Week of November 8th, 2010

With new power in Congress, the GOP is looking toward making change is fiscal reform. Namely — the Federal Reserve and its chairman, Ben Bernanke. David Gura reports on what could be ahead.

The Federal Reserve begins its latest round of Treasury bond-buying today. What does this mean for the average American consumer? Jeff Tyler reports.

The new National Museum of American Jewish History is set to open this weekend in Philadelphia. It's housed right next to Independence Mall and the Liberty Bell, which could mean great attendance. But that also means the museum should be open on Saturdays, which goes against Jewish religious law.

Tess and Marketplace Money economics editor, Chris Farrell take on listener questions about money.

Advocates for financial education say it's never too early to start teaching children about money. Tess Vigeland visits an elementary school classroom to see that idea put into action.

Stephen Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, talks with Steve Chiotakis about the Golden State's deficit woes.

FDIC head and children's book author Sheila Bair talks to Tess Vigeland about early lessons on handling money and finances and shares tips for raising money-savvy kids.

Money figures a lot into relationships, and there can usually be a difference to how each partner handles their finances. But one study says that the financial planning should really be handled by the one who knows the numbers. Janet Babin reports.

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Marketplace Tech Report for November 12, 2010

Amazon.com has removed an especially controversial title from its Kindle electronic book store. Amazon initially defended its own carrying of the book, saying that to remove it would be censorship, and then they yanked it anyway. But given the way Amazon stocks the virtual shelves of its online store, isn't this issue likely to come up again?

The Commerce Department and the White House announced today plans to appoint a high-level privacy watchdog that would negotiate the issue of online privacy both overseas and in this country. But privacy advocates aren't happy about it. Bob Moon goes over the details with Steve Henn.

So far this year, the price of gold is up more than 20%, prompting a so-called "gold fever" on international markets. But will this fever break? Stephen Beard reports.

The president's debt commission is working on reforming the nation's tax codes, and one issue at hand is the corporate tax rate. The co-directors of the commission say the U.S. corporate tax rate should be reduced. But is it really that high to begin with? John Dimsdale reports.

The United States Postal Service is really feeling the effects of people using e-mails to communicate rather than letters. But they're employing a new tactic to hopefully pull them out of the red.

Flying somewhere this holiday season? The closer we get to the holidays, the higher airfares go. And we will pay them. But, timing isn't the only thing that we do wrong when it comes to picking a holiday flight. Steve Henn explains.

Bob Moon talks to Leigh Gallagher from Fortune Magazine and Sudeep Reddy of the Wall Street Journal about the G-20 conference that just wrapped up, the Fed's quantitative easing plan and the jobs outlook.

Tess Vigeland and Marketplace Money's senior producer Deb Clark review what listeners had to say about stories involving QE2, the Sandwich Generation, musicians who have day jobs, and the comic book hero, "Unemployment Man."

Commentator Michael Perino says that today's financial reform law can succeed — but its success is up to the party that's in power.

Before the recession, pop-up stores were typically limited to Halloween costume shops and Christmas stores. But everyone from online retailers to established brick-and-mortar stores are now debuting pop-ups.

A final note. "It's on like Donkey Kong." Next time you find yourself tempted to use that pop-culture reference, you just might need to get permi…

So how soon should you start making financial plans for your kids? When they are in kindergarten? Before they start school? How about even before they're born! Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

New York Times columnist Paul Sullivan talks about what he and his wife hope their one-year-old daughter will inherit from them.

Health care. It sounds so simple….

Question: I have four credit cards with over $27,000 on them. Three are within $50 of their limit and one is $1000 over the limit….

Libby from Seattle plans on going to back to school. She's 28, has no debt, good credit, a BS and an MS. She's been working in her job for a litt…

The Federal Reserve plans to invest $600 billion buying U.S. and corporate debt — learn why Republicans worry that the Fed may be a wee-bit too…

Jeremy Hobson and Chris Low take a closer look at the debt problems in Ireland that are causing a lot of investors to wonder if we've got another Greece on our hands.

Have you ever watched your kitty drink her milk, and wondered, "How does that work?" A team of scientists asked that question, and the answer could hold the key to clean-up efforts in the Gulf.

