Week of November 19th, 2012

The Weekly Wrap breaks down why people continue to shop in stores on Black Friday and whether a breakup of the euro might actually happen.

About 80 percent of U.S. currency is now printed in the $100 denomination. Surprised? Quartz reporter Matt Phillips explains how this came to be.

Walmart announced today that it’s had its best Black Friday ever. Meanwhile, shoppers at some stores passed workers who’d walked out. It seems Superstorm Sandy is, in fact, giving a boost to the economy. We hear about fans of the Florida Marlins who were upset by the team’s latest trades. One community college is cutting hours for some its faculty in order to comply with the Affordable Care Act. An art college in Maryland has found a new way to feed its students while also cutting costs. And Kai Ryssdal talks to Quartz reporter Matt Phillips about why nearly 80 percent of all U.S. currency in circulation is $100 bills.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig approved a trade this week that sent the Miami Marlins' highest-priced talent to the Toronto Blue Jays. This comes not long after taxpayers built the Marlins a fancy new stadium.

Baltimore art school looks to reduce costs as applications fall.

When the Affordable Care Act takes effect in 2014, some employers may cut workers' hours to avoid providing benefits.

Hurricane Sandy caused damage and pain across several states. With the clean-up still in its first stages, rebuilding and repairing could become an economic boost.

Wa-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, had impressive Black Friday sales, including more than 1.3 million televisions. Outside some stores, employees and supporters picketed for higher wages and better benefits.

Americans trash millions of dollars worth of Thanksgiving turkey.

True or false: Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year. Purdue University professor Richard Feinberg says false. He debunks some common assumptions about the holiday shopping season and offers sound advice.

Why Black Friday is shaping up to be a bit more lackluster than last year, your Christmas dinner could be a bit more expensive, and Mexico could soon be renaming itself.

Today is supposed to be the day that retailers wait the whole year for; the day consumers line up early to be the first ones to get those Black Friday specials.

The national foreclosure rate increased by more than 3 percent in October compared to the previous month. Some groups across the country are trying to change that by buying underwater mortgages and keeping families in their homes.

Argentina is probably not feeling very thankful this morning. It's still digesting a U.S. court ruling involving a decade-long debt fight.

Flying used to be a glamorous job, but today's pilots work long hours for less pay. What does a shortage of pilots in the commercial airline industry mean for the future of flying and ticket prices?

A study says rather than lining up for those doorbusting deals today, you could do just as well by shopping at other times of the year.

Glencore, the Swiss commodities trading firm, is trying to takeover a mining company called Xstrata. And the deal just got a stamp of approval from European regulators.

Shopping headaches today? Take two tablets… or perhaps four. Tablet computers, the ones you control with your fingers, are considered the big gadgets of the season. The fresh iPad from Apple, Amazon’s Kindle Fire, Google’s Nexus and the Surface from Microsoft are key options. But which is the best?

While you were eating that Turkey, two giant companies were inching ever closer to a $33 billion marriage. Glencore, the Swiss commodities trading firm, is trying to takeover a mining company called Xstrata. If you head out for some Black Friday shopping today, take a moment to think about where those products are made: Probably in a big warehouse somewhere. But the way that warehouse operates may be changing, with a greater focus on skilled workers and technology. Plus, why holiday food prices may be a bit higher than normal this December.

The drought has already affected livestock feed prices. Holiday dinner shopping list prices may be next.

Americans waste an estimated 40 percent of the food we make. But how does that stand up on Thanksgiving, a holiday known for its leftovers?

Some analysts believe home buyers' willingness to take out mortgages might be running ahead of banks' willingness to lend to them. But there are likely other factors at play.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, right? Not exactly. We bust the biggest Black Friday myths. Plus, how many Thanksgiving leftovers are in your fridge? Reporter Nancy Marshall-Genzer on the economics of wasted leftovers. And a look at why the fallout rate for signed mortgage contracts is the highest it’s been in more than two years, the reason why gas prices in Oklahoma are so low, and what a potential pilot shortage might mean for you.

Commentator Scott Huler says Thanksgiving traditions create routine, routine creates simplicity, and simplicity creates a stress-free environment — something we should all be thankful for.

Oklahoma not only boasts some of the lowest gas prices in the country, but also one of the highest concentrations of gas stations.

