Toyota says it's put together new investigative teams to look into reports of unintended acceleration as part of an effort to listen to customers more intently and address their concerns. Alisa Roth reports.
Marketplace's Brendan Newnam and Rico Gagliano chat with fellow staffers Stacey Vanek-Smith, Brett Neely, and Jeremy Hobson about under-the-radar stories: A Chinese version of Times Square, miracle trees, and counterfeit $1 bills.
Giving away $10 each day for a year might seem strange for someone who is unemployed. Rebecca Sheir reports on one Washington D.C. man's unique project, Year of Giving.
ProPublica's Michael Grabell talks with Bob Moon about an investigative report he co-wrote involving a program designed to conceal private jets' flight plans for security reasons, and how it's being misused.
Freelance business journalist John Carney and The Big Money's Heidi Moore talk with Bob Moon about why so many bankers went before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission claiming ignorance, and China's move to reevaluate its currency.
Mattel's newest Barbie is a computer engineer because of a well-orchestrated campaign. Erin Fitzgerald, a Defense Department electrical engineer, talks with Bob Moon about why she helped rock the vote for the doll's career move.
MasterCard will soon launch a big marketing campaign for its MarketPlace, an online mall, which it says will be specifically tailored to shoppers. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Former executives of the mortgage giant Fannie Mae testified before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. The execs said Fannie and Freddie failed because they were victims of an unsustainable business model. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Economics editor Chris Farrell and Tess Vigeland answer listener questions, but first they explore whether to refund or not to refund, and what to do with the money if you do get some back from the IRS.
Internal Revenue Commissioner Doug Shulman talks to Tess Vigeland about doing his own taxes, and how the recession led the IRS to do things differently this year.
British oil giant BP plans to invest in a controversial oil exploration project in Canada, a move which has made some of BP's biggest investors revolt. Stephen Beard explores why some groups are against the move.
A group of heavy-hitting economists, including three Nobel Prize winners, is meeting in Cambridge, England to take a hard look at the economy. Steve Chiotakis talks to former Marketplace host David Brancaccio, who is at the conference.
The World Bank just approved a nearly $4 billion loan to help South Africa's electricity problem by helping build a massive coal power plant. But critics dislike that it's a dirty energy project. Brett Neely reports.
This week: United and U.S. Airways talk merger, Obama banking tax, jobless benefits, Geithner in Beijing, Citigroup on Capitol Hill and that iPad thing.
Local governments in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. are all pitching to home defense contractor Northrop Grumman's new headquarters as it moves from L.A. But some view the efforts as a waste of money. John Dimsdale reports.
AT&T's new ad campaign focuses on the products the company has to offer beyond phone service. But the way the campaign tries to sell you may be a bit confusing for consumers to understand. Jill Barshay reports.
The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission continues meeting with former top investment executives exploring how to prevent a future financial crisis. Bill Radke talks to Marketplace's Amy Scott.
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.
Rents rise, rents decline: Depends on your paper of record. Mitchell Hartman dissects dueling reports on the state of the rental market in our latest Reporter's Notebook.
Some listeners say Robert Reich's commentary about how letting more immigrants into the U.S. can solve the Social Security crisis is just another Ponzi scheme. USC's Dowell Myers talks with Bob Moon about whether that's true and how to fix the system.
The Obama administration has announced a new project to help police officers in two states prevent drivers from becoming distracted. Collin Campbell reports.
Hewlett-Packard scientists have announced they've come up with technology contained in computer chips that will revolutionize how our electronics work. The Wall Street Journal's Don Clark talks with Bob Moon about why the finding is important and what it means for storage.
Congress is planning hearings on mine safety in response to the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
Sorry early adopters, some iPad users are reporting their devices can't connect or stay connected to the Internet. Why don't companies catch big glitches like these? Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Former Citigroup executives testified on Capitol Hill about the bank's role in the financial crisis. One senior adviser insisted no on brought potential problems on Citi's balance sheet to his attention. So where does the buck stop? Jeremy Hobson reports.
A new study is foreshadowing some deep cuts in public school budgets next year, including extracurricular activities and summer school. Amy Scott reports whether any schools were helped by the stimulus.
Citibank's former CEO and others are testifying before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission about the bank's role in the financial crisis. Steve Chiotakis talks to the panel's vice-chairman, former Republican Congressman Bill Thomas.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's official agenda for his meeting in Beijing today hasn't been released, but the high-level talks between finance officials suggest money concerns are on the table. Bill Marcus reports.
Tiger Woods' return to the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Ga. is expected to boost TV ratings. But the scandal has taught the pro golf industry that it can't depend solely on Woods' popularity to keep it going. Nancy Farghalli reports.
