Segments From This Episode

• ‘Waiting’ on January’s employment data

  by Scott Tong

  The Labor Department will release its big January jobs report later this morning, and economists will be looking for growth in the leisure and food service industries. As Scott Tong explains, growth in these areas could indicate a recovery on a roll.

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• Egypt calculates the costs of political turmoil

  by Marketplace Contributor

  According to one bank's estimate, the unrest in Egypt has cost at least $300 million a day in lost business, Internet commerce and wages. And with no end in sight for the tumult, the costs can only go up.

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• White outs cause power black outs in Texas

  by Marketplace Staff

  The lights are back on in Texas after rolling black outs hit nearly 1.5 million homes this week. Officials say the cold weather overloaded 50 power plants, as KUT's Erika Aguilar explains.

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• Little job growth, falling unemployment rate: What does it mean?

  by Steve Chiotakis

  The nation's economy created 36,000 jobs last month — not even enough to keep up with population growth, let alone boost the economy. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 9 percent, the lowest level in nearly two years. Jill Schlesinger explains the Labor Department's mixed report.

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• Finally — an end to the ‘banana wars’

  by Christopher Werth

  The European Parliament voted to make it easier for American banana growers to sell the fruit to Europe, ending two decades of colonial favoritism. Now it will be easier for American banana farmers to sell their produce to the world's largest banana market. Christopher Werth explains.

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• January’s job numbers: the good, the bad

  by Scott Tong

  It was a mixed bag from the Labor Department this morning. January showed a major drop in unemployment — down to 9 percent — but the economy only created 36,000 jobs. Scott Tong examines the numbers.

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• Gus Faucher: Despite January dip, unemployment could grow this year

  by Jeremy Hobson

  Jeremy Hobson speaks with Gus Faucher, an economist at Moody's Analytics, about today's job report from the Labor Department. Hiring activity was tepid last month. According to Faucher, more jobseekers — including many who were not included in the recent survey — are likely to start searching for jobs in early 2011.

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• National Automobile Dealers Association meets in San Francisco

  by Steve Chiotakis

  Car dealers have hit some rough road during the past couple of years — GM and Chrysler filed for bankruptcy and took government bailouts, and hundreds of dealers closed. But things are looking up for the auto industry, and car dealers are gathering for a convention in San Francisco.

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• New Small Business Administration rules help women

  by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

  Agencies have to set aside some contracts up to $3 million for businesses that are majority-owned by women. The question is how that verification will be handled.

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• Missouri puppy mills face new restrictions

  by Marketplace Staff

  Missouri voters passed a ballot measure in November for tougher rules on dog breeders. Now the Missouri legislature is attempting to overturn the vote.

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• Germany encourages citizen stock trading

  by David Brancaccio

  In the 90s, German citizens were crazy for telecom and dot-com stocks, driving the prices up as much as 700 percent. But after the bubble burst, citizens lost interest in the German stock exchange, a fact economists now hope to change. David Brancaccio explains.

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