Week of April 30th, 2012

Target and Amazon are at war. Target is going to stop selling the Amazon Kindle in its stores. The issue seems to be a practice known as “showrooming.” That’s when a web retailer like Amazon encourages customers to go to a store like Target, scan the barcode of an item with a smartphone, then see if they can get it cheaper online. Maybe buy it from Amazon while they’re standing in Target. Showrooming is on the rise, and retailers are getting nervous. Also, email and the stress levels of workers in an office environment.

In the U.K., voters delivered big losses to the ruling Conservative party yesterday. This weekend, voters in both France and Greece will go to the polls and the expectation is that they’ll be in a bit of an anti-austerity mood. Are 401(k)s really the right ticket to a happy retirement? The movie “The Avengers” opens in the U.S. today — but it has already brought in more than $250 million around the world. And tomorrow is the 138th Kentucky Derby. Horse raising is a multi-billion dollar business, and a growing percentage of that money is being spent on cutting-edge veterinary care.

It may be a lousy job market out there — STILL — but some kids are young enough to believe their dream job awaits. We’ll hear what they learned from mom and dad on Take your Daughter or Son to Work Day. And maybe it’s time to put your money in a bottle. A wine bottle. The wine world has its own index and everything — but should you invest? If you just want to sip it, we also have advice on how to get the best wine for the lowest price. And NFL great and multi-millionaire Warren Sapp gives his first broadcast interview since filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. So how does it happen?

Unemployment fell slightly last month, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Not counted: the number of people who have given up looking for work. The Labor Department’s report also noted which job fields are hot, and not. Meanwhile, Wall Street is getting Facebook fever ahead of the company’s highly anticipated IPO. The government has released new rules on fracking. And filmmaker Jessica Yu talks about her new documentary, which discusses the scarcity of water and how it could reshape economies.  

Fidelity said this week that our 401(k) account balances were up 8 percent on average in the first quarter of this year. But the major stock market indexes were up even more than that. So are 401(k)s really the right ticket to a happy retirement?

The government released its closely-watched employment report for April. While the unemployment rate ticked down to 8.1 percent, only 115,000 new jobs were added to payrolls for the month, well below forecasts.

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Want to win this weekend's Kentucky Derby? Start with a fast horse, then add a pile of cash for medical expenses.

Where are the best places in the U.S. for cheapskates to live?

People are arriving in Omaha now for that "Woodstock of Capitalism," the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, billionaire Warren Buffett's conglomerate. The official materials recommend two steakhouses for visiting shareholders.

If, as expected, socialist Francois Hollande is elected the next president of France this weekend, to what extent will budget realities crimp his ability to ease off the austerity that he believes is hurting the economy?

In an age of uncertainty on the stock markets, shrewd investors in London are investing their money in fine wines and reaping a handsome return.

The latest trends in the labor market suggest you’re better off looking for job that produces a service, not a physical product.

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Checking back in with truck driver Don Holzschuh out on the road for his perspective on the U.S. economic recovery.

From the “drunken binge of borrowing” led to the European debt crisis to sound in marketing to the music bridges played on Marketplace, a behind-the-scenes look at some of our favorite stories of the week.

Alan Krueger, chair of the President's Council of Economic Advisers, discusses the latest jobs report and whether the numbers for April are mediocre.

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Companies will have to disclose the chemicals they use to force oil and gas out of the ground. But only after they extract them, not beforehand.

Reviewing the week's headlines on Wall Street and beyond. This week: The 115,00 jobs added in April in the United States.

Unemployment fell slightly last month, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. Not counted: the number of people who have given up looking for work.

The big red retailer is sick of showing off products just to lose the sale to the e-tailer.

Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day has evolved since it was first started — for daughters only — 20 years ago.

Commentator Peter Morici sees a link between what we study and what we owe.

This weekend, voters in both France and Greece will go to the polls, and the expectation is that they'll be in a bit of an anti-austerity mood. One clue came yesterday in the U.K. where voters delivered big losses to the ruling Conservative party.

