff pay. Erik Campano reports the airliner's actions could lead to more troubles for other European airlines.
The economy lost a whopping 598,000 jobs in January, more than economists were predicting. Renita Jablonski talks to Bernard Baumohl with The Economic Outlook Group about why the holidays may have helped the spike.
The Grammys haven't done so well in recent years, but the list of performers for the award ceremony this year shows a valiant effort to win audiences back. Steve Chiotakis talks to Bill Werde from Billboard Magazine.
Investment adviser Gordon Grigg is accused of bilking clients out of millions. Some of that money came by using part of the TARP fund as a lure. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports how Grigg turned government into a marketing tool.
Auto sales in China are expected to come out ahead of U.S. sales by 20 percent. This may not stay the case in the long term, but China will still be top priority for automakers worldwide. Scott Tong reports.
The Senate will vote today on a $920 billion version of the stimulus package. Once that happens, the House and Senate will work on a reconciliation between the two versions. John Dimsdale reports what may be cut first.
The number of helicopter ambulances has doubled over a decade, but there are also many more crashes. The high cost of missions and no compensation for new safety equipment are big concerns. Jill Barshay reports.
Up to 30 states may run out of reserves for unemployment benefits in the next month. In a throwback to the early 1980's, they may soon need to borrow from the federal government. Janet Babin reports.
A report reviewing the bailout found taxpayers overpaid when they invested in troubled financial institutions. In contrast, private firms did very well. Dan Grech explores where the Treasury's losses varied.
The U.S. textile industry was on the brink of collapse a few years ago when Chinese imports were flooding the market. But subsidies in the current Farm Bill have put the industry a cut above foreign competitors. Leoneda Inge reports.
There is a lot of blame to go around for the U.S. recession. Some people are pointing their fingers at China. Bob Moon speaks with Marketplace reporter Scott Tong about why.
Consumer spending is down, leaving stores with a lot of unsold inventory. So retailers are unloading those items to companies that specialize in liquidating merchandise, and business for inventory cleaners is booming. Joel Rose reports.
President Obama's stimulus package is full of lots of proposals to boost our economy. Commentator R. Glenn Hubbard says one cost-effective and easy way to lead us to recovery is lowering mortgage rates.
North Dakota's Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad says he's not satisfied with the current proposals in the stimulus package. Bob Moon talks with the Senate Budget Committee chairman about what he thinks it's missing.
Mr. Clean is getting a second job. Procter & Gamble is planning to expand its Mr. Clean Car Wash franchise nationwide. But is it that a good idea in this recession? Mitchell Hartman reports.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average includes a number of companies whose stocks haven't exactly been stable — Bank of America and General Motors to name a couple. With all that volatility, is it really an accurate representation of the overall market? Jeremy Hobson reports.
Students at Australian universities rely on the government to pay for their education, and alumni aren't rushing to donate. To up alumni support, one university is taking cues from Yale. Naomi Lewin reports.
Stores are releasing January retail sales figures, and retailers are concerned about the impact huge bargains have had on consumer psyches. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports what other factors were also involved.
The Bank of England has slashed its rates down to a new low of 1 percent. The bank says the British economy urgently needs the cheaper credit, but not everyone is cheering the reduction. Stephen Beard reports.
Today lawmakers watered down the controversial "Buy America" provision, which America's foreign trade partners took as good news. Scott Tong explores the business opportunities this could provide for China.
The Senate passed a new amendment granting a $15,000 tax credit on the purchase of a primary house. The perk would cost $19 billion, ballooning the total stimulus to $920 billion. Dan Grech reports.
Today's financial crisis has driven economists to look back at what happened in the 1930's. Renita Jablonski talks to economics correspondent Chris Farrell about what's different today and what we got from the New Deal.
Ice is melting rapidly off the northern coast of Alaska, which is drawing the attention of the commercial fishing industry. But U.S. government is expected to step in and stop it before it starts. Sarah Gardner reports.
Farmers in Michigan are stretching their growing season — and their profits — into winter by using a relatively simple set-up called a hoop house. Lou Blouin reports.
There are lots of questions about whether President Obama's stimulus is the right fix for our economy right now or if it's intended for recovery in the long run. Diane Lim Rogers discusses the short and long-term of the stimulus with Kai Ryssdal.
The Senate is debating President Obama's stimulus package, and many lawmakers are adding to the price tag. Commentator David Frum thinks we should enlist top economists to tell us what we're spending — or wasting — our money on.
Robotics and other technologies have had a big impact on how war is waged. Kai Ryssdal speaks with warfare expert P.W. Singer about how technology is revolutionizing war on and off the battlefield.
http://www.livenation.com/ and http://www.ticketmaster.com/
If reported merger talks between Live Nation and Ticketmaster come to fruition, the new company could centralize power in the music industry and potentially drown out competition. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
The Treasury Department is bringing back the 7-year note to help with the rising deficit. It's also considering creating other unusual maturities. Why? Dan Grech reports.
President Obama has capped pay at $500,000 for CEOs of companies that receive bailout money from the government. But there's less to the salary caps than you might think. John Dimsdale reports.
