Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is warning that inflation could threaten economic recovery. And he's not the only one raising that concern. Amy Scott reports on how worried we should be.
Last week, Tess Vigeland talked to park rangers from Oregon and California about how they were preparing for the first of three free weekends at U.S. National Parks. She checks in with them to see how things went.
Credit card offers aren't clogging up the mail like they used to. Those that do come in aren't the zero-interest, zero-fee deals of the past. Rico Gagliano reports.
Kathryn Kerrigan noticed that taller women like her had difficulty finding cute, designer shoes that fit. Now she makes a living designing shoes for women of all sizes.
Income-based repayment for student loans begins July 1, meaning many borrowers will be able to lower their monthly payments. Tess Vigeland talks to Lauren Asher of the Project on Student Debt about changes to the loan process.
Marketplace Money host Tess Vigeland and economics editor Chris Farrell answer listeners' personal finance questions about rental car insurance, credit checks for your child and paying down debt while unemployed.
A new law is motivating people to trade in their old vehicles for more energy-efficient models. Tess Vigeland braves a car lot in Santa Monica to get the low-down on the Cash for Clunkers trade-in program and tax incentives for new cars.
The Obama administration wants "plain vanilla" to be the standard for mortgages, credit cards and other financial products. But what exactly does that mean? Marketplace's Amy Scott explains.
A neighborhood bank is hard to find in low-income areas of Los Angeles. But the "Bank On L.A." program is trying to bring people reliant on check-cashing shops into the banking system. Tess Vigeland reports.
It used to be that games like Uno or checkers were for the very young or the very old. But loneliness and a bad economy have created an opportunity for one company. Gigi Douban reports.
Marketplace Money host Tess Vigeland talks with Kai Ryssdal about a new program aimed to help college graduates having a tough time paying off loans, changes to student loan interest rates, and the streamlining of FAFSA.
General Electric plans to build a new research and development center in Michigan, and GM will make its Chevy Spark in the Great Lakes State. Mitchell Hartman reports why the companies are choosing to invest in and around the Motor City.
Reuters blogger Felix Salmon and Fortune's Leigh Gallagher talk with Kai Ryssdal about whether the Federal Reserve should be the uber-regulator for the financial system, and whether Chairman Ben Bernanke will keep his job.
Iraq will soon begin auctioning off new contracts for its old fields. The country has one of the largest oil reserves in the world. But there are risks. Jeff Tyler reports.
Michael Jackson's death may lead to huge losses for AEG Live, which was organizing the icon's comeback concerts, and O2, the venue for the shows. Stephen Beard reports.
Americans have socked away money at its highest rate in more than 15 years. But if consumers are saving more, and banks are being stingy too, how do we get money flowing through the economy? Bob Moon reports.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's meeting on Capitol Hill sounded more like a marital spat than a hearing. But for the Congress-Fed relationship to work, communication is key. Steve Henn reports.
General Motors is expected to announce that it's selected a Pontiac plant in Orion township, Mich. for the production of a new subcompact car. Jeremy Hobson explores how this will help job preservation and the local economy.
The late Michael Jackson sold more than 61 million albums in the U.S., but died $400 million in debt. Renita Jablonski talks to Mark Sutherland, global editor of Billboard Magazine, about Jackson's business deals and the response from fans in London.
Because of a bad record, the LA Clippers got first pick in the NBA Draft. But can superstar rookie Blake Griffin make an impact on the team's history of mismanagement? Nihar Patel has the story.
China will soon require all computers sold in the country — including U.S.-made hardware — be equipped with Internet-filtering software. But glitches in the program could put a strain on U.S.-China relations. Mitchell Hartman explains.
Australian air carrier Qantas has canceled 15 orders for Boeing's 787. The decision is a devastating one for the airline and could have an impact on the Dreamliner's future. Jeremy Hobson reports.
A new climate change bill up would pay farmers for practices that keep carbon dioxide in the soil. But some green groups fear putting the Agricultural Department in charge of the program could weaken oversight. Sarah Gardner reports.
Austria is upset over the negative way it's portrayed in Sacha Baron Cohen's new movie, "Bruno." Some even believe it will prevent future investors from doing business with the country. Stephen Beard reports.
Man Booker Prize-winning author Aravind Adiga's new book "Between the Assassinations" looks at life in India in the 1980s, prior to the economic reforms of the following decade. Kai Ryssdal talks to Adiga about his second novel.
Scientists warn it might be too late to find solutions to global warming, so some businesses are focusing on adapting to climate change. Sam Eaton reports.
The next surge in foreclosures has arrived. Borrowers with good credit are defaulting, and the latest wave of foreclosures is already lapping at the edge of communities all over America. Mitchell Hartman reports.
In a new marketing campaign, Pizza Hut is referring to itself as just The Hut, in an effort to remind consumers it doesn't serve just pizza. But it's not changing its name. Confused? Rico Gagliano reports.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is on defense, denying claims that he deliberately hid information about Bank of America from other regulators. Tamara Keith reports.
The number of people applying for unemployment benefits for the first time rose unexpectedly last week and is still climbing. Steve Chiotakis explores the trend with Doug Foreman of Highmark Capital in San Francisco.
The Energy Department will loan billions to help automakers produce energy-efficient cars. Bill Radke talks to Elon Musk, CEO of loan recipient electric car company Tesla Motors, on his view of the future of highway travel.
