The $65 billion global diamond industry has taken a big hit in the downturn. Prices have fallen by a third since August. That's bad news for India, where more than 70% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished. Raymond Thibodeaux reports.
With more people looking to turn unwanted goods into cash, yard/garage sales are looking like good alternatives for consumers wanting to save money. Cash Peters visits a garage sale to see what's up for grabs.
Alana Semuels writes the "Ask Alana" column for the L.A. Times, where she offers readers advice about relationship and money etiquette. Semuels talks about some of her favorite questions from readers.
A few weeks ago we sent word that we were looking for a financial guinea pig. Teacher Gail George answered our call enthusiastically and offered to let us to track her spending for 30 days. She explains why she wants to participate.
Tess Vigeland and Chris Farrell answer listeners' pressing questions about using securities to pay off debt, taking out an equity line of credit and whether veritable annuities are a good idea.
Financial hardship can be difficult for anyone, but what about someone suffering from severe anxiety, depression or other mental illness? There are places that offer both legal and medical support during trying times. Amy Scott reports.
So who's to blame for the financial crisis? The finger has been pointed at everyone from Wall Street to Main Street. Labor lawyer Thomas Geoghegan lays out his theory in the April issue of Harper's Magazine.
Appraisers wield a lot of power when it comes to naming a value on your property. But how exactly do they come up with that magical number? Tamara Keith reports on how the appraisal process works.
The swine flu dominated headlines, but Chrysler was one of the few things to divert attention away from the outbreak. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Fortune's Leigh Gallagher and Reuters blogger Felix Salmon about whether a stronger Chrysler will emerge after bankruptcy.
It's understandable that multinational companies are bringing their overseas workers back home to cut costs. But for many displaced workers and their families, it's not such an easy transition. Scott Tong reports.
The summer movie season kicks off with the latest installment of the X-Men franchise. As Jeremy Hobson reports, there are a lot of potential blockbusters coming to a screen near you.
Department store Henri Bendel will stop selling clothes this summer and focus on accessories and beauty products. Amy Scott reports on how luxury retailers are cutting costs and laying off staff in this recession.
The Obama administration is shifting its policy on immigration enforcement. Instead of focusing on undocumented workers, officials will put their attention on employers. Dan Grech reports.
Chrysler's bankruptcy is having huge ripple effects for the automaker's supply chain and the towns that support it, including Kokomo, Ind. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight about how his city is coping.
Just because Chrysler is entering bankruptcy protection doesn't mean the automaker has stopped selling cars. The question is, will consumers buy them? Tamara Keith visits a dealership to find out.
Housing prices in Florida have dropped 30% from last year. Condo prices have declined even further. But people looking to invest in a condo should first do their homework to avoid serious pitfalls. Dan Grech reports.
Hollywood is hoping that X-Men Origins: Wolverine will rack in $100 million on its opening weekend. The movie business is actually breaking records, thanks to higher ticket prices at the box office. Steve Henn reports.
This month, 50 million retirees will get a one-time $250 bonus in their government check, no matter how much they make. The Social Security Administration says these checks will inject $13 billion into the economy quickly. Steve Henn reports.
The Fed this week told us the economy could be on the rebound later in the year. Is that just happy talk to move things along? Steve Chiotakis talks to Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Strategist at S&P Equity Research.
Visa earnings remain strong despite a continued drop in consumer spending. Credit cards can attribute the strength of debit to their continuing positive numbers. Tamara Keith reports.
The Jonas Brothers are poised to be the next Disney TV tween sensations with their new series debut. But whether or not they can be as successful as Hannah Montana is still to be seen. Jennifer Collins reports.
General Motors is dealing with the same kinds of problems Chrysler was with getting bond holders to forgive debt in exchange for stock. Jeremy Hobson reports the automaker is experiencing the threat on a much larger scale.
Today marks the five-year anniversary of the single largest expansion of the European Union. But the global economic crisis hindered many countries from getting the type of stability they'd hoped for. Christopher Werth reports.
Perhaps no visual is more stimulating in the auto industry's fight for survival than a lot full of old, used cars that aren't selling. And these days, even vehicles with over 150,000 miles are on the market. Amy Scott reports.
The International Olympic Committee traveled to Brazil this week to look at the country's assets and see if they could host the Games. Dan Grech reports how Brazil has come up from once being the world's most indebted country.
As part of its bankruptcy, Chrysler's core assets will be sold into a new company owned by the U.S. government, the company's workers and Fiat. Steve Chiotakis talks to Marketplace's Steve Henn about why a group of 20 lenders opposes the deal.
Jeff Tweedy, frontman for the band Wilco, talks to Kai Ryssdal about why the group decided to record Woody Guthrie's Depression-era song "Jolly Banker," and how its message holds true today.
President Obama says stopping the swine flu from spreading can be as easy as staying home from work, if you're sick. But for some employees that's easier said than done. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
Stuart Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, talks to Kai Ryssdal about how much U.S. financial support is necessary to rebuild the country and how the recovery efforts are going.
