Marketplace for Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009

Segments From This Episode

• Obama urges action on stimulus

  by John Dimsdale

  President-elect Obama urged Congress to act swiftly to approve his massive stimulus package, warning of the consequences that could happen if nothing is done. Though the details of the plan are a little murky, John Dimsdale reports it sounds pretty familiar.

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• Consumers expect to buy low

  by Stacey Vanek Smith

  

  The 2008 holiday shopping season was one of the worst ever. Retailers offered a lot of sales, but it didn't get people to hit up the stores. As Stacey Vanek-Smith reports, all those markdowns have created an expectation from consumers and put retailers in a bad spot.

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• Dell’s move a big blow to Ireland

  Dell is planning to cut 1,900 manufacturing jobs in Ireland. That move could trigger even more job losses in the local supply chain. As Stephen Beard reports, Dell's move could be a big blow to Ireland's manufacturing industry.

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• Home Depot ends Olympic sponsorship

  by Jeremy Hobson

  Home Depot is ending its sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic team, bringing to close a 16-year program that allowed athletes to work part-time at the construction retailer while enjoying full-time benefits and pay. Jeremy Hobson reports.

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• The business of the BCS

  by Marketplace Staff

  The Oklahoma Sooners will face off against the Florida Gators in the final game of college football's Bowl Championship Series tonight. The BCS ranking system decides who makes the national championship, but has been controversial ever since its inception 10 years ago. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Diana Nyad about the business of the BCS.

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• Taking Stock: Get banks smaller

  by Marketplace Staff

  There are a lot of reasons why our economy is in a sorry state. Among them, the way we've done business and how banks have been structured. Kai Ryssdal speaks with management expert Charles Handy about how we got in this current economic mess.

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• Less product, same price

  by Sean Cole

  Have you noticed there's less peanut butter in your jar? Some packaged goods companies have been reducing the weight of certain products and selling them for the same price. Sean Cole asks: Is it deceptive?

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