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Marketplace for Friday, October 5, 2012
Oct 5, 2012

Marketplace for Friday, October 5, 2012

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Former GE top dog Jack Welch has implied that President Obama cooked the books when it comes to the new jobs numbers -- but how would one go about doing that? The popularity of Toys 'R' Us’ layaway program has caused a run on some popular toys for the upcoming holiday season. California's gas prices jumped a whopping 20 cents overnight. The government has hired a PR firm to promote and explain all the complicated details of the health care plan. And the Wealth & Poverty Desk visits a workshop that lets you simulate living in poverty.

Segments From this episode

Pretending to be poor can change your perspective

Oct 4, 2012
Poverty simulation exercises confront participants with empty wallets, tough choices, and a better understanding of low-income people.

Monopoly the movie?

Oct 5, 2012
Unfortunately, "Battleship" wasn't the last board game-turned-movie.

California, all of a sudden, hits $5 gas

Oct 5, 2012
California discovers how close it lives to a tipping point when refinery problems combine to create a sudden gas shortage and a spike in prices.

Insurance exchanges get the PR treatment

Oct 5, 2012
The federal government has signed on with an ad agency for a $3 million campaign to promote insurance exchanges.

Stores expand holiday layaway options

Oct 5, 2012
Slow economic recovery means layaway is thriving.

The economy is like a rollercoaster

Oct 5, 2012
The economy is like a rollercoaster, asserts the Funny or Die "news" team. But who is running this rollercoaster? And why have we been stuck on the screaming on the way down part for such a long time?

Could the jobs statistics be rigged?

Oct 5, 2012
The unemployment numbers pass from Census surveyors to career civil servants at the Bureau of Labor Statistics to the political appointees in the administration. But safeguards to protect the integrity of the data abound.

Jobless rate below 8%, candidates vague about jobs in debate

Oct 5, 2012
Reviewing the week's headlines on Wall Street and beyond. This week: debating jobs. The new numbers and the presidential candidates' vague answers of what policies they'd use to boost employment.

Former GE top dog Jack Welch has implied that President Obama cooked the books when it comes to the new jobs numbers — but how would one go about doing that? The popularity of Toys ‘R’ Us’ layaway program has caused a run on some popular toys for the upcoming holiday season. California’s gas prices jumped a whopping 20 cents overnight. The government has hired a PR firm to promote and explain all the complicated details of the health care plan. And the Wealth & Poverty Desk visits a workshop that lets you simulate living in poverty.

Music from the episode

Champions Dan The Automator, Rakaa, Aceyalone