Is it worth holding off on a wedding until you and your fiancee get out of debt? Do you need a will if your spouse is your only family member? CBS MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger dispenses advice and tackles questions on finding the best contractor and getting a health savings account.

One of the hottest gadgets this holiday season will doubtless be the tablet…but which one?

Most people don't go to Black Friday's early store openings. But for retailers, it's like an arms race. If their competitors open early, they have to respond.

Enjoying Thanksgiving dinner? Your turkey may have cost a little bit more this year thanks to last summer’s drought. Planning to go Black Friday shopping? We look at why stores open so early, anyway. And if you’re planning to head to Walmart, you might encounter demonstrations. Some workers are planning a walkout over unfair pay. We talk with Gallup’s Frank Newport about who’s shopping on Black Friday and check in with two expats about how they’re doing on turkey day. Plus, stories on prestigious colleges offering courses online and will the U.K. leave the EU? 

Walmart workers will walk picket lines outside stores on Black Friday to protest the retail chain's low wages. Walmart, with more than a million employees, helps set pay levels for the retail industry.

Britain contributes far more to the budget of the European Union than it receives in subsidies for agriculture and infrastructure. Its prime minister wants to freeze the budget where it is.

Some business hors d'oeuvres before you're off to the main event: New proposed rules for the Affordable Care Act, a proposed budget for the European Union, and what you all really want to hear about: some speed bumps to expect on your way to the turkey dinner.

This summer's drought meant higher corn prices, and turkeys eat a lot of corn. So restaurants — and you — will pay more this Thanksgiving.

Long lines, huge crowds, frenzied shopping — how many people are willing to brave the juggernaut known as Black Friday to get a good deal?

Today we start with a story of the sock puppet and the politician that should put us all on alert for digital dirty tricks. In Britain — as in the U.S. — here is a debate about so-called payday loans: how much is too much to charge, for very short-term lending to people with low incomes. A British member of parliament pushing to cap these fees found herself getting attacked on Twitter. But it’s Thanksgiving, so instead of nasty tweets, let’s make the world a better place. One Silicon Valley entrepreneur has a plan: he wants startup companies to engage in more philanthropy.

Happy Thanksgiving! If you’re planning on driving a rental car to the family dinner today, it might not be as easy as you are used to. One estimate shows that 250,000 cars were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, and all those people looking for temporary transportation is starting to create a shortage at the rental car companies. While you’re on the road, beware of yellow traffic lights. Some cities are being accused of making those lights shorter than usual to get more money out of red light cameras. Plus, a little explanation of negative interest rates from our in house economist, Chris Farrell.

You don't need to wait until Black Friday — shopping will start today in many places. But are consumers ready to spend?

Japan's stock market is at a six and a half month high. And that's in part thanks to expectations that Japan's version of the Federal Reserve is about to get aggressive by setting negative interest rates, to get investors to stop putting their money into government bonds.

European Union leaders are gathering in Brussels to hammer out a budget for the EU. And the task will not be easy with the continent still trying desperately to claw its way out of debt.

Hurricane Sandy damaged hundreds of thousands of cars, so it's been tough to find a rental in time for holiday travel.

Advocates say new, online programs will revolutionize higher education both in cyberspace and in the face-to-face classroom. But they may also be a threat to America's less-prestigious colleges and universities.

Apparently turkeys can be made to gobble on cue.

Americans may be stuffing themselves with turkey on Thanksgiving, but what about Americans on the other side of the pond?

Marketplace tech looks at the digital form of something called “sock puppeting,” and how one Silicon Valley success story thinks start ups should be more involved in philanthropy.

When a hurricane costs billions to clean up, who should foot the bill?

Health advocates say the new rules under the Affordable Care Act still allow insurers too much flexibility in the coverage they offer.

Video game producers are turning to the crowd-funding site Kickstarter to fund their projects. And people are forking over the big bucks with no guarantee they'll actually get their hands on the video game.

Hostess, maker of Twinkies, won court approval to wind down. Who will sell of its brands and factories? Companies called liquidators.

Jobs are better, but fewer, as high-tech machines replace lower-skilled warehouse loaders and handlers

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is a national phenom, but his "Johnny Football" nickname has sparked a legal battle over naming rights.