Microsoft will have a happy holiday season, based upon early sales estimates for its Kinect motion-control device for the Xbox 360. Cnet News and…

Senator Mark Warner wrote an op-ed in the Financial Times, outlining his proposal for a compromise to extend tax cuts that affect the nation's wealthiest. Alisa Roth explains.

Along with hiking the retirement age and cutting entitlements, another thought the commission advising on how to cut the deficit has proposed to eliminate the mortgage interest deduction for home loans bigger than half a million dollars. Jill Schlesinger explains.

In a new study from Oxford University, test subjects were shown a film containing images of injuries and death….

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You'll be able to give out your email as name@facebook.com….

It's benefits season. We just chose our medical plan option at work. Well, Medicare recipients also have to make some choices. The six-week annual…

Talks at this year's G20 summit featured a small, distant European economy. Ireland. Investors are worried that the Irish government may not be able to pay back all of its debt. Stephen Beard explains.

Jeremy Hobson speaks to Republican Congressman Dave Camp of Michigan. Congressman Camp is a member of the President's member of the full deficit panel, and he join's Marketplace to discuss the proposed plan to cut U.S. deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade.

Leaders of the world's 20 strongest economies rang the closing bell on their annual summit. For a while, it looked like the main event in South Korea was going to be the currency spat between the U.S. and China, but in the end, the underdog issues won over. Rob Schmitz has more.

This week in our new series Welcome to New York, a series featuring conversations with the people who make the economy in the Big Apple what it is, Jeremy Hobson spoke to Cynthia Rowley, American fashion designer and New York style icon.

Marketplace Money for Friday, November 12, 2010

Marketplace Morning Report for Friday, November 12, 2010

Marketplace for Friday, November 15, 2010

In the U.S., Type 2 diabetes is usually associated with overeating and obesity. But when Bloomberg Markets magazine reporter Jason Gale visited India, he found a rise of diabetes diagnoses in people who didn't fit that description. Steve Chiotakis talks to Gale about his findings.

In our new series, Welcome To New York, Jeremy Hobson celebrates the bi-coastal broadcast of Marketplace Morning Report. Jeremy will talk to people who define and shape New York City's economy. Today's guest is JetBlue CEO David Barger.

RealtyTrac numbers out today report that there was a small decrease in the number of foreclosures in October. In reality, though, this may simply be reflective of the halt in foreclosures caused by faulty paperwork. Mitchell Hartman reports on other underlying problems.

With applications for jobless benefits hitting a four-month low, there may be a ray of hope in the jobs industry. As Iowa Public Radio's Sarah McCammon visits a job fair, she finds much of the work is temporary, but that could be a good sign.

The faulty paperwork scandal put another huge obstacle in the foreclosure crisis. But who were these so-called unqualified employees who were hired by banks? Bob Moon talks to Marian Wang from ProPublica about what she found after sifting through the job listings.

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by Richard Baron, MD, MACP…

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Think the U.S. map looked red after the mid-term elections? That's nothing compared to what it looks like in a new working paper (PDF) from the…

Marketplace Tech Report for November 11, 2010

The Federal Communications Commission confirmed Wednesday it's investigating Google in response to the company collecting information from unsecured Wi-Fi networks while taking pictures for the Google Street View service. Google says it was an accident but the issue is far from settled.

Would you choose a doctor based on a review website?Market Research So you're looking for a good place to eat. Restaurant review sites lik…

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General Electric has just revved up interest in the emerging market for electric cars. The company announced today it will buy 25,000 electric…

The mega retailer announces new online holiday shopping deal to fend off competition from established online retailers like Amazon.com

The health care landscape is changing thanks to the Internet, mobile technology, and the “Yelpification” of medical business.

The President's debt commission proposes a plan to cut $4 trillion in government debt with big changes to the tax code and by reducing spending on defense, health care and Social Security.

Got a medical problem and need advice and information? What's your first stop when you have a health question?

Republicans on Capitol Hill may not be able to repeal the health care law. But the law leaves a lot of decisions up to individual states, so governors will have a big influence on how well the law is implemented. Marketplace's Nancy Marshall-Genzer reports.

The Conservatives in Britain's coalition government are proposing a plan to push more able-bodied people off the welfare rolls and into the workforce. Marketplace's Stephen Beard reports from London.

