Latest Stories

Bank of America is buying Countrywide Financial. And JP Morgan Chase is salivating over Washington Mutual. Which made us wonder: How far will bank consolidations go? John Dimsdale reports.

In this edition of Getting Personal, Chris and Tess talk about stretching a middle class salary, managing your own retirement accounts and paying for a car with home equity.

When Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke all but promised an upcoming interest-rate cut, plenty of people responded: What took you so long, Ben? But commentator Mark Thoma says it's time to lay off the Fed.

Have you ever heard politicians talk taxes without mentioning the middle class? Tess talks to Scott Hodge of the Tax Foundation to find out if all their efforts are actually helping.

Solder pipes in the morning, hit the books at night -- it's a long day for an apprentice plumber. We learn what it takes on this encore Day in the Work Life.

Economics editor Chris Farrell plays down tales of the decline of the middle class and sets the story straight on some of the big challenges middle class Americans face.

Being middle class doesn't always mean making ends meet, forcing families to fall back on credit. Jeremy Hobson talks to families trapped by credit about getting back on their feet.

Sallie Mae, the nation's largest student lender, is getting more selective about handing out loans. Tess talks to FinAid.org's Mark Kantrowitz about the best ways for students to borrow for their education.