Sometimes it's not worth hiring a lawyer over an unjustified $30 charge from your cell phone servicer -- so you band together with several other consumers to file a class-action lawsuits. Federal law states these lawsuits are not allowed if there was an arbitration clause in the contract, but state courts have been ruling otherwise.
Two years ago, the country was in the throes of a financial panic. It was a moment that you could say defined or redefined a lot of us. Paul Auster's new book, "Sunset Park" follows four broke, young New Yorkers during the winter of 2008. He talks with Kai Ryssdal about whether the financial crisis has changed the way people relate to each other.
The Department of Transportation is funding research to build "intelligent" cars that can warn you of potential accidents and suggest less-congested routes. Reporter Andrea Bernstein takes a ride in a few prototypes.
Along with super discounted books and the latest electronic widget, you can order diapers now at Amazon.com. Reporter Jennifer Collins takes a look at Amazon's latest move towards the everyday household products market.
U.S. consumption used to account for about 20 percent of the world's economy, but that's dropped to nearly half since the financial crisis. President Obama says we need to export more now, but will countries like China or Germany agree to help? Stacey Vanek Smith reports.
Email, Twitter, Facebook, cell phones -- there's no shortage of ways to connect electronically to others. Today comes a new Internet browser aimed at making it all easier. Kai Ryssdal talks to Marketplace's Steve Henn about RockMelt.