Marketplace for October 14, 2011

Segments From This Episode

• Small talk: Less babies, golfing with sharks, a luxurious toilet

  by Marketplace Contributor

  The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: America's producing less babies, sharks at the golf course, and a $6,400 toilet.

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• The robots are coming! The robots are coming!

  by Marketplace Contributor

  A tight job market means fierce competition to find work. What could make things worse for job seekers? Robots.

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• Credit card holders pay on time

  by Mitchell Hartman

  Right now, just 3.5 percent of credit card holders are a month or more behind on payments. Has the recession caused a permanent change in habits?

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• Gap has designs on expanding in China. Is it too late?

  by Marketplace Staff

  The Monitor Group's Torsten Stocker discusses the challenges Gap faces as it plans to close several U.S. stores by 2013 and triple its business in China.

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• Insurer divvies up excess profits among policyholders

  by Gregory Warner

  Blue Shield of California will return $283 million to customers. Other big insurers could be next.

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• Weekly Wrap: Free trade agreements, Occupy protesters

  by Marketplace Staff

  Reviewing the week's headlines on Wall Street. This week: the new free trade agreements, the blocking of President Obama's jobs bill and the Occupy Wall Street movement.

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• Occupy Wall Street occupies an odd park

  by Stacey Vanek Smith

  

  Zuccotti Park is one of many privately owned public spaces in New York. Unlike city-owned parks, it's open around the clock.

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• Italian prime minister survives confidence vote

  by Marketplace Staff

  The Italian parliament votes to keep Silvio Berlusconi's government, but concerns are still strong about how the country will handle its major debt.

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