A southern conservation group is running a national media campaign it's calling "Kentucky Fried Forest," focusing on where KFC gets it paper packaging. The group says the fast-food chain is destroying forests. Sarah Gardner reports.
Right now there's about one job available for every five people looking for work. But economics editor Chris Farrell says in only eight years, that figure will turn around. He explores the changing nature of the U.S. labor force with Bill Radke.
Health problems are increasingly affecting students' ability to learn, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. The new health reform law helps tackle the problem by providing more money for in-school clinics. Gregory Warner reports.
Early reports indicate United Airlines and U.S. Airways are talking about joining forces. The merger of those two would create the second-biggest airline in the country. Bill Radke explores the move with Marketplace's Amy Scott.
Sherif Mityas, a retail analyst for global management firm A.T. Kearney, talks with Bob Moon about how retailers can position themselves to jump in when consumer spending starts to turn around, and what happens if they jump the gun.
If you're flying Ryainair, you might want to brace yourself for a new fee. The budget carrier is considering a plan to charge for use of its lavatories on short flights. Brett Neely reports.
Even though most Americans are putting money into the Social Security fund, those taxes are falling short of what's needed to break even. Commentator Robert Reich says letting more immigrants into the U.S. may be the answer.
It's been two years since France banned smoking in public places. Despite that and steep taxes on cigarettes, the French are puffing even more. John Laurenson reports.
Many Americans are paying a lot on property taxes, so a flood of homeowners are appealing to get their home values reassessed in hopes of saving some money. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Trulia.com, one of the top search Web sites for home buyers, is moving into the rental business. It joins a growing crowd of online sites that are jumping into the rental market. Mitchell Hartman reports.
In Goldman Sachs' eight-page annual shareholder letter, the Wall Street bank sought to reassure shareholders it's been acting in the best interest of its clients. Even when it was trading for itself. Jeremy Hobson reports.
A new exchange-traded fund allows consumers to buy and sell platinum just like they would sharers of stock. And prices are soaring. Sally Herships reports.
New data from the Centers for Disease Control shows a 2 percent decline in the U.S. birth rate over the year before. How did the recession weigh into that number? Bill Radke talks to Marketplace's Amy Scott.
In a move the carrier is hoping will make flights more convenient — and help their bottom line — Ryanair is charging a pound per toilet use on short flights. Stephen Beard reports.
Thanks to what auditors call "fresh-start accounting," General Motors can adjust its debts and assets and put a positive spin on its finances to help it out of bankruptcy. The automaker releases it balance sheet today. Bob Moon reports.
Starbucks lobbied for lawmakers to require calorie displays at restaurants as part of the new health reform. After New York started requiring calories on menus, the coffee giant learned it could help business. Jill Barshay reports.
In Massachusetts, six major health insurers and the state insurance commission are in court over insurers' desire to raise health premiums. Nancy Marshall Genzer reviews the case and whether we'll see more of these as health reform takes effect.
Anyone who plays Scrabble knows proper nouns are staunchly forbidden. But in a new version of the game being released in the U.K., the old rule is coming off the books. Stacey Vanek-Smith weighs the pros and cons of the move.
Goldman Sachs released its annual shareholder letter detailing what happened in 2009, and it's the longest letter to date. Marketplace's Amy Scott tells Bill Radke why the word "client" was used 56 times.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has set May 6th as the date for Britain's next general election. Financial markets are banking on a Brown defeat, but that's why you have elections — to find the winner. Stephen Beard reports.
Producer, manager, sometimes actor and philanthropist Jerry Weintraub talks with Kai Ryssdal about his biography "When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead," how he revolutionized the concert business, and wound up working with Elvis Presley.
Banks and other companies have poured millions into lobbying against financial regulation. Commentator Kathleen Day says it's time to ignore those companies.
Washington Post tech writer Cecilia Kang talks with Kai Ryssdal about the court of appeals ruling that says the FCC didn't have the right to regulate net neutrality with respect to Comcast and other Internet service providers.
Even if a college athlete gets a full ride, expenses beyond tuition, meals and housing typically aren't covered. How does the average Division I scholarship athlete deal with $2,700 a year out-of-pocket? Mitchell Hartman reports.
Another mining disaster has left several workers dead in a mine in West Virginia. Steve Chiotakis talks to Ellen Smith, editor of Mine Safety and Health News.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has launched his campaign today for re-election, and the economy is, of course, the priority issue. Bill Radke talks to Marketplace's Stephen Beard about how Brown is fairing with investors, voters and the markets.
