Tess Vigeland and producer Eve Troeh tell discuss listeners' comments about our coverage of mothers in the workplace, the Bank in L.A. program, and the term 'plain vanilla'.
For another point of view on the merits of credit counseling, we asked Gail Cunningham of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to respond to Liz Pulliam Weston's assertions. She insists counselors are there to help, but don't work magic.
Boeing's new Dreamliner is facing another setback — a problem with the plane's high-tech skin. Joel Rose reports on Boeing's manufacturing challenges as it switches from aluminum to composite materials.
Bank of America is ending a rule that consumer disputes be settled through the arbitration process. Jeremy Hobson reports the bank's move is likely just the beginning.
The Obama administration is grappling with figuring out who will fund the costs for new regulation of the financial system. Steve Henn reports even bankers can't seem to agree.
Alex Hamilton, director of research at Jesup & Lamont, talks with Bill Radke about the latest setback Boeing faces with its long-delayed new jet, the 787 Dreamliner.
August commemorates the 40-year anniversary of Woodstock, and a lot of other things happened in 1969 too. Rico Gagliano explores the surprising number of 40th anniversaries we're experiencing lately.
Freelance journalist Heidi Moore and Clusterstock's John Carney talk with Kai Ryssdal about when the Federal Reserve can start raising interest rates again, and its political role in this economic climate.
Dropping home prices and a dismal job market mean more people are staying put and moving companies have fewer customers. Lenora Chu reports online competition is also giving traditional movers a headache.
To get people excited for the release of the alien thriller film District 9, Sony teamed up with marketing firm Trigger to create an augmented reality. Kai Ryssdal finds out what that means from entertainment journalist Claude Brodesser-Akner.
Richard DeKaser, president of Woodley Park Research, talks with Steve Chiotakis about whether we should be worried about deflation and July's industrial production report.
Many people who don't like the idea of government-run insurance often use the U.K. as an example of what not to do. But that's got the British on the defensive. Christopher Werth reports.
Betty Superstein, mayor of Manchester, Tenn., talks with Steve Chiotakis about how the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has helped her city economically and how it compares to Woodstock.
The recession may have put a damper on your summer travel plans, but it may be benefiting another summertime tradition: the state fair. LaToya Dennis reports.
Reporter Tamara Keith talks with Steve Chiotakis about the settlement between federal prosecutors and UBS regarding Americans that hid billions of dollars in accounts with the Swiss bank.
After Chrysler went into bankruptcy, it closed hundreds of its dealerships. But now it's planning to open new dealerships, and in some cases, not far from the ones that are closing. Jeremy Hobson reports.
The recession has cut into wine sales in restaurants, so winemakers are trying to find ways to attract new buyers, including one market the business had previously written off. Ethan Lindsey reports.
Many retailers are suffering during this recession, but some products are striking the right balance and actually thriving. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports on a useful kind of shoe.
If you're in debt you might hear advice to go to a credit counselor. But MSN Money columnist Liz Pulliam Weston has been looking into the success rates of those debt-management plans and has found that all too often they don't work.
Tess Vigeland and Chris Farrell talk to listeners about how to invest an inheritance, how to get the most of a lost loved one's financial legacy and what happens if a bike rider is hit by an uninsured driver.
There are a number of government programs that aim to help homeowners struggling with high monthly mortgage payments. But are they actually helping? Tess Vigeland talks with Chris Thornberg of Beacon Economics about the problems facing these programs and some possible solutions.
You might assume that the majority of people in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure are young or inexperienced. But a recent study by the AARP shows that nearly a third of all people facing foreclosure are 50 or older. Krissy Clark reports.
The non-profit Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps usually provides health care for third world nations. But now its helping people without insurance in the U.S. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
Foreclosures continue despite the Obama administration's efforts to help homeowners refinance. The Home Affordable Refinancing Plan (HARP) is supposed to reach those in the red, but navigating the program can get complicated. Bob Moon reports.
Students entering or graduating from college are facing decisions on how to pay for tuition. Many will turn to student loans. Tess Vigeland talks with College Board Policy Analyst Patricia Steele, about her study on how much money college students are borrowing.
One particular stretch of Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, Calif. has seen a lot of positive change since it became a business district. But when bright banners declared the district "Koreatown," it upset some of the locals. Mina Kim has more.
President Obama is getting back on top of the health care debate though town hall meetings, and he's getting a boost from a $12 million ad campaign that started airing today. Kai Ryssdal talks to Chris Frates, who covers health care for Politico.
Today the Senate Finance Committee decided end-of-life care is so politically touchy that it can't even be talked about, let alone be included in the final bill. Joel Rose reports.
Despite fatter paychecks from stimulus money and a boost from the Cash for Clunkers program, retail sales fell last month. Amy Scott asked around and found a lot of economists were taken by surprise.