Billionaire Allen Stanford's fraud may have dashed Antigua's hopes of becoming a regional banking center. The country acknowledges it may have catered too much to Stanford's wishes to keep him happy. Stephen Beard reports.
President Obama will talk immigration today as activists call for citizenship for undocumented workers. Supporters say legalizing the 12 million or so workers could mean billions in economic benefits. Jeff Tyler reports.
Germany's economy is struggling, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to have a strong lead for re-election. Bill Radke asks Brett Neely in Berlin how Merkel has managed to keep her constituents happy and supportive.
It's hard to tell where the bottom is when indicators are pointing in different directions. Steve Chiotakis asks economics correspondent Steve Farrell why he's able to look at the data and tell we're getting there.
With the way things are going in the housing market, some wonder how homebuilders manage to keep from filing bankruptcy. Bob Moon explores how it's been possible so far for no major U.S. homebuilders to have closed shop.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is answering tough questions in Congress on his role in the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch merger. Bill Radke gets the latest from Marketplace's Jeremy Hobson.
Entertainment reporter Nikki Finke is selling her Web Site, Deadline Hollywood Daily. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports this is the latest move in the media industry's shuffle online.
Drug-related violence in Mexico has prompted some people to flee. Many well-to-do families are leaving their homes and businesses behind, and starting all over in America. Ruxandra Guidi reports.
The Obama administration wants to create a super-regulator and is calling for an independent financial products agency to regulate the financial system. Commentator David Frum says these reforms fail to get at the root of the problem.
Virginia Tech professor and Brookings fellow Djavad Salehi-Isfahani talks with Kai Ryssdal about the economy's role in the Iranian protests and how it is affecting business.
California lawmakers don't have much time to resolve a record $24 billion budget gap. The crisis has spurred massive cuts in local funding, making it painful for the poorest Californians. Rob Schmitz reports.
Citigroup, which accepted two infusions of TARP money, wants to raise some of its employees' base salaries by as much as 50 percent. The pay increase is meant to compensate for reduced bonuses. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
The Federal Reserve is keeping interest rates near zero, and didn't announce any new bailouts or loan programs. So, what exactly did the Fed have to say after it ended its two-day meeting? John Dimsdale reports.
Environmentalists are praising the efforts of the new $500 billion transportation bill circulating today in the House, but there's still some question as to how to pay for it. Sam Eaton reports.
Today's Confederations Cup soccer tournament is a priority for South Africa, which will have to deal with the chaos of next year's World Cup. The trial's success brings with it a chance for a new face for the continent. Gretchen Wilson reports.
In recent years, profitability at Monsanto has been driven by its Roundup herbicide, and sales of the once-hot item are decreasing as cheap alternatives enter the market. Adam Allington reports.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported a small percentage of overall growth in global economies in the next year. Steve Chiotakis talks to Bill Stone from PNC Wealth Management and Stephen Beard reports.
The latest Transformers movie uses almost 70 General Motors cars and, entertainment value aside, serves as one giant car commercial. This could be just what the automaker needs to help it emerge from bankruptcy. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.
As 401ks continue to weaken in a rough economy, lawmakers are paying closer attention to what they can control: the buried fees. Over a lifetime, 401k fees can add up to a six-figures number. Dan Grech reports.
Federal Reserve officials wrap up a two-day meeting this afternoon, and analysts are predicting a roll-back of some credit-easing programs. But this could mean a slow recovery for the housing market. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Health care providers have pledged to cut $2 trillion in costs, but how they plan to do that is unclear. Commentator Jonathan Weiner offers his own suggestion on how to cut the fat.
Florida froze insurance rates in 2007 to extend the life of its building boom. But it could mean financial ruin if a hurricane were to hit the Sunshine State. Dan Grech reports.
Detroit Free Press reporter Justin Hyde talks with Kai Ryssdal about why the U.S. is lending automakers Ford, Tesla and Nissan billions to build fuel-efficient cars and who else might get a slice of the funding.
The parent company of Clear Lanes, the service that helps speed up some travelers' trips through security at airports nationwide, has shut down. Why? John Dimdsale reports.
Boeing has delayed the first flight of its new Dreamliner aircraft for the fifth time. Bob Moon reports that despite cost overruns and delivery penalties, orders aren't likely to go anywhere.
At a press conference, President Obama talked about how much his health care overhaul might cost and the effect a public insurance option might have on private companies.
The Federal Reserve are talking monetary policy today and tomorrow. But what will really come of it, and how will that affect inflation fears? Steve Chiotakis talks to Juli Niemann if Smith, Moore and Company in St. Louis.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez plans to invalidate some pharmaceutical patents, allowing local producers to create cheaper generic AIDS and cancer drugs. This could lead to future drug shortages. Dan Grech reports why.
Vice President Biden is meeting with officials in Toledo today to discuss what might be the next great manufacturing boom. Ohio has lost 280,000 manufacturing jobs in the past decade. Karen Kasler reports.
The U.S. appears to have caved on the case against UBS, but a new tax-evasion treaty signed by the U.S. and Switzerland won't make life any easier for Americans looking to cut tax corners. Stephen Beard reports.
Microsoft is giving away new computer security software that attempts to fix glitches in Windows. The real challenge for the software maker will be improving its image on security issues. Bob Moon reports.
Carmakers Ford, Tesla and Nissan will be the first automakers to receive up to $25 billion to update their infrastructure so they can produce more fuel-efficient cars. The loan would help speed up production. Jeremy Hobson reports.