Fraud investigator Harry Markopolos blasted the Securities and Exchange Commission before a House subcommittee for not heeding his warnings about Bernard Madoff for a decade. Now lawmakers are considering what to do about the regulatory agency. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Today a House committee will explore the challenge small businesses face to cover their employees. Some reformers want to mandate employers provide insurance or pay into a government fund. Mitchell Hartman reports.
Investors in Hong Kong are planning a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against London-based bank HSBC over the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Stephen Beard explains why the British bank is a good target and why more lawsuits may follow.
The economic stimulus package is working its way through the Senate to the president's desk. Once signed, who will be the first to receive aid? John Dimsdale reports low-income Americans may be among the first recipients.
President Obama's nomination of former Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle to his cabinet has some raising questions about Obama's new ethics rules. Tamara Keith explores the line dividing government officials and lobbyists.
President Obama unveiled new salary caps today for companies receiving bailout money. The administration is looking at a $500,000 cap to prevent CEOs from riding "high on the hog." Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
You might think the stress of a bad economy would lead more people to smoke, but historically financial downturns have made people smoke less. Dan Grech reports why the recession encourages smoking cessation.
Republicans and some Democrats want more tax cuts and less spending in the stimulus package. It's a popular position, but commentator Robert Reich says the focus needs to be on what's good for the economy as a whole.
With consumer credit-card debt climbing, banks are shifting marketing strategies to get their plastic in the hands of more financially stable customers. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
When it comes to spending money, some of us prefer the immediacy of cash, others the cushion of credit. That cushion is what credit card companies count on. But behavioral economist Dan Ariely tells Kai Ryssdal it skews our perception of spending.
Kai Ryssdal reviews your comments on education, bar mitzvahs, mixed martial arts, our remarks about the Post Office, and an erroneous quote from "The Godfather."
President Obama is trying to turn his successful online political campaign into a movement. He's sent millions of e-mails to supporters, asking them to gather and talk about the economic stimulus bill in Congress. Steve Henn reports.
Avon announced higher fourth-quarter profits today. And its Super Bowl ad seeking sales reps caught a lot of attention. Is a recession the right time to start a home-based business? Janet Babin reports.
A new report says that throughout last year, even as the credit crisis took hold, banks were still extending credit — plenty of it. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports that, while the U.S. credit market has gotten smaller, you can't blame it all on the banks.
The Federal Reserve says it's going to keep extending its lifeline of cash to the banking system, indicating it's nowhere near weaning banks off emergency treatment. Bob Moon reports.
Citigroup unveiled plans to use $36.5 billion of the $45 billion it got in bailout money on lending. The bulk of the money will go towards mortgage loans. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
The Screen Actor's Guild has been embroiled in a bit of drama lately. Actors have been working without a contract since June, members have been fighting with each other, and the guild's top negotiator was recently ousted. Rico Gagliano reports.
President Obama is expected to nominate his top technology adviser, Julius Genachowski, for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. His appointment could significantly affect the nation's high-tech landscape. Ronni Radbill reports.
The European Union is attacking the "Buy American" clause in the U.S. economic stimulus plan. The clause seeks to ensure that only U.S.-made materials are used in projects funded under the bill, which foreign steel makers fear will lead to a loss in business. Stephen Beard reports.
Many banks are nervous about lending, making it difficult for homeowners to refinance their mortgages. A House committee is meeting today to see what can be done to keep homeowners near foreclosure in their homes. Shia Levitt reports.
President Obama is set to announce New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg as his choice for Commerce Secretary today. By choosing Gregg, Obama may be hoping to soften GOP resistance to his stimulus plan. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
An FDA panel is expected to endorse a new blood-thinning drug by Eli Lilly. The decision could have a big impact on how powerful drugs with potentially risky effects are brought to the market. Dan Grech reports.
Every year, Chinese travelers spend $30 billion going abroad. So U.S. vacation hot spots are marketing to the Chinese. But marketers should know a few things first. Scott Tong reports from a tourism expo in Shanghai.
Facing declining sales, many makers of luxury brands have moved production to China to cut costs. Still, you may not find 'Made in China' on their products. Scott Tong explains why.
The free market is a tough place. Only so many companies can be rescued by bailout funds, and the government's stimulus plan can't save everyone. Commentator Todd Buchholz says instead of trying to prevent failure, we should be looking for ways to ignite incentives, like tax cuts.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has delayed testing and certification requirements for lead content in children's toys and other products for a year. Tess Vigeland speaks with reporter Mitchell Hartman about the impacts of the delay.
President Obama is pushing to create a half million "green" jobs to revive and grow the economy. What, exactly, would jobs in a "green-collar economy" look like? Sarah Gardner reports.
Renew Energy, one of the nation's largest ethanol plants, just filed for bankruptcy. More ethanol producers are expected to follow in its footsteps. But as Sam Eaton reports, don't write ethanol off just yet.
The Pennsylvania town of Bethlehem has been struggling to replace thousands of jobs lost from its steel-producing past. It now has its hopes riding on a new casino. Joel Rose reports.
A government plan to buy up banks' troubled assets appears to be in the works. But how do you determine a price to sell those holdings when no one's really sure what they're worth? Auctions might work, as Jeremy Hobson reports.
Save or spend? Americans are getting mixed messages. Savings deposits are up just as we're being encouraged to spend to jump-start the economy. But the increase in savings could have dire economic consequences. Steve Henn reports.
