Week of March 12th, 2012

Apple’s latest iPad is released in stores today, but the lines aren’t stretching quite so far down the block as they used to. And the company might soon be trying to buy your old iPad back from you, to refurbish and re-sell in other parts of the world. In Arizona, a new line on the state’s tax return asks people how much shopping they’ve done out-of-state. And what is the importance of the female vote in this election cycle?

Google is taking a new approach to the way its search engine works, moving away from keyword-based searching to something a little more contextual. It’s embracing something called semantic search, which looks for the meaning of words rather than just the occurrence of those words. Also, the FBI is asking Google to hack into an Android phone, and the difference between the new iPad and a new robot vacuum cleaner.

Believe it or not, but going to the gym could help with your finances. “People who start exercising, also use their credit cards less,” says author Charles Duhigg. We’ll learn about the power of habit and how it can make us better savers. Most of us are habituated to cash, but have you ever tried living without it? The pros and cons of going cashless. Also, advice on how to find the right financial adviser, reviewing the lessons of Greg Smith’s Goldman Sachs op-ed bomb, and Dr. Goose brings us your tax-themed limericks.

After This American Life aired a story by Mike Daisey on Apple manufacturer Foxconn in China, Marketplace’s China correspondent Rob Schmitz delved deeper into the background and facts. We hear from Schmitz today about his reporting, which revealed that Daisey lied on many counts about what he found. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney has decided to cut back on field organizers and media buys. Consumer prices rise the most in 10 months. And our commentator says preserving funding for public higher education would improve the economy.  

Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama say they're going to pay attention to women voters in this election. What are the economic issues that might stand the chance of winning this significant number of voters?

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The Consumer Price Index is out this morning. With higher consumer prices comes rising inflation, but how big of a threat is that to the average American's way of life?

Publishing in the British Medical Journal, researchers looked at four studies covering 350,000 people in Asia and the West.

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The four-tenths percent rise in consumer prices was largely due to gasoline prices. But inflation remains tame. That's something the Federal Reserve works hard to preserve because of bad memories from another time.

The Lionsgate studio spent $45 million on just the marketing for the forthcoming film 'The Hunger Games.' But despite all that promotion money, something's missing.

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I am a mother of five, wife to one and hold a job as a sales and marketing executive. At this time, I see it necessary to switch to a position that allows me to work more from home, without too much travel, and to build a business that I can grow into my golden years. I have started taking classes to become a Certified Financial Planner. I really want to do this, but I'm concerned my vision for being a CFP might not be viable. I would like to be fee-only and help middle-income people make sound decisions for their financial future. I have spoken with another CFP, and he has told me the focus for the industry is on high-net-worth people, which is not a path that I wish to pursue. Any advice or thoughts is most appreciated. Sarah, Rock Hall, MD

The GOP presidential candidate is looking at having to raise more money to fight off rivals with staying power.

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A new line on Arizona's tax return is asking people how much shopping they've done out of state. The idea was to recoup millions in lost revenue from online retailers.

The monologist Mike Daisey’s account of Chinese factory conditions in “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” made people think differently about their iPhones and iPads. But after an adaptation aired on This American Life, reaching China, an investigation there of his allegations found they were fabricated. Given other news reports on the conditions, will that matter?

Apple is willing to buy older iPads from customers who will upgrade to the latest model. Customers get store credit, and Apple gets part of the resale market.

Reviewing the week's headlines on Wall Street. This week: Greg Smith's resignation from Goldman Sachs, the inflation numbers and what the Federal Reserve can do.

Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas says we can't get a deficit agreement without tax hikes. Could this be another crack in Grover Norquist’s tax pledge never to raise taxes?

Going over listeners' responses to past broadcasts. This week: Whether the Homeless Hotspots experiment at South by Southwest was exploitative, and if illegal immigration helps the economy or not.

Plus, the FBI wants Google’s help unlocking a phone, and the iPad battles a robot vacuum cleaner.

After rumors that the U.S. and U.K. might release crude oil stock prices were found untrue — at least for now — prices are climbing back up.

The somewhat highly anticipated new iPad model goes on sale today in stores around the U.S. But will it sell as quickly as previous editions?

Consumer prices rose by the most in 10 months in February, and rising gas prices were to blame for most of that change.

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Consumer Prices are one place where the economy comes down to earth and hits us square in the wallet — and that's what happened in February according to the Consumer Price Index.

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Some experts claim that in a Web-savvy world, business cards are a thing of the past. We dug up one career consultant (no business card needed) to find out if they really are obsolete.

The cliche that cops like to eat doughnuts might be true in the U.K., where police officers could soon feet their unhealthy ways reflected in their paycheck.

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As more and more people move to urban areas, how do you keep doctors down on the farm?

Kickstarter is not a new phenomenon. People have been using the site to raise money for small projects for a while now, things like tiny independent films, music, an odd art project or two. It’s all been very charming and most of the projects are pretty limited in terms of what they’re setting out to raise. But that’s changed lately, and pretty dramatically — now the projects are becoming more big-ticket stuff. Also, good news for Dunder-Mifflin: Paper isn’t out of style.

In the final stretch of the campaign, Rick Santorum will be strongly challenged by Mitt Romney’s organizational scheme. Young adults are moving back with their parents, providing happiness and financial benefits for all. As Greece roles out its new austerity plan, we take a look at Ireland for some possible lessons. Diane von Furstenberg is designing for Baby Gap, another example of the marriage between high-end designer and kids’ clothing. And actor Wendell Pierce from “The Wire” talks about opening grocery stores in some of the most underserved communities in New Orleans.

