President Barack Obama's $275 billion plan to help the housing market is projected to help almost 9 million homeowners. But what exactly is in the plan? Host Tess Vigeland discusses it with Nicolas Retsinas of Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies.
Sharon McNary, an analyst with Marketplace's Public Insight Network, writes about her days in the Army, and the events leading up to the awarding of her Special Service Medal.
Army Sgt. Angel Herrera drove trucks for an engineering unit in Afghanistan until serious wounds from a rocket-propelled grenade ended her tour of duty. But she's not ready to give up her stripes.
Patrick Sowers found a good job with higher pay and less work than he'd known as an Army sergeant. That bothered him. He's been paying back ever since, to the benefit of thousands of people in uniform.
Yvonne Oppenheimer's brother couldn't say no to charities claiming to raise money for veterans. Now, even though he's deceased, the solicitations keep coming. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
"Jarhead" author Anthony Swofford recalls how, despite needing to save money for college, he just couldn't schlep deep dish in the desert while still a member of the world's most elite fighting force.
When duty called, chiropractor Daniel Bordelon didn't turn his back. The Army National Guard colonel, who nearly drowned in Hurricane Katrina, gave up his practice at a huge loss to serve in rebuilding New Orleans.
When members of the Armed Forces are seriously wounded, their families and friends face putting aside their own careers and goals to lend support. Jeff Tyler reports on the impact of a soldier's injury on his mother and sister's bottom line.
Military couples and families often move every few years, making it difficult for civilian spouses to get good jobs. At Fort Knox, Ky., Marketplace's Amy Scott found some husbands and wives trying to make it work.
About half of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II parlayed their active duty into a middle-class civilian life. Can today's military personnel anticipate a similar future? Tess Vigeland asked military sociology professor David Segal.
The branches of the military consider financial fitness as important as physical training. About three years ago the Navy ramped up its financial counseling service. Tess Vigeland visited the San Diego Naval Base to see how it works.
The success of movies like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Full Monty" have made British film makers hopeful their movies will follow the same path. Stephen Beard reports on one dancing film its director hopes will jig all the way to a U.S. audience.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wraps up her Asian tour in China. One of the things she hopes to discuss is how the U.S. and China can collaborate to reduce carbon emissions. Scott Tong reports.
It was a busy week — from stimulus and mortgage plans to another Ponzi schemer being caught. T. Rowe Price's Andy Brooks and Wall Street Journal's Heidi Moore talk to Tess Vigeland about the hammering we took this week.
With the price of an ounce of gold breaking the $1,000 mark, some people are looking to cash in — with gold parties. Ronni Radbill reports on the growing popularity of these parties, where you can sell gold for cash.
Mortgage relief is on its way, but not everyone who will receive help from Obama's housing plan may warrant it. Is it fair? Tess Vigeland speaks with ethics columnist Randy Cohen about the questions involved in paying for our neighbors' mortgages.
President Obama's housing plan will help nearly 9 million homeowners avoid foreclosure or refinance. But the plan is drawing ire from homeowners who won't be receiving any help. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Bank of America and Citigroup's shares continue to slide to record lows. Some analysts blame this on Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's reluctance to make a decision about bank nationalization. Bob Moon reports.
The self-employed are traditionally left without an official safety net and are out of luck if work dries up. The Freelancers Union wants Congress to help this independent chunk of the workforce. Bob Moon reports.
The Academy Awards may be taking it down a notch this year in terms of spending, but the parties are still going on. Bill Radke talks to Variety's Mike Speier about where Oscar will be cutting back this year.
Services for homeless veterans have improved over the last decade, but the stagnating economy and job losses have created a rise in needy vets. Steve Henn explores the issues vets may have upon return from duty.
Saab has filed for bankruptcy protection today in Sweden. The company has also applied to cut itself loose from owner General Motors to find a buyer. Stephen Beard reports why many Swedes blame GM for the mess.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has subpoenaed Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis on an investigation into whether the bank misled investors about bonuses and losses at Merrill Lynch. Janet Babin reports.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads to Beijing, where Chinese leaders are concerned about the "Buy American" clause in the stimulus package. Steve Chiotakis talks to Marketplace's Scott Tong about why China and the U.S. are both worried.
Military personnel with outstanding legal debts are barred from overseas duty or security clearances, which keeps thousands of U.S. troops from doing their jobs. So the Pentagon is tackling the problem. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Michael O'Hanlon at the Brookings Institution estimates the U.S. has spent more than $400,000 per troop in Iraq and Afghanistan. But, Tess Vigeland asks, is the pay in line with the duty?
Thousands of men and women leave the military every year and many struggle to find work in the civilian world. Some businesses are making it easier by hiring military workers. Amy Scott visited one of them.
Businesses are hurting in this recession. But there is a silver lining. Tess Vigeland speaks with Professor Donald Sull about how businesses can thrive in turbulent markets.
When regulators take a look at the banks' books, they might be in for a surprise. The 38 banks the FDIC has taken over in the past two years have overstated their assets by more than $20 billion. Steve Henn reports.