Many Americans get the day off for Thanksgiving. But you know who's going to be really busy? Your friendly neighborhood plumber.

Hostess, maker of Twinkies, has won court approval to wind down. More and more companies are switching from Blackberry to iPhones and other Apple products. The Texas A&M football team has been wildly successful and it’s got others looking to cash in on the glory. Some video game companies are using the crowd-funding site Kickstarter to raise millions of dollars, but there is no guarantee that people will get the video games they want. We hear about whether federal insurance money should go to people whose houses have been repeatedly destroyed by natural disasters. And we ask a plumber if Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days for the industry.

Some cities with red-light traffic cameras are accused of reducing times for yellow lights to boost revenue from tickets.

Going behind the scenes to pay tribute to one of Marketplace's beloved reporters.

U.S. prosecutors have filed their biggest-ever case of insider trading. The allegation: SAC Capital Advisors, a hedge fund, got early warning about the failure of an Alzheimer's drug in clinical trials. That info let the fund sell its holdings in the companies behind the drug, and reap $276 million.

Conflict of interest behind the biggest ever case of insider trading. Find out what early holiday gift Walmart is hoping for this year and why air travel is even less fun than usual right now. Plus, and indulge in the latest Internet fad: spot Mitt Romney.

On this busiest travel day of the year, some flyers are finding air travel even less enjoyable than usual. Prices are rising, planes are packed… Just finding a flight in some markets can be tough. But the troubles don't end at the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

It's no surprise that this time of year marks the beginning of an important period for the strength of retail in America. But is the outlook full of holiday cheer?

Last-ditch talks to save the Hostess company from liquidation have failed. The Twinkie maker will likely begin the (legal) winding down process to shut everything down and sell off remaining brands and assets.

The National Transportation Safety Board is following the lead of other agencies in replacing Blackberries with iPhones. Its original advantage — security — isn't as valued as smartphones' features.

In any mining boom, some people are there to work in it, others are there to supply them. Need a knife in Williston, N.D.? Talk to Bobcat John.

A meeting to agree Greece’s next round of bailout money has ended after almost 12 hours with no decision. Athens won't get vital bailout funds without an agreement.

24 million people are expected to board airplanes this week, and all relying on complex computer systems to keep everything sorted out. As United Airlines combines with Continental, it has been struggling with its computer foul ups, including one last week that delayed more than 600 flights. If you think about it, flying is like factory logistics: everyone’s hoping for just-in-time delivery. The widget you hope gets there “just in time” is yourself.

Yesterday, Hewlett-Packard announced that it was misled when it acquired the British software firm Autonomy last year. That acquisition forced the company to take an $8.8 billion hit to its bottom line last quarter.

Hewlett Packard’s stock is at a 10 year low this morning after the company announced that it was misled when it acquired the British software firm Autonomy last year. That acquisition forced the company to take an $8.8 billion hit to its bottom line last quarter. But what’s Autonomy’s side of the story? And with Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, we’re in for the biggest shopping season of the year. But whatever you buy might not look quite as perfect as it does in the catalog or online.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for the Greeks.

Nokia's new maps app could give Apple a run for its mobile money, and understanding why airline computer systems are prone to massive crashes.

U.S. criticism of Chinese investment in key technology sectors such as aviation could cost the U.S. opportunities, say experts.

French bonds fell today in the wake of Moody's downgrading the nation's credit rating. So is the second largest economy in Europe shrugging its collective shoulders? Non!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are Thanksgiving shopping fixtures. But don’t overlook Black Wednesday and Small Business Saturday.

Author Rubén Martínez discusses our relationship with the desert and why we keep returning to it.

Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman talks to Kai Ryssdal about the company’s quarterly loss and the allegations of misrepresentation. France has had a tough week, after being downgraded by Moody’s yesterday. Here in the U.S., some food pantries can’t afford to give away turkeys. High schools and colleges across the country have moved from grass to artificial turf for their sports fields, but there are health concerns involved. We hear another first-person narrative from the mancamps in North Dakota. And Ruben Martinez discusses his book “Desert America,” which looks at the economic boom and bust that’s changed the West.

One agency fills the turkey donation gap with free chickens instead.

