Marketplace Morning Report for Thursday, December 22, 2011
Dec 22, 2011

Marketplace Morning Report for Thursday, December 22, 2011

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In the U.S., Gross Domestic Product revisions are out today, and the hope is that the number will keep improving as long as problems in Europe, and Washington, don't stunt that growth. In one North Carolina town, local business play nice to help each other out during recession. The Lone Star State loses as many as half a billion trees in 2011, and that's not including the wildfires. And in this week's Attitude Check, we look at how Americans are really feeling about the potential payroll tax cut extension.

Segments From this episode

Countrywide discrimination settlement reached

Dec 22, 2011
Countrywide was accused of steering more than 200,000 black and Hispanic borrowers into risky subprime loans during the housing bubble. But is the practice really over now?

Bank of America, Countrywide settle discrimination case

Dec 22, 2011
BofA's costs mount as it settles a mortgage discrimination suit against subsidiary Countrywide Financial.

For ECB plan to succeed, European banks must buy up bonds

Dec 22, 2011
What looks like a major success now may end up being more of a modest win in the future against the mounting debt crisis in the eurozone.

Attitude Check: Do the payroll tax cuts matter?

Dec 22, 2011
We speak to Frank Newport, editor-in-chief at Gallup, about whether Americans want the payroll tax extended, and what the controversy in Washington could do to consumer confidence.

The economic story of the year: Politics

Dec 22, 2011
We speak to Diane Swonk about weekly jobless numbers, the payroll tax debate in Washington, and why politics effects economics more than ever.

Fewer trees in Texas

Dec 22, 2011
The Lone Star State loses as many as half a billion trees in 2011 -- and that's not including the wildfires.

Has the ECB action helped avert a banking crisis?

Dec 22, 2011
The European Central Bank yesterday printed $640 billion worth of euros, almost the same amount of money as the TARP program used by the U.S. government during the financial crisis in 2008.

PODCAST: GDP revised, bear-ing the Mexican border

Dec 22, 2011
In the U.S., Gross Domestic Product revisions are out today, and the hope is that the number will keep improving as long as problems in Europe, and Washington, don't stunt that growth. In one North Carolina town, local business play nice to help each other out during recession. The Lone Star State loses as many as half a billion trees in 2011, and that's not including the wildfires. And in this week's Attitude Check, we look at how Americans are really feeling about the potential payroll tax cut extension.
Bears are having problems crossing the border into Mexico.
John Moore/Getty Images

Mortgage settlement hikes the cost of Countrywide

Dec 22, 2011
Bank of America will pay $335 million to settle mortgage discrimination charges against Countrywide Financial.

Big lottery results awaited in Spain

Dec 22, 2011
Amid economic strife across much of the country, citizens of Spain are buying up lottery tickets in the hope of winning big this holiday season.

Mid-day Extra: Why we think "best of" lists are the best

Dec 22, 2011
The end of the year brings all kind's of top ten, top 100 and best of 2011 lists -- but what kind of value do we get out of them?

GDP third quarter revisions coming

Dec 22, 2011
Economists expect third quarter GDP grew at around 2 percent. But if all goes well, it'll be even higher in the fourth quarter.

In the U.S., Gross Domestic Product revisions are out today, and the hope is that the number will keep improving as long as problems in Europe, and Washington, don’t stunt that growth. In one North Carolina town, local business play nice to help each other out during recession. The Lone Star State loses as many as half a billion trees in 2011, and that’s not including the wildfires. And in this week’s Attitude Check, we look at how Americans are really feeling about the potential payroll tax cut extension.