As March Madness begins, we talk to L.A. Times consumer columnist David Lazarus about why many who never gamble decide to play the game this time of year. Does premium gas really help you get better mileage in the long run? And lately, some experts have been wondering whether Pinterest users have the right to show off photos that in many cases they did not create.

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Yesterday, the SEC brought charges against two money managers who allegedly misled and overcharged investors when selling them Facebook stock, before it officially goes public.

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New York legislators approve state employee pension cuts by $80 billion over 30 years. Now 44 states have cut benefits to close budget gaps.

Commentator Richard Hernandez says education spurs entrepreneurism and responsible citizenship.

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And the latest in paper technology. You heard me.

San Diego resident Nancy Parker says the costs of undocumented immigration outweigh the benefits.

Iran is feeling the effects of U.S. sanctions over its nuclear program. The International Energy Agency says Iranian oil exports have fallen to a ten-year low.

HBO is cancelling its new horse racing show ‘Luck’ starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte. It's being cancelled because three horses have died in production of the show.

A respected JP Morgan analyst has claimed that it is a sure thing that the Chinese economy will be coming in for a "hard landing," at 6 percent growth.

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It's not being canceled because of ratings — it's being canceled because three horses have died in production of the show.

Hi, I like to think long-term — 30-40 years ahead. I'm 28, but looking at my retirement account and a number of retirement calculators, I could have enough retirement by the time I'm 55. BUT, I won't be able to tap into my retirement accounts penalty-free until about 10 years later. So, I'm wondering what a good strategy for bridging the gap might be. Additional info about me: I'm single, don't own a home (nor am I really looking to), and my retirement is spread out between a Roth and Traditional 401(k), an HSA, and a normal ol' brokerage account invested in mutual funds. Thanks! Jason

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The HBO show gets canceled. But broken legs and other injuries are quite common in the sport of horse racing.

Forty percent of 18- to 24-year-olds live at home. It makes financial sense, and most kids and their parents don’t even mind.

Some cars need the good stuff, others don't.

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Ireland is tackling its debt crisis with a harsh program of austerity measures. The Irish are not rioting, as the Greeks did, but they are hurting.

Not all gas prices are created equal, especially in the U.S.

The growing social network addresses copyright issues.

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Statistics show that 86 percent of Americans gamble at least once a year. But how often to we really lose out to the house?

Your politics even determines your take on the weather outside.

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What kind of emotions and thoughts lie behind a high-profile resignation?

A lack of campaign cash could cost the presidential candidate in Illinois' primary next week.

Diane Von Furstenberg creates a collection for GapKids in a move to build its brand among shoppers in training.

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Greg Smith, an executive director at Goldman Sachs, resigned this morning with a blistering essay full of accusations. What does this mean now for the culture of Wall Street? Some homeowners in Austin, Texas, are cashing in on South by Southwest. A human resources recruiter in Michigan reveals the top issue troubling her this election. And Kai Ryssdal talks to Sara Blakely, founder of body-shaping company Spanx, about how she created a billion-dollar empire.  

Somewhere in Brooklyn, a company called Aereo has leased several rooms. In these rooms, the company intends to place tons and tons of little tiny antennas, each no bigger than a dime and each assigned to a customer. So instead of trying to grab all these signals with one giant antenna and streaming them out to tens of thousands of people, there are thousands of antennas and each one is like someone’s own personal antenna. Problem is, broadcasters are suing Aereo before it launches.

In an age of skyrocketing gas prices, what can we do to make our cars more fuel efficient? The Panama Canal is getting a makeover. In two years, it’ll be able to handle ships that carry twice the cargo they handle now, and that could mean big things for ports on the East Coast of the United States. And Paypal is expected to announce tomorrow that it will launch a service where anyone can send or receive credit card and debit card payments over a smartphone.

Anyone headed to the South by Southwest festival needs a place to stay. For a price, Austin homeowners will move out for a week.

A former executive at Goldman Sachs resigned with a scathing editorial blasting the bank, which he calls "toxic." We dissect his op-ed and discuss what everyday Americans should think of Wall Street now.

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Beth Kelly says many employers are ready to hire, but they just can't find people with the right qualifications.

Currently, I am thinking about going back to school for a graduate degree to change my career entirely. It would be hard to do this while working full-time. I think that if I stick out this job for another 15 years, I should be OK to retire. (It's just me — no husband or kids — and I owe about $80,000 on my house.) I would LOVE to quit and go back to school (maybe with a loan?) for an "encore" career. It's amazing how much more expensive school is now. It's crazy. I know that I will be able to find a position once I have the degree. It may not be earning as much as I do now, but that's OK. Is this even something I should entertain? Jackie, Columbus, GA

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In the U.K. today, where Starbucks has just started writing customers' names on their coffee cups for the first time.

MIT professor Eran Ben-Joseph has a minor obsession: Parking lots. He wants to design and use them better.

Big U.S. banks passed a round of stress tests conducted by the Fed. Meanwhile, one former Goldman Sachs employee is speaking out on the corporate culture there, which he claims leaves much to be desired.

The solar sector in the U.S. did very well in 2011, installing nearly twice as much capacity as the previous year — a record. And the industry still expects to have an even better 2012.

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Paypal, the world's largest online payment processor, offers a new service to real-world merchants. What does this mean for rival Square?

Aereo is supposed to launch today but it’s already being sued. The company's antennae system could change the way people can access television.

Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, talks about her body-shaping business in our latest Conversation from the Corner Office.

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