Documentary filmmaker Jessica Yu's new film, "Last Call at the Oasis," explores the water crisis in the U.S. and its impact.

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If watched closely, is it wise to jump between aggressive stock funds and bond funds during market runs such as the bull run so far this year? The year-to-date return is 18 percent for my strategy. My Fidelity account has rules regarding moving between funds, so I have to navigate those rules also. Marty, Cincinnati, OH

The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent while the jobs added was a bit lower than previous months. But what can we find when we scratch the surface of the April unemployment report?

"The Avengers" is expected to be a big hit this weekend. It’s already garnered more than $250 million overseas. Why didn’t it debut at home?

Spirit's new fee made us dig into the archives to see what else airlines can charge us for.

Going over listeners' responses to past broadcasts. This week: Defending the importance of internships and criticizing the advocacy of fake flowers.

Our New York bureau chief Heidi Moore tells us why we shouldn't be moved by the monthly jobs numbers.

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Facebook has set its valuation at $76 billion to $96 billion, and shares will be at $28 to $35 each. What does this tell us about the company and about CEO Mark Zuckerberg?

After last year’s tsunami in Japan, millions of tons of debris floated across the Pacific, some of it reaching all the way to the West Coast of the U.S. Now, someone is going to have to pay to clean it up. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner are in China today and some of the focus is on on a blind Chinese dissident who took refuge at the U.S. embassy in Beijing. And this election year, you’re going to hear a lot about government regulations, and whether they’re too tough or not tough enough.  

Venerable educational institutions like Harvard and MIT are giving away education online for free in a new partnership called Ed X. Classes start in the fall — online. Students do five to 10 minute videos, interlaced with online exercises that give instant feedback. There’s no emails — it’s all browser-based and online. And at the end, if you master a subject, you get a Certificate of Mastery. Which is neat but not quite a Ph.D or anything anyone’s ever heard of. So what good is it?

The White House and carmakers have agreed to higher fuel efficiency standards for cars — and it could still lead to higher gas prices. The average compensation for CEOs rose more than 10 percent last year, according to a report out today. Chesapeake Energy is one of the stars of the North American oil and gas boom, but its stock has dropped 25 percent this month. Unpaid interns increasingly say they’re being exploited. And Politico’s John Bresnahan talks about the high rate of return Rep. Brad Sherman has on invested campaign money.

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The head of the European Central Bank said today that economic growth has to be central to the plan to get Europe out of its debt crisis

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The cartoon character is a huge cash cow for Nickelodeon, but are there signs that SpongeBob is falling out of favor with kids?

And no one has clue who will pay for the clean-up of tons of debris.

Gallup reports on its latest findings: What Americans are doing with their money.

Starbucks is working with a pioneer in microlending in developing countries – the Grameen Foundation – to lend money to small coffee farmers.

As general wages stagnate, CEO pay rose 10 percent last year. Shareholders are increasingly challenging the pay packages. Some boards are listening.

A record level of unemployed workers are dealing with long-term unemployment — including one particular group.

Bill Clinton is warning Europeans that the prescription of austerity, quote "continues to be pushed in the face of evidence that it won't work." For those not inclined to accept this kind of economic advice from an ex-U.S. president, the question arises: who do Americans trust to handle these matters?

State and local budget deficits led to a surge in job cuts in education, and high gas prices hobbled the transportation industry, sending monthly planned layoffs up in April, according to job firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas

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CEOs in the U.S. earned nearly $6 million on average, up 15 percent over last year and 28 percent the year before that.

CEOs get a raise as average pay goes up 15 percent. Meanwhile, planned job cuts rose 7 percent in April, with the education sector hardest hit. The head of the European Central Bank said today that economic growth has to be central to the plan to get Europe out of its debt crisis. But a shift away from austerity will be easier said than done. Plus, Clinton and Geithner meet in China for talks; Tsunami trash headed to our Pacific shores; and older workers facing softening job market.

States are trying to make it harder for new regulations and rules to be enacted in the first place.

A new study finds financial incentives push doctors to offer pricier elective treatments. But CEOs can push back.