France and Germany both reported that their economies grew last quarter. Many economists seized on those numbers as more evidence the global recession is ending — though they still remain cautious. Steve Henn reports.
Gainesville, Fla. is the first city in the country to adopt a new solar incentive program, making it profitable for an average person or business to put up solar panels and begin feeding power back to the grid. Jennifer Collins reports.
Cash for Clunkers will not take cars made after 1984. L.A. Times reporter Ken Bensinger talks with Bill Radke about how the classic car lobby managed to get that exclusion through Congress.
Bill Stone, chief investment strategist at PNC Wealth Management, talks with Steve Chiotakis about July's retail sales and what Germany and France are doing that we aren't.
Andrew Hilton, director of the Center for the Study of Financial Innovation, talks with Bill Radke about the surprising economic growth in France and Germany, and whether it's an inventory-led bounce or will last over time.
Reporter Brett Neely talks with Steve Chiotakis about the 0.3% economic growth Germany and France experienced last quarter, which officially ends their recessions, and how both countries managed to bounce back so quickly.
U.S. pay czar Kenneth Feinberg will take a close look at executive compensation at companies that have been bailed out by the government. Alisa Roth reports his decisions may change the rules at those companies, and others.
During the housing boom, homebuilders used defective drywall in homes in 23 states. Prosecuting its manufacturer in China has been a jurisdictional nightmare, but a bill may change things. Dan Grech reports.
Bankrupt Frontier Airlines is going up for auction, and the low-cost carrier is likely to be bought by Southwest, which may raise eyebrows across the airline industry. Jeremy Hobson reports.
High-frequency trading is creating a ruckus on Wall Street. Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains what high-frequency trading is and why some people are up in arms about it.
General Motors says its Chevy Volt can get 230 mpg. But the bloggers over at Environmental Economics found out how GM really arrived at that number. Click here for a link to the blog.
The World Trade Organization ruled today that China broke free trade agreements by restricting U.S. imports of books and other media. That could open up the Chinese market for American publishers and film studios. Amy Scott reports.
Almost two years after the recession started, things are officially not getting worse anymore. But even though the bleeding has stopped, the economy is still in intensive care. Steve Henn reports.
After months of warnings that we were on the edge of disaster, it's a little tough now to make a case for optimism. But good news has been coming a little more frequently lately. Kai Ryssdal talks to senior business correspondent Bob Moon.
A handful of venture capitalists will descend on a Philadelphia business incubator tomorrow, where fledgling entrepreneurs spent the summer honing their business plans. Now comes the moment of truth. Joel Rose reports.
OK, so we're not out of the woods yet. What does Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke have to do in the coming months to keep from worsening the recession? Kai Ryssdal talks to Dan Greenhaus, economic strategist with Miller Tabak.
The USDA says there's going to be a near-record crop for corn this year. Blame it on the weather and the number of corn-ears-produced-per-acre in the Midwest grain belt. Mitchell Hartman reports.
Last week's news of a deal between the White House and big pharmaceutical companies over drug pricing struck some as a step too far. Commentator Robert Reich explains how this could change future health care legislation.
Employers may be cutting back on budgets and staff, but what they're keeping they're making sure is in top form. Wellness programs from cholesterol screenings to yoga classes are thriving in the workplace. Alex Cohen reports.
Charles Freeman, former U.S. trade representative for China, talks with Bill Radke about the World Trade Organization's ruling that China's limits on the sale of various media violates commerce rules.
Reporter Tamara Keith talks with Steve Chiotakis about the agreement that the U.S. government has made with Swiss bank UBS over their tax evasion dispute.
The Federal Open Market Committee is wrapping up its meeting, and the Fed is expected to keep its key interest right where it is. Tamara Keith talks with Steve Chiotakis about how this all affects us.
Nestle, the world's largest food and drink company, is reporting a more than 2 percent drop in profit, its first decline in six years. Why? Christopher Werth reports.
The U.S. June trade deficit rose 4% in June to $27 billion, and the cost of what we imported increased for the first time in almost a year. Alisa Roth explains why.
Bernard Madoff's former chief financial officer pleaded guilty to federal charges after months of secretly working with the FBI. Tamara Keith reports on what he revealed.
Four employees of global mining giant Rio Tinto have been arrested and taken into custody for stealing commercial secrets and bribery. Reporter Scott Tong talks with Steve Chiotakis about who was arrested, and how big a deal it is.
One in 10 Americans took a second job last year, and that number is expected to double this year as moonlighting becomes a way of life in this economy. Lenora Chu reports.
The congressional panel monitoring the Troubled Asset Relief Program said today that smaller banks are more likely to be hurt by troubles in the commercial real-estate market. Jeremy Hobson gives us more details from the report.
Hundreds gathered at an old basketball arena in LA this morning to receive free medical care. Doctors from the Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps were set to see 1,500 patients. They reached that limit by 5 a.m. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
