Halloween spending this year is expected to jump 10 percent. Freakonomics’ Stephen Dubner about the best places to get candy on Halloween and how that ties in to charitable giving. Meanwhile, nearly 6,000 people are without power in Manhattan due to Superstorm Sandy, but some businesses are reopening. Many areas hit by Sandy are working hard to make sure voting isn’t disrupted on Election Day. Owners of flooded cars are making calls to their insurance companies. And a look into how some businesses were using the storm to promote their brands.  

We conclude our series called Big Money, on Citizens United and election financing, with a feature on the rise of campaign trackers. Meanwhile, the East Coast begins to recover from Superstorm Sandy — the markets are set to open on Wednesday, while some flights are getting back on schedule. Disney announces a plan to buy Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion. And Youth Radio looks into the controversy of racially insensitive Halloween costumes.

Hurricane Sandy makes its way to the East Coast. Damage estimates are in the billions, meaning that it could leave a negative impact on the economy. In the meantime, some businesses — like hotels — have to remain open through the storm. Reporter Scott Tong looks into the power grid situation amidst the storm. In the latest installment of Food for 9 Billion, an exploration into Greece’s obesity epidemic. We hear about an Arizona entrepreneur that sees growth opportunities south of the border. And host Sarah Gardner speaks with John Ficarra, editor of MAD Magazine, about the success of the magazine over 60 years.

Farmers produced two-thirds more peanuts this year than last, so it looks like the price of peanut butter is coming down. The Northeast is bracing itself for hurricane Sandy. The Chinese government blocked The New York Times’ website within the mainland because of an investigative report about a government official. Silicon Valley may be the most well-known tech hub in the U.S. but other cities, like Chicago, are also trying to foster entrepreneurship. Honda is celebrating 30 years of manufacturing in America — which brings up the question of “What is an American car?” And four-star general Wesley Clark has started a coal mining venture in poverty-stricken Kosovo, a place where his name and reputation means a lot.

Microsoft will release Windows 8 tomorrow, but meanwhile, many companies are still resisting change and using Windows 98. A number of airlines are no longer offering long-distance nonstop flights. Amazon.com has gotten into movie-making and money-lending businesses. It looks like financial reforms could dampen the housing market forecast. Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport discusses the importance and reliability of polls. Reporter Stephen Beard talks to Londoners who have left the banking sector and have taken major pay cuts so they could start their own businesses. And Felix Salmon of Reuters talks about American CEOs who want to reduce debt and the deficit.

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan addressed poverty today in a speech at Cleveland State University. A new survey says U.S. carbon emissions are falling and will go down almost 17 percent by 2020. Barnes and Noble has released the list of the 63 stores where its customers may have been victims of credit theft. New online startups are creating virtual banks where kids can deposit their allowance and either save it or spend it. Britain’s last iconic black cab maker may be going out of business. And Krissy Clark talks to two small business owners about their views on the election.

With the presidential election only two weeks away, we take a look the impact of consumer data and digital campaign in this election in our collaboration with PBS Frontline. Meanwhile, The Obama campaign has released a pamphlet outlining the president’s plan for the next four years if re-elected. Many on Wall Street aren’t very happy with the latest crop of corporate earnings. Apple has unveiled the iPad Mini. A billion dollars is being invested in mills around Ohio, which are reviving the state’s steel sector. And Kai Ryssdal speaks with economist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz about Google searches and voting patterns.

Who is the fabled “undecided voter” in this election? UCLA professor Lynn Vavreck explains. Meanwhile, some employers are actually telling their employees who to vote for — but is that legal? Tomorrow, Facebook will reveal how they are doing on mobile advertising, an area in which a number of Internet giants are struggling. Now that Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his endorsements and Tour de France titles, we look at what else he has to lose. The website Ancestry.com was just sold for a whopping $1.6 billion. And Scott Tong reports on fracking in Ohio.

Economist John Maynard Keynes predicted long ago that new technologies would by now allow people to work only 15-hour work weeks. But are we closer to that than we think? Meanwhile, we look into whether bookshelf makers have been hurt by the shrinking publishing industry. In an effort to affect climate change, a California businessman dumped 100 tons of iron dust into the Pacific Ocean. On the 25th anniversary of Black Monday, we explore the chances of it happening again. And China bureau chief Rob Schmitz looks back into history of the trade relationship between the U.S. and China.