Chrysler's bankruptcy may force the automaker to lay off several workers, but it could also be a good thing. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Micheline Maynard of The New York Times about what will happen with the automaker now.
It looked like Chrysler was on the road to avoiding bankruptcy a few days ago. But then negotiations with the automaker's creditors broke down. What the heck happened? John Dimsdale explains.
Steve Choitakis talks to Lance Pan,
Director of Investment Research at Capital Advisors Group in Boston, about the implications of a Chrysler bankruptcy for the nation's economy.
Between spinning a violent drug trade and trying to curb the swine flu outbreak, Mexico has a lot to deal with to improve its image abroad. Dan Grech reports what the country can do to try to win back tourism.
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is slated to earn more than anyone in the NFL, a fact the commissioner says is "ridiculous." Joel Rose explores why the NFL pays more for its rookies compared to other sports leagues.
Sabrina Reigel moved to Southern California and didn't have any friends, so she spent some time shopping — and racked up $40,000 in credit card debt. She tells us how she got out of it with her sanity intact.
European ministers will wait until after E.U. health officials' meeting today to decide whether or not to impose a ban on travel. But is a full-on travel ban really necessary? Christopher Werth reports.
With all the money it's infusing back into the economy, the Fed, Wall Street and others are keeping a close eye on inflation. Steve Chiotakis talks to economics correspondent Chris Farrell about the meaning of "hyper-inflation."
Talks between Chrysler, its creditors and the U.S. Treasury hit a snag when the hedge funds that own part of the automaker's debt balked. But a Chrysler bankruptcy doesn't mean the deal with Fiat is off. Steve Henn reports.
The House is likely to approve a bill today that tackles credit card fees and interest rate hikes. But bankers oppose fee limitations, saying they would mean higher interest rates for many card users. John Dimsdale reports.
President Obama says he's proud, but not satisfied about his first 100 days in office. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Washington bureau chief John Dimsdale about what to expect for the next 100 days and beyond.
President Obama has spent most of the 100 days since his inauguration trying to save the economy. Kai Ryssdal takes a look back at what some regular folks have achieved in that same period.
The pieces to keep Chrysler out of bankruptcy are falling into place. But the automaker still has to slash some of its 3,200 dealerships. Jennifer Collins reports.
In 1953, Harry Truman packed his Chrysler New Yorker and hit the road. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Matthew Algeo, author of "Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure" about what has changed since the former president's road trip.
It's President Obama's 100th day in office, and comparisons to other administrations are in full swing. Commentator David Frum says Obama's gambling a little too much on a rosy scenario.
It's not just people getting sick with the swine flu — it's also hurting the global economy. Mitchell Hartman reports on the outbreak's economic impact worldwide.
The swine flu outbreak has taken a big bite out of the pork industry. Will the pork industry be able to reshape its image to bounce back? Janet Babin reports.
The Commerce Department reports that the economy shrank by 6.1% in the first quarter. But there are still reasons for investors to be hopeful. Jeremy Hobson explains.
Steve Chiotakis talks to Bill Stone, Chief Investment Strategist at PNC Wealth Management, who takes a deeper look at what's behind the GDP number and consumer spending.
The government reported a 6.1 percent contraction in last quarter's Gross Domestic Product. But Diane Swonk of Mesirow Financial tells Bill Radke why we can expect stronger growth in the second quarter as a result of the GDP number.
As people ask what they can do to stay vigilant against the potential swine flu pandemic, the office has become a major area of concern. Jennifer Collins tells us how businesses are responding to the outbreak.
President Obama's budget is sitting before Congress and could pass sometime today. He got what he wanted in most ways, but missed getting more future bailout funds for banks. Steve Chiotakis talks to Marketplace's Steve Henn.
Royal Dutch Shell says profits fell 58 percent in the first quarter from the same time last year. But oil analysts say the company has come in ahead of consensus and future production is looking good. Christopher Werth reports.
Bank of America shareholders meet today in Charlotte, N.C., and this year, angry shareholders are mobilizing to remove three members of the bank's board, including CEO Ken Lewis. Julie Rose reports.
Even though its global sales fell in the first quarter, BMW still says comparatively, it's actually doing fine. The company accredits its strategy to early attention to fuel efficiency and climate change. Stephen Beard reports.
The Republican Party has been criticized for falling out of step with its voters. So faced with a future where it needs to realign with the public, how will the GOP decide to move forward? John Dimsdale reports.
Citibank is asking the Treasury Department for permission to pay out retention bonuses to certain employees. The bank is worried that if it doesn't, some of its most profitable businesses could fall apart. Steve Henn reports.
Many are concerned about the effects a swine flu pandemic could have on an already ailing U.S. economy. But commentator Robert Reich says the real worry is that lots of people could get sick and many could die.
