The government is offering Americans who earn less than $36,000 to get their tax refund on a prepaid card. It'll be useful for customers without checking accounts, but as David Gura reports, it's also mostly at the benefit of the government itself.
As banks start to report their earnings for the year, some analysts may warn that the numbers a bit inflated because the banks are counting the reserves they set aside before the meltdown. But counting those reserves now isn't really being untruthful, report Bob Moon.
With unemployment in the U.S. near 10 percent, many job seekers are settling for jobs that are lower paid and of lower status. But Eve Troeh reports that a better approach may be to keep your high standards in place, and to strive for purpose in a career.
Congress' product safety legislation is set to kick in next week with the launch of a new online database where consumers can report products that may have safety or health hazards. But like any online forum, how trustworthy will it be? Sally Herships reports.
When Verizon announced this week that it was soon going to offer the iPhone on its network, it was a big deal. Especially for Marketplace's Tech Report host John Moe, who will be freed from his AT&T contract next week. He contemplates the options.
Tourism along Mexico's coast is expected to grow in 2011. It's helping the country's suffering economy, but continued development may also be hurting the area's main attraction: the coral reef and beaches. Eve Troeh reports on how the government is trying to respond.
Food prices are climbing higher and higher. Adriene Hill explains what's going on to Steve Chiotakis, and talks about who might be profiting from the price spike.
It's the busiest time of the year for divorce lawyers. Family law attorney Kelly Chang talks with Tess Vigeland about why so many people seek to end a marriage at this time, the average cost of divorce and what she thinks about pre-nups.
There's a new option to protect your money and help cover the high costs of ending a marriage: divorce insurance. WedLock Divorce Insurance CEO John Logan talks with Tess Vigeland about how he came up with the idea, how it differs from a pre-nup, and what the reaction has been.
Flights are more crowded than ever, and that means many fliers could get bumped from an overbooked plane. To deal with this, Delta is trying out a sort of silent auction, where passengers can state what it would take for them to voluntarily give up their seat.
Panera Bread recently opened its third non-profit restaurant, where customers decide how much to pay for their food. Patrons at the new Panera Cares Cafe in Portland, Ore., will have to decide between a guilty conscience or a free lunch.
After news came that Google was trying to buy out a airline data firm, the U.S. Justice Department started looking into the deal. Google's used to government attention, but it may also now be costing the company some business. Steve Henn explains.
More than two years after the financial crisis' credit crunch, many cities and states are still feeling the effects — worries about budget deficits has borrowing costs up and the municipal bond market is struggling. Stacey Vanek Smith reports.
Next week a new government panel is supposed to come up with a list of "systemically important financial institutions" — those companies that are supposed to be vital to the financial system. But Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says you'll only know it when you see it.
The financial crash, the unpronounceable, erupting volcano… And finally a glimmer of hope for Iceland that has been bearing the wrath of the rest of Europe: Mackerel are swimming up north, giving a boost to its fishing industry. But the EU is not pleased by this change in the waters.
For a couple of years, big banks stopped paying out dividends to their investors. But with big profits returning to the banking sector, analysts say those dividends could be back.
The accounting giant KPMG has launched a new scheme: offer British high school graduates free college tuition, accommodations and a yearly salary of $30,000. The catch? The degree program is in accounting. Stephen Beard reports.
In the North African Mediterranean country, Tunisia there is a general strike following a month of deadly violence. Protesters have taken to the streets, protesting food prices, unemployment, the lack of civil liberties and the President.
It's been 25 years since the last overhaul of the U.S. code. But some think the economy and the politics are finally aligned for another overhaul. John Dimsdale explains.
A company called Spokeo has been freaking out a lot of people lately: the site is sharing information thought to be private. Spokeo creates profiles that contain where you live, how much money Spokeo thinks you make, if you're married, hobbies, what names you use online. But Spokeo is just the tip of the iceberg.
Mattel won ownership over California company MGA of the Bratz dolls in 2008, but an appeals court reversed that ruling last year. Now they're fighting over whether one stole trade secrets. In the meantime, Bratz are losing their popularity. Jennifer Collins reports.
Which companies should you be watching to get a good take on the American economic recovery in 2011? Marketplace economics correspondent Chris Farrell gives his top three picks.
