Mar 27, 2012

Marketplace Morning Report for Tuesday, March 27, 2012

This week, we're looking at how new technology is changing the American workforce. The series is called 'Robots Ate My Job,' and David Brancaccio of our Economy 4.0 unit is driving across the country without interacting with a single human being. Today, a look at self-checkout at grocery stores. A couple of congressional panels will look at the Military's push into alternative energy. And Day Two of the Supreme Court arguments surrounding the new health care law begins.

Segments From this episode

Mid-day Update

Celebrating Larry Stevenson, skateboard innovator

by Stacey Vanek Smith and Jeremy Hobson

Mar 27, 2012

The father of what we know as the mass-produced skateboard passed away at age 81. How has the industry grown since he first began to churn out boards?

A boy jumps with his skateboard during a sunny day on March 17, 2012 as unusually warm temperatures hit Prague.

MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images

Case-Shiller home prices and health care reform

by Juli Niemann

Mar 27, 2012

The markets have a lot to reflect on this morning, from the pending Supreme Court decision to the latest Case-Shiller Index.

Mid-day Update

PODCAST: Southwest raises prices, consumer confidence falls

by Mary Dooe

Mar 27, 2012

This week, we're looking at how new technology is changing the American workforce. The series is called "Robots Ate My Job," and David Brancaccio of our Economy 4.0 unit is driving across the country without interacting with a single human being. Today, a look at self-checkout at grocery stores. A couple of congressional panels will look at the military's push into alternative energy. And day two of the Supreme Court arguments surrounding the new health care law begins.

A Southwest Airlines passenger jet prepares to land at Midway Airport on April 5, 2011 in Chicago, Ill. The airline has said it will follow other airlines in rising prices a notch to deal with high gas prices.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

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Britain looks to sell off parts of Royal Bank of Scotland

by Stephen Beard

Mar 27, 2012

Britain faces the same dilemma as the U.S. when it comes to bailed-out companies: When to sell off the billions of dollars worth of assets it bought from those companies at the height of the crisis.

Electronics withstand consumer confidence dip

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Mar 27, 2012

Since the recession hit, we just haven't been shopping like we used to -- unless we're talking about electronics.

Apple employees carry boxes of new iPads that went on sale for the first time around the world on March 16, 2012 in New York City.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

NFL switches over to Nike apparel

by Jeff Tyler

Mar 27, 2012

In one week, the NFL will start selling apparel made by Nike rather than Reebok. The sports body is trying to capitalize on the switchover.

Robots Ate My Job

Taking humans out of the supermarket checkout

by Ann Heppermann

Mar 27, 2012

Retail is getting more and more "robotified," and where it's most evident is the self checkout kiosks at supermarkets. Retail clerks are finding themselves displaced by the machines.

Supreme Court continues debate over health care law

by Gregory Warner

Mar 27, 2012

Marketplace's Gregory Warner reports from the steps of the Supreme Court as day two of the health care deliberations begin in Washington, D.C.

Why investors should thank the Fed

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Mar 27, 2012

Since quantitative easing took place in 2010, stock prices in the U.S. went up something like 28 percent, adding $3.5 trillion.

Since the Federal Reserve and Ben Bernanke began quantitative easing II, stock prices in the U.S. went up something like 28 percent, adding $3.5 trillion.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Military feels heat on green energy

by Scott Tong

Mar 27, 2012

Two hearings in the House this week will question whether the Pentagon's efforts to go green are worth the cost.

Health care arguments: Day Two

by Gregory Warner

Mar 27, 2012

Can the government force Americans to buy health insurance? That's the big question at the Supreme Court today.

Individual mandate under review in Supreme Court

by Amy Scott

Mar 27, 2012

Can the government force uninsured individuals to buy health insurance? It's known as the individual mandate, and it could soon be declared unconstitutional.

Looking at the real costs of health care

by Amy Scott

Mar 27, 2012

Can the government force uninsured individuals to buy health insurance? It's known as the individual mandate, and today the Supreme Court hears arguments over its constitutionality.

This week, we’re looking at how new technology is changing the American workforce. The series is called ‘Robots Ate My Job,’ and David Brancaccio of our Economy 4.0 unit is driving across the country without interacting with a single human being. Today, a look at self-checkout at grocery stores. A couple of congressional panels will look at the Military’s push into alternative energy. And Day Two of the Supreme Court arguments surrounding the new health care law begins.