It will take a few years, and a whole lot of economic impacts, before we return to top-notch status

Stricter rules on hours and quality have led to fewer truckers on the road. That was fine during the recession, but shipping loads are increasing with a recovering economy.

The downgrade to U.S. debt means the American ego will take a hit, and consumer spending relies heavily on how we all feel about the economic outlook

A 'family office' is an investment vehicle that deals with the money of a single family, allowing the wealthy investors to avoid a lot of disclosure and regulation

Europeans are more concerned about their own debt problems than the downgrade of U.S. debt. Marketplace's Stephen Beard explains.

Chinese officials slammed the U.S. over debt and policy issues today, but reliance on U.S. bonds makes it nearly impossible for China to act on any of their harsh rhetoric

Marketplace's New York Bureau Chief Heidi Moore explains why Wall Street is more concerned with poor economic growth and a weak job market than the downgrade on U.S. debt

Investors still see the U.S. as creditworthy. But, they're turning their attention to worries over economic growth.

Julia Coronado, chief economist with the investment bank BNP Paribas, says we can't really resolve our debt problems without taking fewer retirement benefits and paying higher taxes

France may be next on the downgrade hit list; analysts say French debt levels are as unsustainable as America's

Markets are down slightly this morning, but Marketplace's Jeff Horwich says that stocks could see a big gain: because the downturn has investors seeing sale prices.

Ellen Zentner, senior U.S. economist at Nomura Securities, says no one's surprised by the hot-and-cold reaction to the S&P downgrade.