Marketplace for Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Segments From This Episode

• Putting the bad numbers into context

  by Bob Moon

  Numbers released today show that November wasn't a good month for factory orders or home sales. Both fell. But there is a little bit of good news in the services sector. Bob Moon reports on the latest numbers.

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• Europe low on fuel without Russian gas

  The dispute between Russia and Ukraine is heating up. While the two countries fight over the price of natural gas and an unpaid bill, several European nations are caught in the middle. Stephen Beard reports that many nations are warning of fuel shortages.

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• Cheap oil puts Venezuela over a barrel

  by Dan Grech

  High oil prices have kept Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez popular over the years. But with oil prices falling and a stack of bills piling up, the Venezuelan economy is at risk of collapsing. Dan Grech reports.

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• A look inside Countrywide

  by Marketplace Staff

  Countrywide Financial is arguably the company at the heart of the mortgage financial crisis. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Countrywide's former Senior Vice President of Marketing Adam Michaelson about his experiences at the company.

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• Asphalt shortage makes recovery rough

  by Marketplace Staff

  President-elect Obama wants to spend nearly $300 billion on infrastructure projects to create jobs and boost the ailing economy. But road and bridge repairs will require a lot of asphalt, and as Joel Rose reports, a shortage of it could spell trouble.

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• Letters: Astrology, retirement, priorities

  by Marketplace Staff

  Listeners had strong reactions to stories about astrology and retirement in the Marketplace mailbox this week. Also, Kai Ryssdal tells us that FDIC isn't really an acronym at all.

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• Peer pressure pushes people to go green

  by Sarah Gardner

  A growing body of research shows the most effective way to get people to go green is not through do-good appeals, but rather peer pressure. Sarah Gardner reports on the latest research findings.

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