Education lobbyists make up the lion's share of groups pushing to avert the 'fiscal cliff.'

Today's greatest hits: One to France's credit rating, and another to Hewlett-Packard. The reported raids on convenience store Twinkie stashes across the country may have been for nothing. We'll talk about what all these big money politcal donors are up to post-election and consider whethere there's anything you can really do, in the end, about your inevitable mid-life crisis.

Hewlett Packard says fraud is behind the big quarterly loss it unveiled this morning. The personal computing company is writing down $9 billion because of what it calls financial "misrepresentations" by a company it acquired last year.

Artificial grass has come a long way since AstroTurf, becoming a kinder, gentler surface for athletes to play on. The recycled tire crumbs it uses as cushioning, however, concern some parents.

The oil boom in North Dakota created tens of thousands of jobs with good wages — in the middle of nowhere. So for workers across the U.S., the boom is an opportunity to get back on their feet, pay off debts, save some money, at a cost — leaving their families behind.

Today, President Obama is on his way back to the United States after several days in Southeast Asia. His most recent stop in the tour was in Cambodia, where he attended an economic conference.

Europe's second largest economy, France, has just had its AAA credit rating downgraded by the rating agency Moody's.

We’re told the secret of humor is timing. So is the secret of rolling out the Thanksgiving meal. Today’s the day for planning the complicated logistics. A food and recipe website has been running scenarios for the holiday food extravaganza and has a piece of software that could be a guide to making sure everything gets ready on time.

Players and owners are expected to meet this morning to try and bring an end to the 66-day-old National Hockey League lockout. If they don't work things out and there's no season, it would be another setback for a sport that's still feeling the impact of a canceled season eight years ago.

Hostess Brands may not be dead after all. The company's management and workers will be back at the bargaining table one last time today to try and avoid liquidating the company. A private mediation will take place behind closed doors.

We’ll get quarterly earnings today from Hewlett-Packard — and when we do, we might see even more signs of  a big shift away from personal computers, and toward tablets and mobile devices. Is there still any money to be made selling PCs? It turns out that the Twinkie might just last a little longer, as Hostess Brands will be back at the bargaining table to try and avoid liquidating the company. And speaking of negotiations, players and owners of the NHL are expected to meet this morning to try and bring an end to the 66 day old lockout.

It has been two weeks since the election, and the big number we're going to focus on is: $6 billion. That's how much money was spent on the 2012 campaign… And a lot of that money came from big donors.

Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke says he believes that worries about the fiscal cliff are already affecting the economy.

A new app that coaches you through Thanksgiving dinner, and looking at the science behind the meal.

Last week, Dell's profits proved to be disappointing. Hewlett-Packard is next up to announce their earnings, as big personal computer makers feel the heat from tablets and smartphones.

North Dakota's oil boom has drawn thousands of workers to the state, overwhelming small towns. Rents are sky high. Workers live in barracks called mancamps. And there's not much to do besides work. One promoter brought martial arts fighting to town — the Williston Basin Blowout.

There’s optimism that a congressional compromise to avoid tripping over the fiscal cliff is all but a done deal. So what’s changed? Cranberries are big business in Massachusetts, but climate change is forcing growers there to rethink operations. The juggernaut that is Black Friday just keeps growing. And now it has extended beyond just sweaters and electronics. Plus, the oil boom in North Dakota has brought thousands of workers to the state, but there’s not a lot to do except work. So one promoter brought mixed martial-arts fights to town.

Marketers are turning to second screens like smartphones and tablets to peddle goods to TV viewers.

Cranberry growers in Massachusetts are starting to look elsewhere to farm as a warming climate makes managing bogs more expensive and interferes with the maturing of berries.

Sidney Rittenberg is one of the few Americans to join China's Communist Party. The one-time translator for Mao Tse-tung hopes China's new leaders have the courage to reform.

It took a natural disaster and a financial panic to get income taxes written into the U.S. Constitution. That was 1907. And even those who like public programs are still struggling to defend taxes.

President Obama is on a visit through Asia. Will his visit open up Southeast Asia economies? Congress is considering changes in the $80 Billion food stamp program, known as SNAP. Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya shares his views on the yogurt company's success. And the Long Island Power Authority is facing criticism for the way it responded to superstorm Sandy.