Week of November 5th, 2012

To help tap financial donors and to get out the vote, we knew the Obama campaign was crunching big data. But, until now, it wasn't very clear how big.

Felix Salmon of Reuters and Catherine Rampell from the New York Times discuss the big topic of the day — the fiscal cliff. Hard to avoid.

ClassDojo, a free app for teachers, aims to help them with classroom management.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke coined the term “fiscal cliff” to describe that fallout if automatic tax hikes and spending cuts go into effect — but what else could the situation be called? Amazon has uncorked its new wine marketplace in many states. Kai Ryssdal talks to a gas station owner in New York who is staying open despite not having gas. We hear about the economic benefits to price gouging. And there’s a new Archbishop of Canterbury, and he has an unconventional business background.

Gas stations in New York and New Jersey continue to face post-storm problems. Not having gas in their pumps.

Yes, the Internet retail giant is getting into the wine-selling business. Its new online store will offer about 1,000 different kinds.

The Church of England has named Justin Welby its most senior priest. It may be bad news for British bankers, as Welby is a one-time oil executive who is often critical of what he sees as the excesses of capitalism.

The automatic income-tax increases and budget cuts scheduled for year's end don't all take effect immediately, so why call it a "fiscal cliff"? Because it gets attention.

Price-gouging during natural disaster is illegal, and New Jersey is prosecuting some gas stations after Hurricane Sandy. But gouging also is a means for distributing more broadly, because it discourages hoarding.

President Obama's challenge in a nutshell: Appease Main Street and soothe Wall Street. Apple's stock slides. New York brings back the 70's post-Sandy. Colorado and Washington legalize marijuana. And the economic niche where candy and antiperspirant meet.

Critics of payday lending say the industry is ripe for abuse and should be tightly controlled. Commentator Tom Lehman says the practice can actually be helpful, for individuals and the financial system as a whole.

Most of us don't think of the words "farmer" and "soldier" together. But surprisingly, farming may be a great option for soldiers returning home from war.

When you receive bad news from your physician, money is often the last thing on your mind. But it's something you should consider. One doctor offers a few tips.

On Tuesday voters in Colorado and Washington approved legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes.

Now that President Barack Obama has been re-elected, it's time to get to work. Two pressing issues: moving forward with the Affordable Care Act and the looming fiscal cliff.

Virtual bank accounts allow parents to deposit allowance online and teach kids about spending and saving.

President Obama makes his first public comments since election night, expected to size up climb up 'fiscal cliff'

Vets often face long delays in resolving disability claims, and need assistance to tide them over.

The European Central Bank says it's going to issue new currency notes next year. The new notes, redesigned to improve security, will feature images from Greek mythology.

Gas rationing is back in New York City and parts of Long Island. And — like in the 1970s oil crisis — cars that end in an even number fill up on even days, and odd plates on odd days.

Despite booming sales of popular products like the iPhone 5, Apple stock is falling. And some question the company's future as an innovator.

To help tap financial donors and to get out the vote, we knew the Obama campaign was crunching big data. But, until now, it wasn’t very clear how big. Michael Scherer, White House correspondent for Time got an inside-look at the math wizards, behavioral scientists and other data specialists helping to drive the campaign. His access was given on condition: He not publish anything until it was all over. 

If there's one message that both political parties have taken away from the election, it's that the demographics of the electorate are changing. Could it shake up Washington?

It's a whole new kind of follower.

Opinions on the future of China’s economy differ widely among analysts. Those who are bearish on China say it’s crash may already be here. Storm Sandy totaled tens of thousands of vehicles, and that’s expected to raise prices for used cars across the country. If there’s one message that both political parties have taken away from the election, it’s that the demographics of the electorate are changing. How will population diversity effect what gets done in Washington?

Elections with national implications get a lot of media attention, but it's the local races that can have a huge impact on the lives of everyday Americans.

As China changes leaders this week, opinions on the future of China's economy differ widely among analysts. Those bearish on China say it's crash may already be here.

The country voted this past week. What does President Barack Obama’s re-election mean for health care and the fiscal cliff? We also look at the impact of local elections on your personal finance. Plus, America honors its veterans this week. Their biggest burdens aren’t just mental or physical — they’re also financial. And in a perfect world, you would only have to pay for the cable channels you actually watch, right? We’re exploring the future of TV.

A new patent for Xbox Kinect might be trying to watch you for copyright owners, and users are getting tired of politics on social media, even though they're still posting about it.