President Obama wants to double U.S. exports over the next five years, and one key to that is the U.S. Export-Import Bank. The agency is now focusing on small business, getting owners involved in overseas markets. Eve Troeh reports.
Brendan Francis Newnam and Rico Galigano talk with fellow Marketplace staffers Dalasie Michaelis, John Haas, and Adriene Hill about under-the-radar business stories involving Duane Reade, outmoded media, and Chatroulette.
While it seems online shopping is the way of the future, Gap is doing just the opposite. Its Athleta brand specializes in women's active wear, and now has its own brick-and-mortar store. Janet Babin reports on how this move might help the brand.
The Producer Price Index information released today showed that wholesale prices for food and energy rose. But everything else stayed almost the same, which means inflation isn't kicking in yet. Is there a way to control inflation? Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.
The number of homes seized by banks topped 1 million last year. And while the number of foreclosures keeps rising, new report from a housing advocacy group Woodstock says there's also an increasing number of lenders walking away from foreclosures.
Back in November, the Treasury Department sold almost half of its shares in General Motors for about $33 apiece. Today, shares of GM are going for $38. Senator Ted Kaufman explains.
Three executives were suspended by the French car maker Renault last week on suspicion of leaking information about its multi-billion dollar electric car program.
The price of agricultural commodities is on the rise. As improving economies buy more product, suppliers struggle to keep up with demand. Since last summer, contracts for future deliveries of wheat and corn have almost doubled. John Dimsdale reports.
General Motors thinks you might do exactly that. This week at the Detroit Auto Show, GM CEO Daniel Akerson said the company will make 25,000 Chevy Volts this year. That's up from the earlier forecast of 10,000.
The e-book market continues to gain more customers, but there is still one part of the traditional book market that finds itself thriving — hardbacks. Sales in the U.K. have increased, thanks to hardbacks' decorative appeal and endurance.
New data shows that home prices are falling again, while mortgage rates are up .75 percent since late fall. Foreclosures are dragging the market down even farther. Mitchell Hartman reports on the possibility of a double-dip in the housing market.
Walmart has been trying to open stores in New York City for nearly a decade, but has always been met with fierce opposition from lawmakers and unions. Now the retailer is taking its message straight to the citizens themselves.
We follow the story of America's housing meltdown through one house — Lot 354, a Spanish bungalow in Los Angeles. From former and current owners to real estate agents and neighbors, the characters and industries affected by Lot 354 tell the story of the rise and fall of America's housing market.
Jeremy Hobson speaks to Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial about the news from the government that producer prices rose more than expected in December.
Marketplace worked with Los Angeles public TV station KCET and its show, SoCal Connected, to tell the story of a single home, and that home's place in the American economy. Kai Ryssdal gives us a sneak peek inside "Lot 354."
A year ago today, almost a quarter million people were killed in the Haitian earthquake. The country's poor economy is still trying to recover, and as Jeff Tyler reports, the biggest potential lies in trade.
Borders pioneered the book superstore back in the 1970s, but now with online booksellers and retail supercenters taking over the book market, it isn't doing so well. Janet Babin reports on Borders' future.
Manufacturing conglomerate ITT announced today that it's splitting into three separate companies, focusing on aerospace and defense, industrial products and water management. Bob Moon explains why the decision to split a large conglomerate can be a good idea.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner today mapped out what he called "the path ahead" for the U.S.-China relationship. He pointed out that China needs to stop undervaluing its currency and stealing intellectual property.
Kai Ryssdal reads your letters and comments in response to our stories on bad bond ratings, the Internet equalizing geeks and whether economists should have a code of ethics.
In an effort to try and curb hefty bonuses, and perhaps risky behavior, in the financial sector, a group of labor unionists, journalists and academics from the U.K. have launched a high pay commission. Stephen Beard reports on their efforts.
Commentator Robert Reich says that the government needs to increase, not decrease, education spending so American workers and industry can keep pace with the rest of the world.
A future without a bulky wallet weighing you down may be closer than you think. Steve Henn reports on card-less pay options in development and takes his smartphone, tricked out with a special bankcard chip, for a spin.
