The Federal Reserve said this week it will no longer buy mortgage backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Some people worry mortgage rates could rise as a result. Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch explains why.
More people are filing for bankruptcy than any time since the recession began. And some filers are deciding to walk away from their deeply underwater homes through bankruptcy. Kai Ryssdal talks to reporter Mitchell Hartman about what's behind the increase.
Reuters blogger Felix Salmon and Fortune magazine's Leigh Gallagher talk with Kai Ryssdal about the latest jobs report and what's going on with CEO compensation.
Malls are preparing for a big weekend, but the crowds won't be coming for the Easter holiday — they're coming for the new Apple iPad. Sally Herships reports.
So far, Easter looks like it'll bring in slightly more money for retailers than it did last year. Shoppers are snatching up all kinds of candies and food, including eggs. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Europe correspondent Stephen Beard talks with Kai Ryssdal about how a battle between steel makers and iron ore producers may affect consumer product prices.
State and local tax revenues have increased for the first time in more than a year, according to the Census Bureau. But what does that mean for local economies and will it continue? Alisa Roth reports.
The government reported that 162,000 new jobs were created in March, the biggest monthly increase in three years. But will the numbers continue to grow? Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Wajahat Ali wasn't an expert in real estate law, but that didn't stop him from helping a family navigate the government's Home Affordable Mortgage Program. He talks to Tess Vigeland about the frustrations he encountered along the way.
David Lazarus of the Los Angeles Times helps Tess Vigeland answer personal finance questions from our listeners, including the impact the new health care laws will have on consumers.
Paul Basken of the Chronicle of Higher Education talks with Tess Vigeland about how the new student loan reform bill will affect both current and former college students.
The new iPad, cell phones, cable…it's all part of staying connected in today's society, but are we paying too high a price? Brendan Francis Newnam reports.
The High Court in London stopped rail workers from undergoing a four-day strike that would have severely disrupted commuters and those embarking on Easter vacation. But union leaders say it's only round one. Stephen Beard reports.
A report out today says the biggest problem businesses are facing in China deal with its growing government regulation and protectionism. But overall, the country is still seen as a priority for global investment. Scott Tong reports.
Employers added 162,000 workers to payrolls in March, an estimate that falls short of experts' expectations. What caused these numbers to climb? Bob Moon gets a deeper look from analyst Hugh Johnson.
Today's jobs numbers have been touted as a hopeful beacon in what's become a dreary downward pattern. But Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich explains to Bob Moon why the figures only reflect a temporary situation in the jobs market.
Rodolfo Franco found an ominous message when he opened his unemployment check this week: Benefit year ending April 12. Thousands of other people across the country are also facing the unavoidable limits of their benefits. Alisa Roth reports.
Following a small loss of jobs in February, as many as 200,000 jobs may have been added in March. But temporary relief from part-time Census jobs and bad weather bounce-back may be the real reasons behind promising numbers. Mitchell Hartman reports.
The Arena Football League starts today, and that's good news for an industry that has been in loads of financial turmoil. Poor management and bad timing are also partially to blame. Steve Milne reports.
Young people face an increasing amount of economic pressure when it comes to dating, and for many, no income means no relationship. Summer Sewell from Youth Radio reports.
Each week on Marketplace Money, host Tess Vigeland looks at the week's major national and international stories that will impact the average listener's wallet.
Crude oil closed just shy of $85 a barrel, the highest it's been in a year and a half. PFC Energy's David Kirsch talks with Kai Ryssdal about why oil has hit a sweet spot, how long it will stay there, and its impact on prices at the pump.
The federal government announced new fuel economy standards that are a 30% increase over the old ones. How will it impact the auto industry? Brett Neely reports.
The tomato is a ubiquitous culinary ingredient. Author Arthur Allen talks with Kai Ryssdal about his new book "Ripe," and how tomatoes get from the garden to your kitchen table.
Players on hundreds of community college basketball teams aspire to suit up for a big Division-1 school. But NCAA scholarship money is making it tougher for two-year college players to make the jump. April Dembosky reports.
The effort to reform the banking system isn't over yet — lobbyists are still lobbying, Congress is still debating and banks are still grousing. Commentator Mike Konczal says the financial services industry can call it a day.
German officials want to impose a bank tax to raise $1.5 billion to help bailout banks in coming years, and the U.S. is also considering a bank tax of its own. France, more specifically, wishes to go after hedge funds. Christopher Werth reports.
Top executive pay is down at the 200 largest U.S. companies for the second year in a row. Bill Radke talks to Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman, who reveals which CEOs are making a few less million this year.
The availability of free government data is providing opportunities for new businesses to pop up that filter and offer the public specialized information. But it's also a very competitive pool. Sabri Ben-Achour reports.
For the first time, the government is releasing fuel efficiency standards on cars that include limits on greenhouse gas emissions. This might mean you'll soon be paying more for a car depending on its size. Brett Neely reports.
