Marketplace for Wednesday, Oct.31, 2007

Segments From This Episode

• Will economy keep rolling or blow a tire?

  by Steve Tripoli

  While the Fed is cutting interest rates to ward off an economic slowdown, the latest GDP numbers are strong — a seeming schizophrenia that has markets jumping around. But many economists have an explanation that encompasses all the numbers. Steve Tripoli reports.

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• Do-not-track list proposed for Web

  by Steve Henn

  A coalition of consumer privacy groups is pushing for the creation of a national do-not-track list that would allow Web surfers to stop Internet companies from recording their personal behavior online. Steve Henn reports.

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• Airline safety study to be made public

  by John Dimsdale

  NASA chief Michael Griffin has promised Congress he will release results of a six-year-long study of airline safety that reportedly finds there have been many more near-collisions between aircraft than previously revealed. John Dimsdale reports.

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• ‘Black Friday’ comes early this year

  by Bob Moon

  As far is the nation's biggest retailer is concerned, the holiday shopping season has arrived. Wal-Mart is going to be offering some hot discounts this Friday to get Christmas shopping started early. What about waiting until the day after Thanksgiving? Bob Moon reports.

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• Pumpkin tax hits like pie in the face

  by Kai Ryssdal

  The Iowa Department of Revenue has decided pumpkins sold for decoration and not eating should be taxed. Kai Ryssdal talked to pumpkin-patch operator Bob Kautz about the decision and the slice it's taken from his profits.

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• CEOs creating value — for themselves

  by Marketplace Staff

  Who's to blame for the mortgage mess that's still reverberating through the economy? Commentator Robert Reich thinks it's the same people who cashed in before the credit bubble burst.

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• Power from pond scum

  by Marketplace Staff

  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is going to restart its research into algae as a replacement for oil and gas. In fact, the lab is going to team up with Chevron for the project. Michael Montgomery reports.

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• Offering one last ride in Hog heaven

  by Marketplace Staff

  They may never run out of potential customers, but funeral directors still have to stay competitive. Carl Marziali reports on how some are attracting those who like to follow Harleys — one last time.

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