McDonald’s sales are down for the first time since 2003. AT&T has decided to scrap their landlines and invest in wireless services instead. Walmart is ramping things up for Black Friday especially early this year. Amy Scott talks to a teacher who taught high school at Chicago’s Cook County Jail. Germany houses about half of its gold in a vault beneath the Federal Reserve building, and some Germans are anxious to know if the gold is actually there. And China is going through a major leadership change.

More than 120 million Americans watch videos on YouTube every month, and yet the streaming video site is struggling to monetize that audience. YouTube videos are short — and, often, one-hit wonders.

McDonald's same-store sales fell in October due to lower global demand, increasing competition and gains by “higher end” fast food chains.

After losing her job teaching at a high school in the county jail, Donielle Lawson wants to stay in education.

The 18th Party Congress will hand power from the President Hu Jintao to his successor, Xi Jinping. It's so carefully managed, the government have removed window cranks from taxicabs, so would-be protesters can't cram leaflets in ping-pong balls and throw them at party delegates.

California lawmakers acquire a long-lost superpower: Taxation. The start of the once-a-decade change in leadership in China. And Barack Obama's prospects next to other notable two-termers: Reagan, Clinton and Bush the younger.

AT&T is making a big investment in its digital network — and signaling its original, and extremely reliable, copper-wire system is on the way out.

In California, voters may have beefed up Democrats to a two thirds majority in both the Assembly and Senate — a situation the state hasn't seen since 1933.

Retailers are trying to lure holiday shoppers earlier with guarantees that doorbuster items will be available.

Germany stores $80 billion in gold in New York. Some in Germany are clamoring to inspect it and possibly bring it back to Europe.

For months, political advertising glutted the airwaves in election swing states like Ohio, Florida and New Hampshire. Now that the election is over, there are cheap openings for regular advertisers. But they won't last long.

This election, in part driven by the discrepancy between most media analysis and Nate Silver's data-driven electoral model, has prompted a debate about polling in the new media landscape. Frank Newport, of Gallup, says his polling still works but could be tweaked.

Following Tuesday's election, the markets took a plunge. The major stock indexes all fell nearly 2.5 percent — the biggest sell-off of the year.

The Chinese Communist Party will hand over power to China's next leader during its party congress this week.

AT&T announced this week it will invest $14 billion over the next three years to beef up its wireless and broadband services. The news is good for wireless customers, but could portend the demise of the old fashioned landline phone.

With the election over and the numbers in, pollsters are now combing through the data to tell us who voted and what they were saying when they cast their votes. This year's big surprise: Latino turnout.

Microsoft has filed a patent for the Xbox gaming Kinect controller, and it has nothing to do with how well you dance Gangam style. It appears to be designed for figuring out if too many people are watching something on Xbox — a DVD, a Blue Ray disc, etc. If it detects a couple of people watching, fine. But what if it’s a dozen? That might constitute a real audience, and you’d have to pay more for a lisence to show it like you’re a theater.

Odd numbered license plates get to buy gas on odd numbered dates; evens on evens.

Depending on which economist you talk to, China is either on a steady path to overtake the U.S. as the world's number one economy or it's on the verge of economic collapse.

Climate change may regain priority in the Obama administration. One area where the President can act without Congress is supporting the Environmental Protection Agency as it writes new rules limiting emissions.

Despite fickle reputation, the Millennial generation may stay party-loyal.

We all waste time in different ways at work — maybe on Twitter or Facebook — could it actually be beneficial?

Polls drew a lot of eyeballs to media sites this election, but creating a good poll isn’t so easy. Despite fickle reputation, the Millennial generation may prove to stay party-loyal. Climate change may regain priority in the Obama administration. One area where the President can act without Congress is supporting the Environmental Protection Agency as it writes new rules limiting emissions. We all waste time in different ways at work — maybe on Twitter or Facebook — could it actually be beneficial?

Polls drew a lot of eyeballs to media sites this election, but creating a good poll isn't so easy.

President Obama and House Republicans both say they have it, but who has more?

We check back in with Olalah Njenga, a small business owner and formerly undecided voter.

A look at words, taglines and phrases that came out of past elections. Which were your favorites?

Share prices tanked the day after Obama’s re-election. Wall Street had rooted for Romney and his corporate, investment and personal tax cuts.

Revisiting the issue of money and its role in politics in this country.