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Bank overdraft rules are poorly understood, especially by two groups: the young and low-income consumers.

What instruments do you recommend for saving for our 11 grandchildren's postsecondary education? We have recently sold a property and intend to invest $10,000 per child, ranging in age from less than 1 year to 15 years of age. Thanks, Pat (Grandmommie), St George Island, FL

The Congressional Budget Office says the White House plan to raise fuel efficiency could mean more potholes, or higher gas prices.

Many lawmakers invest campaign contributions, but not all make money. Former accountant and Democrat from California Brad Sherman has made over $650,000 on Treasury securities.

Southeastern Asset Management asserts itself amid potential conflicts of interest by Chesapeake CEO. How far will it push for change?

Commentator Teresa Amabile says don't count on it.

Founder Mark Zuckerberg will also sell 30 million of his own personal shares as part of the IPO.

The unpaid internship is a common work experience for many college and graduate students. But now some are saying that businesses need to pay up.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner are in China this morning. They're supposed to be talking about issues like trade. But instead, everyone's focused on a blind Chinese dissident who took refuge at the U.S. embassy in Beijing and is now asking for asylum in the United States.

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Venerable educational institutions like Harvard and MIT are giving away education online for free. So what can you do with it?

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President Obama said last night during his speech in Kabul, Afghanistan that the goal is for Afghan forces to lead combat operations by next year. Here in this country we’ll get some indication this morning of how the housing market is doing. Another way to gauge the health of the housing market, of course, is to check one of those websites like Zillow or Trulia. Executives from the online TV site Hulu are in New York today — along with their counterparts from Yahoo, Youtube and AOL — selling their content to advertisers. Elsewhere in New York, the painting known as The Scream goes on auction at Sotheby’s.

Facebook is helping people become organ donors. You can now go to the site, search ‘organ donor,’ find links to sign up and list yourself as a donor on your timeline. The hope is that more people sign up on Facebook because it’s more pleasant than the DMV, where you can become a donor when you renew your license. Plus, the latest in boom box technology — and there is such a thing.

Online networks like Hulu are trying to compete with traditional networks for advertising. Europe’s austerity economics is plunging the continent into recession, and commentator Robert Reich says the U.S. isn’t far behind. Mastercard reported a 25 percent increase in first quarter profits. Kai Ryssdal talks to Marketo CEO Phil Fernandez about Facebook’s upcoming road show and about to “sell” a company ahead of an IPO. And on the latest installment of Freakonomics radio, the hidden side of flowers as gifts.  

You may not take a diet or nutritional supplement made by the company Herbalife, but you might want to watch its stock today, which is rebounding at the moment. But Tuesday, shareholders lost $1.6 billion, all because one activist investor asked a few questions.

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The Edward Munch painting goes on sale today, and is expected to fetch upwards of $80 million. The century-old painting has found continued relevance in pop culture.

Commentator Robert Reich says new recession could follow if the U.S. adopts Europe's deep cuts in government spending.

Services like Hulu want revenue, but it's moving toward relying on viewers — in addition to advertisers — to pay. The new model may mean that consumers may not be able to cut their cable cord quite yet.

For many Europeans, the effects of the debt crisis are felt very close to home — with unemployment soaring and manufacturing suffering.

The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team is officially under new ownership now, ending Frank McCourt's reign. But he's not completely off the payroll yet.

At a press conference today, the new owners took a big first step at making amends for what was generally regarded as a disastrous tenure by the much-disliked Frank McCourt.

In anticipation of its IPO, Facebook will be going on the road to pitch itself to mutual funds and investors. What happens in these presentations?

The social media company Facebook is expected to sell its stock publically sometime this month and would likely be valued by the stock market something like $100 billion. It could start officially selling stock on May 18th.

MasterCard reported a 21 percent jump in quarterly profit after the biggest jump in card swipes — to 7.7 billion — since the company went public in 2006.

Students begin a hunger strike today to protest fee hikes at California State Universities. The fee hikes are not just in California.

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High hopes for a program to bring out of the DMV and onto social media.