Many illegal immigrants own homes and cars and have children who are U.S. citizens. With the rise of deportations, some immigrants are preparing wills to make sure their assets and children are taken care of in case they are deported.

Or Tweet your Pings? Is it capitalized?…

don't do it on Twitter. In England. Actually, you know what? Just don't do it.

Sprint has this new product called the ZTE Peel and it's kind of remarkable in terms of the implications. The Peel is basically a case for the iPod…

For months, a big play by Google in the social media sphere has been talked about. Supposedly they were cooking up something to compete against…

From G7 to G20, learn about the organization of leaders of 20 of the world's biggest economies — a lesson to prepare you for the summit currently…

This holiday season's biggest trend isn't an item or a color, it's free shipping. Most of the major e-tailers are offering the added perk to purchases this year. Alisa Roth reports.

President Obama's deficit reduction commission. has released a plan calling for cuts in military spending, Medicare spending, a gradual increase in the retirement age for social security benefits and also for ending tax breaks on things like mortgage interest and health care plans.

Leaders of 20 of the world's biggest economies are meeting in South Korea. Stephen Beard presents an introduction to the G20, to aid in the coming-day's stories.

President Obama's Budget Deficit Commission is considered a starting point, with a December 1st deadline to submit a final plan to Congress. Alisa Roth explains.

Former CEO of KB Home, Bruce Karatz, was sentenced to eight months of home detention Wednesday for an illegal stock option backdating scandal. That's a much lighter sentence than what the government had requested.

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When you heard Jeremy Hobson's interview with three-star Chef Daniel Boulud, did your mouth water at his low-budget braised pork shoulder? Listeners asked for the recipe, and Marketplace is happy to oblige.

Question: My wife and I bought a new car a year ago with a 6% interest rate and have about $14,000 of the loan left to pay over the next four years…

Marketplace for Thursday, November 11, 2010

Marketplace Morning Report for Thursday, November 11, 2010

Rolls-Royce faced another obstacle today when oil stains were found on one of its Airbus A-380 engines. With the company only sharing about half of the engine-making market, this could mean big news for its U.S. competitors. Bob Moon reports.

It seems like everyone's talking about salt these days, and not just any salt — sea salt. The condiment is perceived to be healthier than your basic table salt, and Wendy's is about to add it to its new kind of fries. Jennifer Collins reports on what the craze is all about.

New York City schools chief Joel Klein is stepping down to work for the world's biggest media company — Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. His replacement as schools chancellor? A media exec, Cathleen Black, the head of Hearst Magazines and former publisher of USA Today. Sarah Gardner reports.

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Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than three hours? You could with high-speed rail. Reporter Casey Miner takes a look at the obstacles and the potential benefits of the high-speed rail project in the Golden State.

This final note today about the deficit. The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform made some news this afternoon. That's the…

Many Irish job seekers are looking for job opportunities abroad, as the Irish economy lays in shambles. Reporter Anne-Marie McNernery talks to some Irish expats in Canada about their decision to leave Ireland.

Google's directory assistance service always seemed a bit odd, like it didn't quite fit in the pantheon of web based service. I mean, it was all…

Okay, we all know that. But the numbers are kind of astounding. Mobile phone sales were up 35% in the last quarter. And smartphones were up a…

Kai reads your letters on Marketplace's stories on Hefty's marketing of black garbage bags, the social-networking browser RockMelt and his interview with Haitian author Edwidge Danticat.

Several countries aren't pleased with the Fed's $600 billion plan, including China. Marketplace commentator finds some irony in the Asian giant's complaint.

GM earned almost $2 billion in revenue in the past three months. That compares to the more than a billion dollars it lost in the same time period last year. The results should help GM as it takes a shot at becoming a public company again. Alisa Roth explains.

Good news — new people filing for unemployment dropped to the lowest level since July. In judicial news, before the U.S. Supreme Court is a case…

We heard from the labor department this morning that initial jobless claims, that is new people filing for unemployment insurance, dropped to the lowest level since July. Richard DeKaser explains.

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Check out Forbes' 2010 Top 10 Most Over-Paid Actors In Hollywood! Forbes creates the list by looking at the highest-earning actors in Hollywood and calculates their compensation against every dollar that the studio pays to make their movie.