Marketplace®

Daily business news and economic stories
  • It used to be that you might get a turkey from your boss as a holiday bonus, but today a bonus check is more like it.

  • More Americans are using less vacation time. Are people too stressed and too cash-strapped to coordinate a getaway or are employers making it more difficult to take time off?

  • Can moving expenses be written off of your taxes if you relocated to be closer to your mate? How should you report a large gift to a non-dependent? Financial expert Louis Barajas answers listeners' questions related to end-of-year filing.

  • Conventional wisdom says that big-box stores and supermarket chains offer cheaper alcohol than independent shops. But private liquor stores offer something big retailers can't.

  • Not sure what to give your Secret Santa? Here's some advice on how to re-think the gift-giving process so that everyone is left satisfied.

  • We often hear that women are more risk averse than men. Commentator Helaine Olen says yes, male and female investors may approach risk-taking differently, but that's not why women have less money to put away.

  • Some cities with high foreclosure rates actually have housing shortages now, not a glut of foreclosed houses on the market. President Obama's mortgage-relief plan has helped, but another factor is hedge funds investing in houses to rent out.

  • For lifeguards on Hawaii's North Shore, the office is beautiful, the work is dangerous, and the pay is surprisingly low.

  • Things are looking up in the housing market. People are starting to buy houses again. Mortgage rates are at an all-time low and there's lots of inventory. Or is there?

  • A lot of investors are on edge about what's going to happen with the fiscal cliff. Economics correspondent Chris Farrell says take a deep breath and don't make any rash decisions.