President Obama’s been re-elected, but will his relationship with Wall Street be any different? We look at how Obama might spend his political capital. Kai Ryssdal follows up with a small business owner to see how she feels about the president being elected to a second term. Mitt Romney won’t be getting the presidential job; the Wealth & Poverty Desk looks at the job market for others in his demographic — unemployed 65-year-old white males. Meanwhile, the European Commission has cut its growth forecast for the eurozone for this year and next. And thousands of flights are being canceled due to the Nor’easter.

With the health care laws a sure thing, insurers are readying their sales pitches.

Gallup's editor-in-chief on last night's election results and the rise of poll "aggregators."

If you're 65 and unemployed, you're more likely to be that way for a long time.

The storm clouds are gathering over the European economy. The European Commission says the economy in the European Union will shrink this year and that next year it will only barely grow.

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Passengers can buy flight insurance to cover canceled trips. But when planes can't fly, airlines have no such protection.

Conservative super donors fared poorly on Election Day

Now that President Barack Obama has been re-elected, we take a look at what the election results mean for the economy and fiscal cliff. Plus, what role did big money from outside groups play in this election? And we look at what's next for Obamacare, the impact on China, and whether Obama's victory will lead to compromise or more gridlock.

It is Obama 2.0 — what are the technology issues that will dominate over the next four years of the new Obama Administration?

It is Obama 2.0. The current president of the United States is set to stay in the job until January 20th, 2017. In “tech-years” that is an enormous amount of time, so forecasts are tough. But what are the technology issues that will dominate over the next four years of the new Obama Administration?

Accepting a second term, President Obama looked to the horizon with a view for where he wants to take us in the next four years, but at the moment that horizon extends about as far as December 31st. Mission one post-election for the president and Congress is steering clear of the "fiscal cliff."

As he spoke about his re-election, President Obama looked to the horizon over the the next four years — but at the moment that horizon extends only as far as December 31st — the date of the so-called fiscal cliff.

With both Governor Romney and President Obama calling for bipartisanship, we check in with two dueling economists to help chart the course ahead.

Car country played a big role in President Obama's re-election last night. Michigan and Ohio both benefited from the auto industry bailout and both went for the President last night.

Much of the estimated $6 billion in campaign spending this election came from Super PACs who raised millions and then funneled that money into races. Did it pay off?

Across the world in China, American expats spent this morning watching election returns at an event hosted by the Shanghai chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce.

With the election now in the rear view mirror, a sense of certainty has settled over the political landscape. But what does the election result mean for the markets and business outlook?

Now that President Obama has been reelected, implementation of the Affordable Care Act will shift into high gear, which gives some small business owners a stomach ache.

President Obama has been re-elected to lead the country for four more years — what do the election results mean for the economy, fiscal cliff negotiations, and the fate of Wall Street?

What does Obama's victory mean for the economy, monetary policy, and the fiscal cliff? Exit polls showed a majority of Ohioans favored the auto industry bailout which may have put Obama over the edge in the swing state.

President Obama has been re-elected to lead the country for four more years — what do the election results mean for the markets? Also, how well did Super PAC spending pay off this election?

President Obama has been re-elected to lead the country for four more years — what do the election results mean for the markets? Also, how is China reacting to the news?

President Obama has been re-elected to lead the country for four more years — what do the election results mean for the economy, the fiscal cliff negotiations, and the fate of Wall Street? Now that President Obama has been re-elected, implementation of the Affordable Care Act will shift into high gear, which gives some small business owners an upset stomach.

With both Governor Romney and President Obama calling for bipartisanship, we check in with two dueling economists to help chart the course ahead.

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Whoever it is, the next president could benefit from an improving economy. Housing prices are rising again and unemployment is expected to fall.

Geographer Harm de Blij on the destiny of an unstable union.

Outside political groups expected to focus their dollars on post-election issues.

In many ways, the 2012 presidential election is a referendum on a number: the nation's unemployment rate of 7.9 percent. Reporters in Oklahoma City (unemployment around 5 percent) and San Bernardino, Calif., (unemployment pushing 12 percent) look behind the numbers.

It’s Election Day. San Bernardino has one the highest unemployment rates in the country while Oklahoma City has one of the lowest; our reporters check in to see how voters are feeling in both cities. Some people have experienced long waits at their polling places today — how does constant waiting affect us financially and psychologically? No matter who wins the presidency tonight, they will inherit an improving economy. Even when this election is over, super PACs are here to stay. And we hear about workplace etiquette for the day after the election. Hint: It’s not polite to gloat if your guy wins.

The leading candidate for mayor of Honolulu has pledged to derail a $5 billion rail project to help ease Oahu’s terrible traffic.

An economist and an engineer on the frustrations and virtues of waiting.