Some of the most famous writers of the past had to keep themselves alive somehow. Bill Radke talks to Lapham's Quarterly editor Lewis Lapham, who explored what authors like William Faulkner did before they were well-established.
Lawmakers are considering a national tax on sugary beverages which could bring in up to $15 billion a year. The beverage industry is fighting the move hard — which indicates it has a good chance of happening. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Enrollment is up at for-profit colleges like DeVry, though these schools have been criticized for negative recruiting tactics. To fight back, the colleges are releasing a new study. Amy Scott reports.
Americans have grown used to all sorts of things coming from India — from computer support to software. But now, India could arrive on your kitchen table. And not in the form of curry. Elliot Hannon explains.
Congress is mulling new regulations that will limit big banks, mortgage lenders and consumer loan companies like payday lenders. Commentator and payday lender Darrin Andersen says that's a bad idea.
Dozens of old car plants have been shuttered over the last two years, and some of the unused factory equipment gets salvaged or sold off. Buildings are usually demolished, but one factory in Delaware is being re-imagined. Alisa Roth reports.
Last year, L.A. saw the biggest drop in filming on record. But according to industry group numbers, filming is up on the L.A. streets. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports it's because of what's happening behind the scenes.
President Obama lifted a longstanding moratorium on oil drilling in parts of the U.S. Sarah Gardner reports the move didn't sit well with opponents of offshore drilling or even some oil-friendly Republicans.
Boeing has announced a $150 million charge to its earnings because of the new health care law. It's the latest in a string of big companies to make similar announcements. Nancy Marshall Gezner reports.
You would think that tough times would lead to a rise in alcohol consumption, but sales of wine spirits and beer in the U.K. fell by more than 6 percent last year — the largest drop in almost 50 years. Stephen Beard reports.
Haitian President Rene Preval has a 50-page action plan indicating where Haiti relief money should go. But some Haitians are skeptical and think the distribution of funds should be handled by another authority. Amy Scott reports.
After decades off-limits, oil drilling is opening up on the U.S.'s East Coast and exploration for more places to drill will expand throughout certain parts of the U.S. Bob Moon gets the latest from Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman.
The new health care law is changing the way we approach the subject. L.A. Times columnist David Lazarus tells Bill Radke that one untold story is how our approach to disease prevention might be changing.
Take a look at the quarterly reports of big U.S. companies and you may see overseas growth cushioning a domestic financial blow. Jeremy Hobson explores this and other disadvantages small businesses have in the face of recovery.
Today, the Federal Reserve will stop buying mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genzer looks at what this means for housing and home buyers.
Consumer confidence is up, and the upcoming jobs report is expected to be the most positive in many months. But the housing picture is still mixed, so are we on the recovery expressway? Jeremy Hobson reports.
President Obama signed legislation to put the finishing touches on overhauling U.S. health care. The health reform effort is almost exactly 100 years old. Gregory Warner takes a look back.
Kai Ryssdal reviews what listeners had to say about stories involving virtual offices, a doctor shortage, the challenges facing Juarez, Mexico, and advertising to single women.
As the second night of Passover approaches, Ari Daniel Shapiro reports on two meat distributors — one Jewish, the other Muslim — who have struck up a unique friendship to provide products to their customers that seek to redefine kosher and halal.
Congress just had a bruising fight over health care reform and plenty of other legislation is moving slowly or not at all. Commentator Carl Yankowski says that's making it hard for business.
In a surprising vote, a majority of the country's insurance commissioners decided to let insurers keep private their reporting on how climate change might affect them. Sarah Gardner reports.
Shipping lines from South Korea's largest port can't keep up with the amount of cargo places like the U.S. and Europe are demanding. But there may be more to the story. Alisa Roth reports.
Environmental activities are concerned about server farms' use of dirty energy to keep sites like Google and Facebook running. Bob Moon talks to Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman about the environmental impact of the data cloud.
The Irish government is taking over about $100 billion worth of bad real estate loans to take the pressure off its banks. This is the latest phase in its long struggle with the financial crisis. Stephen Beard reports.
The iPad has been widely hailed as just the thing to convince people to pay for online print media. Newspapers and magazines are showing high interest in developing apps. And Rico Gagliano tells us who else is getting involved.
FDA scientists are trying to urge the agency to be more careful about the approval of devices like CT scans, which are being used more increasingly in medical facilities. Gregory Warner gauges the risks.
China has taken the Google fight to its mobile businesses by blocking some of the search engine's mobile Internet services. Scott Tong explores the chilly reception Google has been receiving lately in the country.
California has had a staunch resistance to nuclear power since 1976, but that hasn't stopped French company Areva from trying to get power plants in the state. Sarah Gardner observes the fight and weighs the odds.
With the weather finally warming up, some shipping lanes in the Great Lakes have thawed out. That means there's hope that the local shipping industry may get busier very soon. Tony Arnold reports.
Apple is working on a new iPhone for the Verizon network, which means heady competition for AT&T, the iPhone's only carrier at the moment. Bill Radke talks to Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman about new opportunities this could provide for iPhone users.