In this financial crisis, there are tons of numbers being bandied about — hundreds of billions of trillions of dollars used to stimulate, bailout and lose. Commentator K.C. Cole says these days, a big number like a trillion is something we can't even grasp.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to help his city's slumping financial sector. He announced a plan that will invest millions of dollars to strengthen Wall Street and encourage start-ups to come to the Big Apple. Ashley-Milne Tyte reports.
The SEC is accused of dropping the ball with Madoff. Now there are allegations that Robert Allen Stanford scammed investors out of $8 billion. What does someone have to do to get the watchdog commission's attention? Ronni Radbill reports.
The economic numbers released today were a mixed bag. Some were bad, others were good — at least at first glance. Nancy Marshall Genzer takes a closer look at what the numbers add up to.
The Labor Department reports that the total number of people receiving unemployment is close to 5 million. Janet Babin reports why even when recovery comes — and it will — unemployment numbers will stay high.
The Federal Reserve predicts climbing unemployment and an economy that will continue to contract all year. But Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says weak economic activity means low risk of inflation. Janet Babin reports.
As hedge funds in Greenwich, Conn. fall, so does the real estate. Amy Scott talked revenue loss and surveyed available commercial space around town with real estate agent Steven Greenbush, who works with financial firms.
In a time when many stores are closing and credit is harder to come by, shopping centers have to get creative to find new tenants. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports what some malls are doing to fill the empty retail space.
Swiss bank giant UBS will identify 250 American clients with undeclared accounts as part of a settlement with the U.S. government. Some analysts believe this could be a breakthrough in the battle against tax evasion. Stephen Beard reports.
The unemployment rate for baby boomers has doubled over the past year, and those older workers looking for a job again can find it tough to re-enter the market. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports what could be working against boomers' favor.
President Obama has been criticized for the "Buy American" clause in the stimulus package. The protectionist cries remind economics correspondent Chris Farrell of a movie from the 60's. He talks with Steve Chiotakis.
President Obama heads to Canada today, where he'll have six hours to explain what the "Buy American" provision in the stimulus package means. Dan Grech explores the strong trading relationship the two countries share.
A debate is raging in Washington, D.C., about how to deal with America's foreclosure problem. One proposal is to restructure the loans using a tool usually seen in bankruptcy courts: The "cramdown." Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains.
General Motors and Chrysler want more government aid. But with the increasing costs to save the auto industry, some are looking at bankruptcy as an option. John Dimsdale reports.
Injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan continue to fight long after they've returned home. But it's not enemy fire they're facing, it's the complicated process of claiming disability benefits. Jeff Tyler reports.
Though the deadline for switching from analog to digital TV is a few months away, more than 400 stations have made the switch. Bob Moon speaks with Jonathan Collegio of the National Association of Broadcasters about whether it's been a success so far.
Both the U.S. and China need help to fix their ailing economies. Commentator David Frum says one way to accelerate U.S. growth would be for the Obama team to negotiate a better trade agreement with China.
The auto parts industry employed nearly 840,000 people at its height. But with Detroit struggling, more than a third of those workers have been laid off. Alisa Roth reports.
President Obama unveiled his plan to help save the slumping housing market and stem foreclosures. The $75 million plan is intended to relieve struggling homeowners. Ronni Radbill takes a look at what it entails.
A new report out today says the FDA is not doing enough to guard patients' health when it comes to life-saving medical equipment. A key issue is a lack of oversight in equipment safety. Ronni Radbill reports.
President Obama's car task force will have to decide whether to honor GM and Chrysler's request for more government bailout money or let the companies fall. Janet Babin explores the automakers' sentimental value.
Western European banks poured more than a trillion dollars into the eastern part of the continent during the recent European boom. But now strapped for cash, they're pulling out. Stephen Beard reports.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has frozen the assets of businessman R. Allen Stanford, who is accused of an $8 billion fraud. Aside from the deep financial wound, investor confidence has also been hit. Dan Grech reports.
Money is getting tighter for the high-end shops on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, Conn., which caters heavily to the finance industry. Amy Scott visited a few stores on the Avenue to find out what a markdown meant to them.
GM and Chrysler say they need another $14 billion to stay in business. The companies offered survival plans promising draconian cuts in union contracts and other expenses. Janet Babin explores what else will be involved.
President Obama is in Phoenix today speaking to homeowners about his plan to help those who are struggling reduce their mortgage payments. But some skeptics worry about what the plan will cost. Rene Gutel reports.
Taxpayers are paying billions to protect the Big Three, who make up the American auto industry. But commentator Robert Reich says we should reconsider what that industry really is as the Big Three continue to cut American jobs.
Greenwich, Conn., is one of the wealthiest towns in America. Known as hedge fund central, the recession is starting to take its toll on the Wall Street bankers who have settled there. Amy Scott reports.
The 2008 Oscar telecast drew a record low 32 million viewers worldwide. To boost ratings for Sunday's ceremony, the Academy wants some presenters to stay off the red carpet. Will it work? Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
